The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) on Sunday, April 7, visited the affected Filipinos in Hualien, Taiwan, the epicenter of the magnitude 7.5 earthquake, to distribute relief packages and cash assistance.
In a press release obtained by DZRH News, MECO said the aid distribution was led by its chairman Silvestre Bello III.
"MECO distributed T$150,000 in assistance for emergency use of the various OFW [overseas Filipino workers] organizations," it said.
Binisita ng Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), sa pangunguna ni chairman Silvestre Bello III, ang mga Pilipino sa Hualien ngayong Linggo, Abril 7, ilang araw matapos ang magnitude 7.5 na lindol na tumama sa Taiwan. | DZRH News
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) April 7, 2024
📷: MECO pic.twitter.com/zmda1abHpd
In an interview with foreign media, Bello conveyed President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.'s sympathies to the people of Hualien and Taiwan.
"He sympathies with what happened to you and especially the buildings that collapsed and he hoped that not too much injury these cause to the people of Hualien," he continued.
MECO said its chairman also visited the Filipinos who are recovering from the injuries sustained after the quake and handed them T$10,000 each.
The Department of Migrant Workers confirmed that four Filipinos were hurt, with two sustained head injuries, one had a swollen hand, and the other had collapsed.
