Philippines
Davao City acknowledges help extended by Chinese sister cities during pandemic
Davao City acknowledges help extended by Chinese sister cities during pandemic
DAVAO CITY – The relationship of Davao City with two Chinese sister cities proved useful not only during economic boom but also in the time of a health crisis as they provided support to the local government in its coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response, Davao City Investment and Promotions (DCIPC) chief April Marie Dayap said.
Dayap said that the city government received 8,000 pieces of face masks from Nanning Municipal People’s Government and 500 units of infrared thermometer and 3,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) from Jinjiang.
Aside from this, Panpan Food Company based in Jinjiang 1.1 million pieces of face masks.
The sister city agreement of Davao with Nanning was signed in 2007 when President Duterte was still mayor of this city. This was automatically renewed when it expired in 2017.
Current Mayor Sara Duterte signed Davao’s sister city agreement with Jinjian in 2018 to foster bilateral cultural and economic exchange and promote tourism between two cities.
The Chinese sister cities were prompt in sending the medical and personal protective equipment, with Dayap acknowledging that Davao benefited from these strong ties “during the early stages of the pandemic.
The city government also received donations from Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian and the Davao Fil-Chinese Multi-Sectoral Association, Inc., consisting of 20 units of respiratory machines, additional 1,200 pieces of infrared thermometers, 10,020 pieces of protective septic suits, 2,000 pieces face shields, 600 pieces’ protective goggles, 9,660 N95 masks, and 37,500 pairs of gloves.
Dayap said the city government shared the donated supplies to 19 medical and emergency facilities in the city and around the region, including the Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City; Davao Oriental Provincial Hospital in Mati; Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital in Digos; Compostela Valley Provincial Hospital in Montevista; IGACOS General Hospital, Inc.; Davao Occidental Provincial Hospital; and, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.
She added that their “thoughtful gesture has truly reaffirmed our mutual commitment which is to boost cooperation in all possible areas especially when assistance is badly needed.”
The Davao has existing friendship city agreements with Uijeongbu and Incheon in South Korea; sister city agreements with cities in the Philippines such as Baguio, Manila, Quezon City, Cebu City, Bayugan, Cotabato, Zamboanga City, Legazpi in Albay, Bacoor in Cavite, San Juan in Metro Manila, and Marikina; and sister city agreements with Jinjiang in Fujian and Nanning, China, Manado and Pekanbaru in Indonesia, Koror in Palau, Montevideo in Uruguay, Panama City in Panama, Vladivostok in Russia, Keelung in Taiwan, and Kauai Country in Hawaii, and Tacoma in Washington in the United States.
As of January 25, the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao Region reported 193 new cases, bringing the total cases to 16,2098, with 2,631 active, 13,019 recoveries, and 648 deaths in the region.
Out of the total, Davao City, which reported the highest COVID-19 cases in Mindanao, tallied 11,067 cases, with 1,490 active, 9,065 recoveries, and 512 deaths. Davao de Oro reported 831 cases, Davao del Norte with 2,280, Davao del Sur with 1,174, Davao Occidental with 175, and Davao Oriental with 771.