BEIJING – China is ready to provide more assistance for the Philippines’ post-war rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Marawi City.
“China stands ready to continue providing needed support and assistance in light of the needs of the government of the Philippines,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson Lu Kang said in a press conference here.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday announced the liberation of the southern Philippine city from the clutches of the extremists following the killing of terrorist leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute.
“The Chinese side sincerely hopes that the people in Marawi and the Mindanao region can enjoy the peaceful and tranquil life again at an early date,” Lu said.
Last June, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua handed to Philippine health and social welfare officials a PHP15-million check donation for Marawi City’s relief operations and rehabilitation.
The presentation of the check was witnessed by President Duterte, whose foreign policy has led to the revival of Chinese-Philippine relations.
According to the reports, at least PHP50 billion will be needed to rehabilitate Marawi City ravaged by five months of battle between government forces and the terrorists led by Hapilon and Maute.
Also last June, China donated PHP370 million worth of about 3,000 rifles and six million pieces of ammunition to help the Philippine military in fighting the terrorists.
“Combating terrorism is the shared responsibility of all nations,” Lu said.
In a press statement, Philippine Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar announced on Tuesday that China had donated 47 sets of heavy equipment, which would be used for the reconstruction of Marawi City.
The equipment, which arrived in Iligan City last week, consisted of eight sets of excavators, eight sets of wheel loaders, five sets of compactors, five sets of track-type tractors, five sets of bulldozers, eight sets of dump trucks, eight sets of cement mixers, and one container van.
Villar, who was part of President Duterte’s economic team that recently visited China, said seven more equipment were expected to arrive through China’s Emergency Humanitarian Assistance. (PNA)
