CAGAYAN de Oro City Councilor George Goking on Wednesday bared through its Chinese Consulate General in Davao including the large Fil-Chinese community in the country, has again step forward in rushing aid to the victims of Typhoon ‘Odette’ that devastated huge areas of Mindanao and the Visayas region.
Goking said that with the help of the local Filipino-Chinese Community, these relief goods are on their way to the Typhoon victims.
He even said, as soon as the typhoon moved out of the country, Consul General Li Lin, together with representatives from the overseas Chinese community in Davao, turned over a total of 3500 packages of relief food worth P1.9 million to the provincial government of Surigao del Norte.
Goking said Surigao del Norte Gov. Francisco “Lalo” Matugas will personally be receiving the relief food packages at the Provincial Capitol office in Surigao City anytime today.
Each relief food package contains 5kg of rice, 6 cups of instant noodles, 1 pack of pasta noodles, 4 cans of corned beef, 6 cans of sardines, and 1 pack of biscuits, according to Goking.
In his speech, Consul General Li Lin said that China was a close neighbor to the Philippines.
The Chinese people were the brothers and sisters of the Filipino people, and their hearts were with the Filipino people especially in this difficult time.
Lin also emphasized the Consulate General would continue to work hand in hand with the LGUs in Surigao del Norte in its rebuilding and recovery initiatives.
He stated that with the joint efforts, the typhoon victims could defeat the disaster, and build a beautiful, stronger, and brighter homes in the new year.
On December 21, President Xi Jinping sent a message to President Duterte and expressed his condolences and sincere sympathy to the families affected by Typhoon Odette, according to the report received by Goking.
Last week, China provided an emergency cash assistance of One Million US$ to the Philippine government, as well as 4,725 metric tons of rice for the typhoon affected families, Goking said.
The Chinese local government units and NGOs in China have also been raising relief goods to extend assistance. Here in the Philippines, the Chinese Embassy in Manila has raised 20,000 food packages worth 8 million pesos.
Goking added that various Chinese Business Chambers in the Philippines are also now trying to gather resources to help at the best of their capacity.
Gov. Matugas expressed his sincere gratitude to the Chinese government and Chinese Consulate General in Davao for all the generous assistance.
Vice Governor Eddie D. Gokiangkee and Surigao City Mayor Ernesto U. Matugas Jr. also attended the turnover ceremony.
Meanwhile, in the afternoon of December 16, the northern part of Mindanao was battered by Typhoon Odette (Rai) and suffered heavy casualties and property losses.
Communications across the island were interrupted. The construction site of the phase 2, North Poblacion, Medina, Misamis Oriental communications project undertaken by a Chinese company was also severely affected.
To maintain equipment and restore communications, at 11 pm on December 16, in despite of the deadly Odette, Lai Zuoye, a 37-year-old Chinese engineer, went to the M2314 site for operational inspection and maintenance.
According to police report, Goking said because the foundation of the communications tower was loosened by the heavy rain, he was hit on the head by the falling generator and died on the spot.
Mr. Lai Zuoye sacrificed his life in the emergency repair of communications equipment in order to keep the telecommunications system working during typhoon, said Goking.
“He gave his young life to the construction of China-Phils economic and trade cooperation projects,” said Goking adding that His death was grieved deeply by the Fil-Chinese community in the country.
He added that in the face of the disaster, the Chinese government and people have always stood with the Filipino people.
On December 21, President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolences to President Duterte regarding the typhoon hit in the Philippines, expressing his deep condolences to the victims, and sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured.
China will continue to strengthen cooperation with the Philippines, including Mindanao region, enhance mutual trust and friendship, and promote the implementation of more Chinese-funded projects, so that both Chinese and Filipino people can benefit from bilateral economic and trade cooperation. (Ben Balce)
