The People’s Republic of China has pledged a 1-million renminbi (equivalent to P7.2 million) cash donation to the Philippine government to assist in the ongoing disaster relief efforts for the displaced residents in Luzon who were forced to flee their homes following the Jan. 12 eruption of Taal Volcano, the Department of Finance (DOF) has said.

In its diplomatic correspondence sent to the DOF, China, through its embassy in Manila, said it “is looking forward to handing over the …. donation as soon as possible.”

On behalf of the Philippine government, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III thanked the Chinese embassy for its donation, which, he said “would be of great help to the government’s ongoing efforts to assist the Taal evacuees.”

“We thank the People’s Republic of China for its donation, which is just one of the many it has provided to the Philippines to help victims of calamities. This concrete expression of sympathy and support to our countrymen further strengthens our bilateral ties and reflects the warm relations between our two countries,“ Secretary Dominguez said over the weekend.

Secretary Dominguez pointed out that China has consistently provided assistance to calamity victims in the country, as he recalled that the Chinese government also donated RMB 3 million (around P22 million) to Mindanao during the series of earthquakes that struck the island last October.

He likewise recalled that China was among the first countries to offer its assistance in helping rebuild the devastated city of Marawi in Mindanao.

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