Ambassador to Panama Hou Ping-fu noted that the ROC government built 30 bamboo houses last year in Panama’s Ngobe Bugle area with the aim of improving the life quality of Panama’s indigenous people.

The bamboo houses turned out to be popular and so Taiwan has scheduled to build an additional 300 this year and another 300 next year for the Panamanian people, who also plan to grow bamboo by themselves for the use of construction, Hou said.

Hou said Taiwan will help build 90 schools in rural villages in Panama and will also help restore the country’s dilapidated gyms, baseball and soccer fields.

Hou emphasized that Taiwan’s foreign aid projects now focus on providing assistance to poor people in remote rural areas of diplomatic allies and have totally transparent management.

He said Taiwan also donated vehicles, motorbikes and communication devices to Panama’s police force to help improve the country’s social order.