Regions Briefs: October 19, 2018

Taiwan gives PH P13.5M aid for ‘Ompong’ rehab

The Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has donated $250,000 (P13,506,250) to the Philippine government as assistance to rehabilitation and recovery efforts in areas devastated by Typhoon “Ompong” (international name: Mangkhut) last month. Ambassador Peiyung Hsu, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Teco) in the Philippines, turned over the humanitarian relief fund to Angelito Banayo, chair and resident representative of  Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan, during a ceremony marking the Republic of China (Taiwan) National Day reception at Sofitel Hotel on Oct. 9. Banayo thanked Taiwan for the donation, saying typhoon-affected families in north Luzon needed various kinds of assistance to recover from the natural disaster. Teco, in a statement, said Taiwan’s act of benevolence “fully demonstrates the genuine friendship and solidarity between the peoples of Taiwan and the Philippines.”

PAL starts new domestic routes from Clark

CLARK FREEPORT—Describing Clark International Airport here as the “future of the Philippines,” Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Thursday announced that it would start flights from Clark to three new domestic destinations on Oct. 28. The new routes are San Vicente town, Palawan province, which serves as the gateway to the El Nido resort; San Jose town, Occidental Mindoro province; and Cauayan City, Isabela province. The 86-seat Bombardier Q400 aircraft will be used for the new routes, according to Harry Inoferio, PAL assistant senior vice president for Visayas and Mindanao sales. —TONETTE OREJAS