Myanmar gives relief to Cebu

[caption id="attachment_58747" align="alignright" width="300"] AN ASIAN NEIGHBOR SHOWS CONCERN — Myanmar President Thein Sein (right) pledges to provide financial and medical assistance to the victims of super-typhoon 'Yolanda' in the Philippines. President Sein visited the Yolanda-hit Bantayan Island last Friday. In the picture are (seated from right) Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, Santa Fe Mayor Jose Esgana, Bantayan Mayor Ian Cristofer Escario, and Madridejos Mayor Salvador de la Fuente (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr.)[/caption]

Bantayan Island, Cebu — President Thein Sein of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar personally turned over two-tons of relief goods, including medicines and medical equipment worth over P650,000 to the Cebu provincial government as his country's assistance to typhoon Yolanda victims in northern Cebu.

The donated items were turned over by the Myanmar government to the Cebu provincial government in a short ceremony at the Mactan Cebu International Airport last Friday, capping Sein's three-day state visit to the Philippines.

The medical equipment donated included ten stethoscopes, five sphygmomanometers, one minor surgical set, two ECG machines and two glucometers with strips. There were also over 140 assorted kinds of medicine as well as dressing tablets, antibiotics, injectables, powder and liquids.

In the next few days, a special medical team from Myanmar will  also be arriving in Bogo City to help in the overall treatment and medical aid being given to typhoon Yolanda victims there.

Accompanied by Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Thein conducted an aerial view of the damage wrought by the typhoon on Bantayan Island.

Later, he said the people of Myanmar are one with the Filipino people because they, in his country, have also experienced the wrath of nature when cyclone Nargis hit the Irrawaddy region in 2008, killing 130,000 people.

When Nargis hit Myanmar, the cyclone caused a 27-feet storm surge that wiped out everything in its path, dislocating 2.5 million people, related Thein.

He, however, said that Filipinos are more prepared when it comes to typhoons because of their frequency — between 20 to 25 — each year.

Thein stressed that the typhoon victims will be able to overcome what they have been through if people here come together to work in reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.

"With the resilience, courage and spirit of the Filipino people you might be able to stand on your feet within a very short period of time," he said.

Mayor Jose Esgana of Sta. Fe town, Mayor Chris Ian Escario of Bantayan and Mayor Salvador dela Fuente of Madridejos thanked the Myanmar president his personal show of concern in visiting their respective municipalities and for the assistance that his country extended them.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/myanmar-gives-relief-to-cebu/