DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 08 Sept) — The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Davao has raised 2 million pesos for 3,000 families displaced by the August 28 flooding in Los Amigos, Tugbok, Talomo, Bangkal, Ulas, and Matina Pangi.
Chinese Consul General Li Lin said in an interview on Saturday that the amount represented proceeds from the Chinese charity event at the Davao City Los Amigos (DCLA) Plaza along Ramon Magsaysay Avenue and donations from the Davao Chinese Multi-Sectoral Association and China-based FiberHome Telecommunication Technologies Co., Ltd.
He said the consular office will use the funds to buy cooking utensils, blankets, and hygiene kits for the flood-affected residents, and bags for the school children.
Chinese Consul General Li Lin. MindaNews photo by ANTONIO L. COLINA IV
“It’s a friendly-gesture because the local Chinese communities have been well take-care of for a very long time. When our relatives are in difficulty, I think it’s time for us to extend our helping hands,” he said.
Madan Aiping Chiu, wife of the consul general, said most of the merchandise, mostly food items, sold at the charity event were imported directly from Jinjiang, a sister city of Davao. Xiamen Airlines launched Davao-Quanzhou (Jinjiang City) flights on December 18, 2018.
She added the donations would be turned over to the City Government of Davao on Monday.
Mayor Sara Duterte signed a sister city pact with her counterparts in Jinjiang during her visit there on November 12 to 14, 2018. Soon after the signing, the city generated interest from the Chinese businesses to invest here.
The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Davao raised 2 million pesos from a charity event on Saturday, 07 September 2019 at Davao City Los Amigos (DCLA) Plaza along Ramon Magsaysay Avenue for the victims of the August 28 flash floods in Davao City. MindaNews photo by ANTONIO L. COLINA IV
The Chinese Consulate was opened on October 28, 2018.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who graced the inauguration, said at that time that setting up a consulate general in Davao “reflects the deepening of the friendship between China and the Philippines” and more Chinese visitors will come to Davao “to enhance the friendship between our two peoples and contribute to the development of this city and the Southern Philippines.”
Wang added the decision of the Chinese government to establish a Consulate General in Davao “speaks volumes of our full confidence in the city’s future.” (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
