China donates rice, food items to Mayon Volcano evacuees

China has donated milled rice and other food items to the Philippines in support of thousands of residents affected by the Mayon Volcano unrest in Albay.

In a statement, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said the first batch of Beijing’s P4 million worth of donations was shipped to Manila Thursday via the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy Training Vessel Qi Jiguang.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian received the donation from Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian and Political Commissar of Dalian Naval Academy, Rear Admiral Su Yinsheng.

“On behalf of the Republic and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, we would like to thank you for the generosity,” said Gatchalian as he assured the Chinese government the assistance will reach the intended beneficiaries.

Other donated food items are 20 boxes of instant noodles; 20 boxes of biscuits; 50 boxes of flour. They are also set to turn over another 3,600 bags of 25-kilogram rice, completing their P4 million-worth rice and other food item donations.

Mayon Volcano is currently under Alert Level 3 due to its “intensified unrest” or magmatic unrest.

As of Thursday, a total of 37,682 individuals or 9,167 families in the Bicol Region have been affected by the volcano’s activities, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Of the number, 17,216 people or 4,813 families have been staying in 25 evacuation centers, while 725 people or 200 families are seeking shelter outside of evacuation centers.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News

China donates rice, food items to Mayon Volcano evacuees
Source: Filipino Viral News PH