Manila-A shipment of relief supplies donated by Taiwan to the Philippines has been delivered, in the latest effort to assist the neighboring country in its recovery from the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Rai last December.
The 100 metric tons of food, including rice and building materials, were handed over Friday to the Nature Kids for Siargao Association (NKSA), a non-governmental organization in the province of Cebu, for distribution.
The handover ceremony was witnessed by Michael Hsu (???), Taiwan’s top envoy to Manila, and several Philippine officials.
According to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines, most of the supplies will be sent to disaster victims on Siargao Island, who suffered the heaviest losses as a result of Typhoon Rai.
NKSA, which is dedicated to community development, will also distribute some of the supplies to people in Cebu, Bohol Island and Negros Island, TECO said.
At the ceremony, NKSA head Michael Cancio expressed thanks for Taiwan’s generosity and said the shipment was the largest donation his organization had ever received.
NKSA will coordinate with local governments to expedite the distribution of the relief supplies to those most in need, Cancio added.
Two days prior to the handover ceremony, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia met with Hsu and thanked Taiwan for also donating two 20-foot containers of building materials to her province, which she said would be used to help rebuild homes that has been destroyed or damaged by the storm.
Taiwan has made several donations to the neighboring country, including a cash fund of US$500,000 on Dec. 22, since Typhoon Rai tore through the Philippines on Dec. 16 and 17, killing more than 400 people, injuring 1,371, and displacing hundreds of thousands.
On Dec. 25 and 26, Taiwan sent 10 metric tons of emergency supplies on two military C-130 aircraft that flew to Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel