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Taiwan donates P23M to Paeng-hit PH

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

November 11, 2022, 3:16 pm Updated on November 11, 2022, 6:13 pm

<p><strong>RELIEF AID.</strong> Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) representative Peiyung Hsu (3rd from right) turns over a ceremonial check worth USD400,000 (about PHP22.9 million) to Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) chairperson and resident representative Silvestre Bello III (3rd from left) at the RCBC Plaza in Makati City on Friday (Nov. 11, 2022). The amount would be used to augment ongoing disaster relief efforts and humanitarian operations in areas in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela that were severely affected by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng. <em>(PNA photo by Jess Escaros Jr.)</em></p>

RELIEF AID. Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) representative Peiyung Hsu (3rd from right) turns over a ceremonial check worth USD400,000 (about PHP22.9 million) to Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) chairperson and resident representative Silvestre Bello III (3rd from left) at the RCBC Plaza in Makati City on Friday (Nov. 11, 2022). The amount would be used to augment ongoing disaster relief efforts and humanitarian operations in areas in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela that were severely affected by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng. (PNA photo by Jess Escaros Jr.)

MANILA – The Philippines, particularly Cagayan and Isabela, two of the hardest hit provinces during the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng last October, will receive USD400,000 (approximately PHP22.9 million) cash assistance from Taiwan.

In a turnover ceremony in Makati City on Friday, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) Representative Peiyung Hsu presented the check to Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) chairperson Silvestre Bello III.

Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba and officials from MECO and TECO were also present at the event.

"We hope that with this cash donation we could help the affected people recover from the suffering and from the calamity and also make their life back to normal as soon as possible," Hsu said in his speech.

As a close neighbor to the Philippines, Hsu said Taiwan wants to "participate in the spirit of bayanihan and ensure" that no Filipino in need is left behind.

"We value the Philippines very much. We are the closest neighbors so we have to help each other," he added.

Bello said the amount, which is to support ongoing disaster relief and humanitarian efforts on the ground, would be divided between the two provinces.

Taiwan has been a constant help to Cagayan, extending assistance to the province in the past in times of disaster, Mamba said in an interview.

"We are really grateful that you see our plight, as a neighbor, you see how helpless we could be in so many times. This has always been our incessant problem, before Paeng hit us there were three others that hit us too," he said.

Based on the latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, more than 53,000 houses were damaged due to the storm while agriculture loss reached around PHP6 billion.

A total of 159 were also reported to have died, 146 injured, while 30 remain missing as of Nov. 11. (PNA)

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