The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) donated more than PHP5 million worth of disaster relief supplies to the Philippines following the consecutive storms that ripped through the country in less than a month.

“Given the geographical proximity and frequent exposure to extreme weather and natural disasters, the Taiwan government and its people deeply empathize with the Philippines’ current plight,” it said.

“The Taiwan government and its people extend their heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the typhoons, wish the injured a swift recovery, and hope that they will soon rebuild their homes and resume normal lives,” it added.

TECO Rep. Wallace Minn-Gan Chow offered assistance to Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Chairperson Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil in a ceremony on Friday.

The supplies include emergency shelter kits, solar lamps, bedding sets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, kitchen sets, and personal hygiene items.

MECO will be delivering fresh aid to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for coordinated distribution.

The Philippines suffered a severe blow from Super Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami), which unleashed heavy rains in the Bicol region in late October.

Before recovery efforts were even completed, more typhoons pummeled the country, with the destructive Super Typhoon Pepito (Man-yi) as the most recent one.

The series of typhoons have already displaced over one million people, affected more than 10 million individuals, and caused extensive damage to farmlands and infrastructure, with losses estimated at over PHP470 million. (PNA)