Taiwan donates $100,000 to help Vigan City repair quake-damaged structures

On behalf of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Representative Peiyung Hsu of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines donated $100,000 to Vigan City at a handover ceremony on 21 November 2022, to assist the city repair, reconstruct, rehabilitate, and restore structures damaged by a 7.0-magnitude that hit the region last 27 July 2022.

Mayor Hon. Jose "Bonito" C. Singson Jr., together with city councilors and officials, accepted the donation on behalf of Vigan City at the City Hall. Governor Jeremias Singson of the Heritage Province of Ilocos Sur was present to witness the donation.

Hsu expressed Taiwan's sincere sympathy for the victims and their families hit by the calamity, and highlighted how the project involves public safety, heritage conservation, and revitalization of the city's economy. He expressed the hope that the damaged cultural and historical structures would be restored as soon as possible.

Singson Jr. extended his heartfelt gratitude to Taiwan for its generosity on behalf of his constituents and municipality.

The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the DPWH, the National Commission for Culture and Arts, and the Regional Post Damage and Needs Assessment Group estimated that the damage to Vigan and its Spanish-era structures amounted to P250 million (approximately USD$4.41 million).