An association of Filipino-Chinese businessmen donated on Friday a total of P1.45 million cash to fishermen whose boat was reportedly rammed by a Chinese vessel in Reed (Recto) Bank in the West Philippine Sea to help mitigate their plight.
Members of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FCCCII) handed on Friday two checks worth P1.2 million and P250,000 to four of the 22 fishermen involved in the incident during a press conference in Quezon City.
“We at the FFCCCII are donating P1.2 million for the complete rehabilitation of their damaged fishing boat, and we are also donating P250,000 as livelihood assistance for the 22 fishermen,” federation president, Henry Lim Bon Liong, said, adding that they are ready to help their fellow countrymen.
“The FFCCCII, as a Filipino business and civic organization, gave this assistance to our fellow countrymen in distress – the fishermen, the fishing boat owner and their families – hoping that this humanitarian act can help alleviate their plight,” Liong continued.
On top of the financial aid, the association also pledged to donate five public school buildings for the municipality of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, the hometown of the fishermen.
The FFCCCII president explained that their assistance and support had “no strings attached” and would not in any way affect the fishermen’s statements on the incident as probe is underway.
The four fishermen, led by Junel Insigne, the captain of the sunken F/B Gem-Ver 1, and Felix Dela Torre, the boat owner, with two crew members, personally accepted the association’s aid.
Insigne and Dela Torre also read their prepared statements to the media as they thanked the members of the FFCCCII .
“Kaming 22 mangingisda ay nagpapasalamat sa FFCCCII sa inyong tulong sa amin at sa aming pamilya. Ang krisis na ito ay talagang naka-apekto sa aming kabuhayan at kinabukasan kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa Filipino-Chinese community sa pagiging bukas-palad,” Insigne said. (Alexandria San Juan)