Manila, Philippines (November 21, 2025)— Taiwan has extended financial assistance to the Philippines by donating US$500,000 on Friday to help support ongoing relief and recovery operations following the devastation caused by two recent typhoons.
Wallace Chow, Taiwan’s representative to the Philippines, formally handed over the donation in Manila to Corazon Padiernos, chairperson and resident representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), along with MECO board member Joseph Omar Castillo.
Chow expressed Taiwan’s sympathy to Filipino communities affected by the disasters, noting that both Taiwan and the Philippines are frequently hit by typhoons, earthquakes, and other natural calamities — a shared reality that strengthens mutual understanding and compassion.
Padiernos conveyed her deep appreciation for Taiwan’s continued humanitarian assistance. She stated that the funds would be forwarded to the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other relevant agencies to ensure proper allocation for relief operations.
Reflecting on her own experiences with natural disasters, Padiernos recalled a typhoon that once damaged her family home in La Union, emphasizing how crucial timely support can be for affected communities. She also expressed hope that Taiwan and the Philippines could soon establish a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) framework to enhance cooperation and improve response efficiency during emergencies.
The donation supports relief efforts following Typhoon Kalmaegi and Typhoon Fung-Wong, which swept across several regions of the Philippines, resulting in widespread destruction.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the two typhoons left nearly 300 people dead, about 600 injured, and more than 130 individuals missing. Infrastructure and agricultural losses are estimated to have reached ₱5 billion (US$84.77 million).
This latest assistance comes shortly after Taiwan donated US$250,000 and emergency supplies in late September in response to the magnitude-6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu Province.