DPP Assists in CALD’s Post-Haiyan Relief and Reconstruction Efforts

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of Taiwan contributed a substantial amount to the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats’ (CALD) post-Haiyan (local name: Yolanda) relief and reconstruction efforts.  DPP, a CALD founding member-party, made the donation immediately after the super typhoon flattened many communities in the Visayas, central Philippines.  DPP Chair Su Tseng-chang, who was in Manila for the 20^th CALD Anniversary when the super typhoon struck, expressed the Party’s deep concern for and solidarity with the victims of one of the strongest typhoons to make landfall.

Director of the Department of International Affairs Mr. Liu Shih-chung, speaking on behalf of Chair Su, said, “I am proud to represent our chair and my party to help the people of the Philippines, and we hope that this can provide the assistance necessary for the typhoon-devastated victims to get back on their feet and to start their lives once again. With this donation, the DPP also wished to take the lead and encourage our government in power as well as the general Taiwanese public to show our compassionate spirit and understanding that Taiwan will always be responsive to ease human suffering.”

Apart from the DPP, CALD also received personal contributions from the following: DPP Legislator Bi-khim Hsiao, CALD Founding Member Maysing Yang, Wolfgang Sachsenroeder of Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) and Sam Rainsy/Mu Sochua of Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

CALD’s relief and reconstruction efforts are being coursed through the government offices of CALD Secretary General Neric Acosta – the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection (OPAEP) and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA).  The initial donations collected by CALD and by other groups were already transmitted by Sec. Acosta to the Philippine Medical Association (PMA).  Last 19 November, the first mission of the PMA’s floating hospital already sailed to the affected communities in the Visayas with the much needed medicines and food items.

Recently, on 30 November – 1 December, Sec. Acosta personally went to Ormoc, Leyte to see the extent of the damage caused by the super typhoon which killed close to 6,000 people and displaced at least 4 million.  He and his team visited different municipalities in Leyte such as: La Paz, Sogod, TabonTabon, Palo, Tanauan, and Tacloban. He met with the mayors of each municipality where he visited to discuss what could be done to rehabilitate the devastated areas.

Sec. Acosta emphasized the need for everybody’s contribution and cooperation in order to rebuild the communities damaged by the super typhoon. “We will not stop here and we have more work to do in order to bring back the life of the people to its normal state. I’m hoping for the cooperation of everyone for us to achieve this. As I always say, kung kaya nating isipin, kaya nating gawin (if we put our mind into it, we can do it). We will rise again,” he said.

As the Visayas begins the more difficult task of reconstruction, those who would still like to contribute to CALD’s relief and reconstruction efforts are much welcome to do so.  CALD is still accepting cash donations through its peso and dollar accounts.