The Chinese government has turned over one million yuan (approximately P7.5 million) to the Department of Foreign Affairs for the relief and rehabilitation of areas affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.
Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian met DFA Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo to personally hand over the donation at the DFA main office in Pasay City last Wednesday.
During the meeting, Huang again reiterated his deep sympathies to the more than 70,000 families affected by the eruption, adding that the Chinese side is looking forward to lending more strength to the disaster relief efforts.
The Chinese diplomat also expressed hope that the Philippine side would overcome the difficulties and be able to help the affected people restore their normal livelihood at the earliest possible time.
Last week, Huang visited one of the evacuation sites at the Batangas Sports Complex in Batangas City to hand over China’s initial donations of 8,000 masks and other necessities to Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas.
In his remarks, Huang emphasized that since China and the Philippines are good neighbors and good friends with kinship and cultural bonds, the embassy “stands ready to provide necessary disaster relief assistance.”
Coinciding with Huang’s visit, Mandanas wrote the Chinese ambassador a letter seeking Beijing’s assistance, through a grant or a soft loan, for the recovery and rehabilitation of the areas severely damaged by the eruption of Taal Volcano.
Mandanas said the assistance would also include several projects which he described as essential in strengthening development strategies of the province.
“In order to boost our efforts in recovery and rehabilitation against the damage and onslaught of the eruption, we would like to secure assistance for a grant or a soft loan relative to projects which are directed towards strengthening our development strategies,” Mandanas said.
The same day, the Chinese envoy also donated 4,000 masks to the Department of Public Works and Highway at the Chinese Embassy. (Roy Mabasa)