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With the country facing a succession of typhoons since the onset of the rainy season, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) received a very timely aid of 25 million Chinese yuan or P172 million worth of engineering equipment from the People’s Republic of China-Ministry of National Defense (PROC-MND).

The equipment, expected to be of great contribution to the government's ongoing rehabilitation efforts in areas ravaged by typhoons, was unveiled by the Republic of the Philippines-Department of National Defense (RP-DND) in a blessing and formal handover ceremony Thursday at the GHQ Grandstand.

Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin graced the event as guest of honor and speaker, while China’s Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao served as the special guest.

The AFP, the direct recipient of the aid, was represented by Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo A. David Jr.

The 33 units of engineering equipment arrived at the Port of Manila on July 11 with the informal handover and takeover signed by Col. Chen Fangming and Rear Admiral Mario A. Catacutan, representatives of PROC and RP, respectively.

The PROC shouldered all the expenses for transporting the equipment to the Philippines. The Philippine side paid for all the expenses incurred upon the arrival of the equipment. The AFP processed the documents for the release of the said equipment in coordination with PROC representatives.

The equipment is composed of eight graders, two loaders, three road rollers, four backhoe loaders, three dump trucks, two road wreckers, one aerial vehicle and 10 bulldozers. The AFP Corps of Engineers evaluated the distribution of the equipment to different engineering units in the country.

Gazmin expressed his deep appreciation over the military aid to the Chinese government.

“As a tangible testimony to the kindness and helpfulness of a great friend and neighbor, the People’s Republic of China, we have now an array of engineering equipment for our Armed Forces, that would be of utmost assistance in our many developmental nation-building and construction endeavors throughout the country. On behalf of the Philippine government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, allow me to therefore convey, through His Excellency Liu Jianchao, our profound thanks to the Government of the People’s Republic of China, it’s Ministry of National Defense, and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army for the generous assistance that we shall treasure as a token of enduring friendship and cooperation between our two nations and peoples,” said Gazmin

Jianchao, for his part, said that the military aid from China is a testament to the friendship and cooperation between the governments of China and the Philippines which has been strengthened in the recent years. The equipment will be used by the AFP Engineering regiments in disaster relief and other humanitarian assistance endeavors, in response to the natural disasters being experienced by the country, to which China was no stranger as well. Ambassador Liu Jianchao hopes that through the equipment, those who will be affected by natural disasters will be given urgent assistance and hope at a better life. - PNA

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