The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Cebu has donated a brand new, 16-seater ambulance worth PHP1.44 million to the Department of Health (DOH) in Central Visayas.
Chinese Consul General Jia Li personally turned over the donation to Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino, DOH-7 regional director Jaime Bernadas, and representatives from various government agencies on Friday.
Jia turned over the donated ambulance in the light of DOH-7’s amplified effort to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) contagion in the region.
The Chinese Consulate will also turn over soon another emergency rescue vehicle to Cebu province.
The Consulate had previously donated such rescue vehicle to the municipality of Oslob in Cebu and the Bohol provincial government.
The gesture is a latest exhibit of the friendship between China and the Philippines, the consul general said.
Earlier, the Consulate also turned over 7,292 bags of rice worth PHP3.5 million to the city and provincial governments here and to the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas.
Jia had said the donation “is our way of showing solidarity with the Filipinos in its fight against Covid-19, our common enemy”.
The Philippines and China recently commemorated their 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Jia cited the joint efforts of both governments in addressing the adverse impact of the pandemic to the people.
“We believe that through a joint effort by both countries, the Filipino people will prevail over this pandemic and establish a safe, productive and healthy nation,” Jia said.
Both countries have been working to promote cooperation and exchanges in investment, trade, tourism and culture. (PNA)