The Chinese government on Thursday donated ₱4 million worth of food assistance for the evacuees displaced by the Mayon Volcano in Albay province and for Typhoon Betty-hit victims in Cagayan province.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian received the donation turned over by the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian.

According to DSWD, the first batch of food donations is composed of 502 bags of 25-kilogram rice, 100 bags of 12-kilogram rice, 20 boxes of fast noodles, 20 boxes of biscuits, and 50 boxes of flour.

DSWD Rex Gatchalian expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government for its kind assistance.

“These (donations) would be used into making sure that our residents or countrymen that are affected are taken cared of. We know that despite the fact that the department is ready to answer to the call, we always appreciate when friends come in to our lead,” he said in a speech.

China will send another 3,600 bags of 25-kilogram rice to complete the ₱4 million donation.

As of Friday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that at least 9,947 families or 38,391 individuals living in the Mayon Volcano’s permanent danger zone (PDZ) have been evacuated.

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China also donated an additional ₱1 million cheque for the families who have been affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Betty, known by its international name Mawar, last month.

Aside from China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) donated 55 tons of food assistance for residents affected by the Mayon Volcano, and these arrived in the country last Monday.