China has donated a total of P5 million worth of relief assistance to those affected by recent natural disasters in the Philippines, including the unrest of the Mayon Volcano and Typhoon Betty, as China’s top diplomat in Manila said both countries “always share weal and woe.” A total of P4 million peso-worth of relief supplies were turned over by China’s navy training ship Qi Jiguang and the Chinese Embassy in Manila to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The ship arrived at the Port of Manila on Wednesday morning. Photo courtesy of Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian

“Hearing that the intensified unrest of Mayon Volcano has caused over 10 thousands people being evacuated, we immediately raised more than 103 metric tons of rice and other food worth 4 million pesos to assist the affected people,” Huang said. Huang said the food supplies donated were “carved out of the daily supply of the Navy Ship crew.” “Very honored to hand over the first batch to DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, with Rear Admiral Su Yinsheng,” he said. The Chinese Embassy also donated P1 million in cash assistance to the provincial government of Cagayan help those people affected by Betty. “We hope the people in the disaster-hit areas could return to normal work and life as soon as possible,” Huang said.