News

China donates P100M for DSWD anti-poverty programs

Amid the territorial dispute, China continues to extend a helping hand to the Philippines with a P100 million donation to fund anti-poverty programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

In a statement on Wednesday, December 21, DSWD announced that Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua signed a memorandum of understanding on December 16 “to finance livelihood programs and strengthen the Department’s anti-poverty and disaster relief programs.”

Taguiwalo said the money would be used for DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program.

“We are trying to develop and strengthen our programs that will create jobs, create businesses so that the poor can stand on their own, as well as assistance to our community-initiated development programs, disaster response and protective services,” said Taguiwalo as quoted by Rappler.

Ambassador Jianhua, meanwhile, said that the Chinese embassy would continue to work together with DSWD to help those in the country’s poorest areas.

Last November, DSWD received over P35 million from China for recovery and rehabilitation efforts in calamity-stricken areas, which is apart from the P60 million also from the Chinese government for families affected by Typhoon Lawin in October.

Also in the same month, the Chinese government committed to a $9-billion (P449 billion) “soft loan” for development projects, which includes drug rehabilitation programs, during the state visit of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Chinese businessman Huang Rulun has also donated a mega drug rehabilitation center in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija. Inaugurated last month, it was set to be the country’s largest drug rehab facility once it was completed.

Related Articles

Back to top button