‘No strings attached in China aid to Lawin victims’

MANILA, Philippines – China has donated around P90 million to assist victims of Typhoon Lawin, which according to President Duterte “has no strings attached.”

President Duterte received the donation from Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua during a meeting at Malacañang Monday night.

The President said the Chinese embassy gave P50 million, the Chinese Red Cross contributed $100,000 or P4.8 million while the government of China gave RMB 5 million or about P35 million. 

“This will go a long way to rehabilitate and return the people, our countrymen to normal life. For our country it will surely go a long way. These will go to the national treasurer and things will just wait,” Duterte said.

“By the way, there are no strings attached. It’s completely out of benevolence,” he added.

Zhao for his part, said it is their duty to help Filipinos, who are their “friends and brothers.”  

“The Chinese side is confident that under the leadership of President Duterte, people in the stricken areas will overcome the calamity and return to their normal work and lives as soon as possible,” a Chinese embassy statement read.

Meanwhile, the Davao City government donated P5 million for typhoon victims in Northern Luzon.

The city council passed a resolution yesterday allocating P1.8 million for Cagayan Valley, P1.6 million for Kalinga, P900,000 for Ilocos Norte, P200,000 for La Union, P150,000 for Apayao and P350,000 for Mountain Province.

Death toll rises to 15

 Meanwhile, the death toll due to Lawin in the Cordilleras, the region hardest hit in Northern Luzon, has risen to 15, authorities said yesterday.

Four others were reported injured while a man swept by the strong current of a river in Ifugao remains missing.

Damage to agriculture in the region was placed at P394 million and P6 million to fisheries.

At least 59 percent of the areas in Benguet are still without electricity while in Abra, power was restored on Monday night only in  Barangay Zone 1 in Bangued.

Electricity in Bauko, Sabangan, Tadian, Sagada, Besao, Bontoc and Sadanga in Mountain Province have been restored Monday afternoon, but Apayao and Kalinga are still suffering from power outages. – With Edith Regalado, Artemio Dumlao