By Freddie Lazaro LAOAG CITY – China’s Shandong province extended aid to the provincial government of Ilocos Norte by donating medical materials and relief packs for the frontliners and residents throughout the province. (MATHEW MARCOS MANOTOC/ FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN) Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc, together with the members of the Task Force Salun-at, received from Chinese Consul Zhou Youbin 25,000 medical surgical masks; 2,000 N95 medical masks; 2,000 medical goggles; and 2,000 sets of medical protective suits, alongside the P600,000 worth of relief goods at the provincial capitol. Zhou, head of consulate of People’s Republic of China in Laoag City, personally delivered the goods at the capitol. “China will always remember the support from Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc and other Filipinos during our country’s fight against COVID-19. As Ilocos Norte is facing similar situation, we remain keen and hopeful to help the locals. Despite its own difficulties, Shandong government raised an amount to buy the most urgently-needed medical materials,” Zhou stated. Ilocos Norte has sisterhood ties with Shandong Province since 2002, and has already welcomed groups from various committees of the Shandong government for partnerships and agreements. “I believe that under the leadership of Gov. Marcos Manotoc, the situation here in Ilocos Norte will be under control. I wish that all patients infected and those who are under investigation will recover soon. We are together, so we shall win together as well,” said Zhou. “We really thank the Province of Shandong. Even though mas affected pa sila sa China kaysa sa atin, they are the ones helping us. We feel grateful and humbled here in the province. Yung stocks ng boxes, napakarami so we thank our sister province, Shandong,” Manotoc said.