REPRESENTATIVE Wallace Chow of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines, on behalf of the Government of Taiwan, turned over a $200,000 donation to the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO).
The financial support was aimed at augmenting the Philippine government’s relief and recovery efforts for communities affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao on June 8.
MECO board member Cherbett Karen Maralit formally received the donation in accordance with established protocols. Representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Office of Civil Defense also attended the ceremony as witnesses, which reaffirmed the close cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR).
In his remarks, Chow relayed the deepest sympathies of the government and people of Taiwan to all those affected by the devastating earthquake. He also commended the resilience and unity demonstrated by the Filipino people as they continue their recovery efforts.
The representative noted that ‘Taiwan and the Philippines are close neighbors that share similar vulnerabilities to earthquakes and other natural disasters.’ He recalled that after Supertyphoon Nando (international name: Ragasa) struck his hometown of Hualien in September last year, which caused severe mudflows and flooding, hundreds of Filipino nationals living in Taiwan-many of whom are overseas workers-volunteered alongside Taiwanese communities to help clear mud and debris from the affected areas.
Their participation embodied the Filipino spirit of bayanihan, which Chow described as ‘Taiwanihan,’ and reflected the enduring friendship and mutual support between the two people.
Chow expressed his hope that the $200,000 donation would not only provide humanitarian assistance as part of the collective recovery effort but also serve as symbols of compassion, friendship, and partnership between the ‘neighbors.’ He further reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with the Philippines and deepening cooperation in HA/DR.
During the ceremony, Subic Bay Taiwan Chamber of Commerce president Best Chang also presented a cash donation of P360,000 on behalf of the chamber, which TECO said further demonstrated the solidarity and goodwill of the Taiwanese community in support of Filipinos.
On behalf of MECO, Maralit expressed heartfelt gratitude to the government and people of Taiwan for their consistent and timely support whenever the Philippines faces adversity. She conveyed the Filipino people’s appreciation and emphasized that all assistance would be directed to those who need them most.
MECO board member Norman Villanueva and secretary Lucy Yap, as well as DSWD and OCD representatives also attended the ceremony.