Taiwan has donated $250,000 as humanitarian relief fund to assist with the recovery and rehabilitation work in the areas devastated by Typhoon Ompong in Northern Luzon.
Ambassador Michael Peiyung Hsu, Taiwan Economic Cooperation Office (Teco) Representative in the Philippines, handed the donation on behalf of the Taiwan government and its people to Manila Economic Cooperation Office (Meco) Chairman Angelito Banayo during their Republic of China (Taiwan) National Day Reception at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City last Tuesday.
Taiwan’s benevolence fully demonstrates the genuine friendship and solidarity between the peoples of Taiwan and the Philippines, Hsu said.
On behalf of the Philippines, Banayo, for his part, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Taiwan’s donation, saying Typhoon Ompong-affected families in North Luzon urgently need various kinds of assistance to recover from the disaster.
“A friend in need is a friend indeed,” Teco said. Taiwan, as the Philippines’s closest neighbor in the north, once again proves to be a valuable and worthy friend to the Philippines in times of difficulties, it added.
“Whenever there are natural calamities in the Philippines, Taiwan has always been one of the first countries to extend humanitarian relief efforts without the blink of an eye,” Teco said.
Taiwan’s immediate and timely donation is not only an exemplification of the sharing of long-standing robust and cordial friendship between Taiwan and the Philippines, but also the reflection of Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy, launched by President Tsai Ing-wen, which attaches great importance to the Philippines and its people.
“The core value of the New Southbound Policy is underlined by building people-to-people connectivity through the striking of human touch and caring. Taiwan and its people will continue to enhance and strengthen the friendship with the Philippines and its people by sharing their love and care.”