TAIWANESE JOIN TYPHOON REHAB WORK:

Leaders of two Taiwanese organizations recently paid a visit to Representative Raymond L.S. Wang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural OfFce in the Philippines (TECO) to discuss their joint long-term rehabilitation efforts in areas affected by typhoon Pablo in Davao Oriental. The Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) Social Welfare and Charity Foundation, an international Buddhist spiritual, cultural, and educational foundation dedicated to uplifting the condition of humanity, and the Taiwan Association (Phils) Inc., in cooperation with TECO and the local government of Davao Oriental, will be donating P8 million for the construction of 100 shelter homes for victims in the municipalities of Baganga, Cateel, and Boston. The idea of constructing shelter homes came to the Taiwanese organizations upon realizing that there is a more urgent clamor for shelter among the citizens, who are all presently placed at makeshift relocation sites. Aside from this, these Taiwanese organizations, with the support of the Taiwan government, will also donate 200 tons of rice directly imported from Taiwan to the local governments of Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, and Davao City in a series of turnover ceremonies from March 8 to 10, 2013. From left are Ms. Lee Ying-Hua, chief, Emergency Aid Section, DDM; Chiang Hung-Chi, secretary general, DDM; Rep. Raymond L.S. Wang, TECO; David Shih, president, Taiwan Association Inc.; and James Shih, commissioner, OCAC.