ILIGAN City – Some 392,000 bags of Vietnam rice aboard two cargo vessels arrived at the port here almost simultaneously, first on Tuesday and then Wednesday.
Medardo Sosobrado Jr., acting manager of the Philippine Ports Authority in Iligan, said the first vessel, MV Hai Ha 58, arrived at 7:29 am Tuesday and started unloading the rice cargo at 1 pm, after a five-hour cargo compartment cooling, for Soda Enterprises as the consignee.
He said part of the cargo will go to local governments, through Soda, in Northern Mindanao who purchased bulk for distribution to residents who are forced to stay at home because of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Dr. Andrew Marcella of the Bureau of Quarantine boarded the two vessels and checked the health conditions of the crew before they were allowed to dock, Sosobrado said.
The MV Hai Ha 58 brought 152,000 bags of Princess Bea rice at 25 kilos per bag or a total of 3,800 metric tons.
The second vessel, MV Viethaisun, arrived at 7 am Wednesday with 240,000 25-kilo bags or 6,000 metric tons.
Both vessels are still unloading their cargo as of press time. (Richel V. Umel, Mindanews)
