Tacloban City, Leyte – People’s Republic of China Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua flew to Tacloban earlier this week to visit Typhoon Yolanda survivors staying in transitional shelters in the villages of Tagpuro and Cali.

The Ambassador was accompanied by officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Field Office VIII who also briefed him on the current situation of the families in the transitional sites and the plan of the government to move them soon to permanent resettlement sites.

During the visit, Ambassador Zhao  distributed relief packs to the families. He also consoled  two families staying at the Cali transitional site who lost several family members at the height of ‘Yolanda’.

“I can see from your smiles that you are confident and you have a better life.  The Chinese  Embassy in the Philippines would like to continue this kind of assistance. This is my first time here but I promise that it won’t be the last,”  Ambassador Zhao said.

The families  were grateful as the supply of goods brought by the Ambassador will last them a month.

The Ambassador continued, “Please remember that you are not alone. You have China, you have the International Organization for Migration (IOM). We will always stand by you  and make sure that you will have a better life.”

Upon learning of the warm welcome accorded to the Ambassador, DSWD-Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman thanked Ambassador Zhao for  meeting the survivors in the transitional shelters and remarked that his visit indicates the strong ties that continue to bind both countries.

She assured the Ambassador that a more decent life awaits the families when they transfer to their permanent homes.  ###