Congress gives thanks to Taiwan for assistance

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

The House of Representatives has officially conveyed the Filipino people’s thanks to Taiwan for coming to the aid of northern Mindanao residents struck by Tropical Storm “Sendong” late last year.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. presented recently House Resolution No. 258 to Ambassador Raymond Wang, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Teco), in the House of Representatives session hall.

Authored by Representative Rufus Rodriguez (second district, Cagayan de Oro City) and Representative Maximo Rodriguez Jr. (Abante-Mindanao), the resolution expressed the House’s sincere gratitude to Teco, the Taiwan Association, and the Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation for their assistance and donations of relief goods, medicine, clothing and rice to the flood victims of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities.

Taiwan has never failed to help the Philippines following calamities. More than 12,000 Filipinos have benefited from medical missions regularly dispatched by Taiwan. Several Philippine localities have also received donations of fire trucks, buses and ambulances.

Ambassador Wang said he was delighted by the resolution. He said Taiwan and the Philippines were very close neighbors, quoting a Chinese proverb that highlighted the relationship: “Close neighbors are more important than distant relatives.”

He said Taiwan was always ready and willing to offer a helping hand to the Philippines in times of need, quoting another saying: “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”