DSWD settles P6.6-M Cebu port charges for Algerian rice donation

MANILA, Philippines - A rice donation from the Algerian government worth $2,986,932 will soon be distributed to families affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda in Eastern, Western and Central Visayas, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 

This was made possible after the DSWD Field Office 7 settled the P6.6-million demurrage charges at the Cebu International Port where the rice shipment placed in 175 shipping containers has been kept.

DSWD-Field Office 7 director Mercedita Jabagat said the DSWD central office released some P10 million to move the rice donation out of the port.

The rest of the P10 million will be spent for other administrative expenses such as warehouse rental, repacking of the rice, and transporting it to disaster areas in Central, Eastern, and Western Visayas, she said.

Jabagat said the DSWD has been charged P1,400 daily for every undelivered shipping container at the Cebu International Port since Jan. 2.