At least four units of oxygen concentrator and 1,500 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPEs), including N95 face masks and isolation gowns were turned over to the Ilocos Norte government on Monday courtesy of the People’s Republic of China through its Consulate Office here.

Michael Pe Benito, who accepted the donation at the Provincial Resiliency Office, said he could no longer recall the numerous batch of donations from the Chinese Consulate that had been one of Ilocos Norte’s greatest allies in boosting its coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) response.

“We are grateful for the Chinese government for assisting us with our needs in this time of pandemic,” he said.

Since the onset of pandemic last year, the Chinese government along with various enterprises and the Chinese community, pulled together their resources to donate anti-pandemic materials for the Ilocanos.

In an earlier statement, Consul Zhou Youbin of the People’s Republic of China in Laoag, said, “the people of Northern Luzon in the Philippines have always been a friend to China since the time of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos.”

“During China’s fight against the coronavirus outbreak, we received full support from officials as well as the local people, and we will always be thankful,” said Zhou Youbin in a statement.

With the surge of Covid-19 in the province, the Chinese government has sustained its effort to assist Ilocos Norte officials as packs of relief items as well as additional PPEs and Chinese drugs came in handy at the Capitol lobby every now and then.

For his part, Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc said he can’t thank enough the numerous donors particularly the People’s Republic of China for delivering the urgently needed materials. (PNA)