MANILA, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday expressed his gratitude to Filipino- Chinese businessmen who will construct houses and schools for the victims of typhoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda).

Aquino witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) and the provincial government of Leyte in a ceremony held in Malacanang, the presidential palace.

"As president, I made a point to be here today to personally express my gratitude, and the gratitude of your countrymen. Your actions, and your willingness to respond in times of crisis, have inspired in me the expectation that you will act with the same amount of solidarity, no matter what challenges lie ahead," he said in his speech.

Under the agreement, FFCCCII and five other Filipino-Chinese organizations will finance the construction of 500 houses in a 500- hectare lot in Barayong village, Palo City in the central Philippine province of Leyte.

The project would cost 40 million pesos (888,000 U.S. dollars) and will benefit 500 families. The relocation site will be called "Filipino-Chinese Friendship Village."

Filipino-Chinese businessmen will also construct 10 classrooms costing 2 million pesos (45,000 U.S. dollars).

Aquino assured Filipino-Chinese businessmen what they are doing on the community level. "My government has been doing, and will continue to do so, on a national scale."

Typhoon Haiyan, which struck central Philippines on Nov. 8, left 6,200 people dead and more than 1,700 others missing.