Philippines to receive $8.5 million in U.S. food aid

Philippines to receive $8.5 million in U.S. food aid    U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Monday the United States will send $8.5 million in food aid to the typhoon-ravaged Philippines.
   The aid is provided to the Philippines through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food for Progress program. Vilsack made the announcement during a meeting with Philippines President Gloria Arroyo and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap in Manila.
   The allocations are for about 7,000 metric tons of U.S. rice and 680 metric tons of non-fat dry milk that is produced in the United States and donated by USDA. The commodities will be processed into ultra high temperature milk and biscuits and will feed about 438,000 flood victims for 60 days.
   The Philippines is the largest recipient of USDA food aid programs in Asia, with programs dating back to 1995. Title 1, Section 416(b) and Food for Progress assistance has totaled $217 million since fiscal year 2000. In fiscal year 2009, USDA signed three Food for Progress agreements in the Philippines valued at $25 million.