The Filipino-Chinese community has committed ₱11 million in emergency relief and rehabilitation assistance for communities affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao on June 8, with aid focused on General Santos City and nearby areas.
The assistance package was announced on Friday, June 19, by Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) president Victor Lim during a press conference at the FFCCCII Building in Binondo, Manila.
“The federation and the entire Filipino-Chinese community are deeply saddened by the devastation caused by this tragedy,” Lim said. “Our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones, homes, livelihoods, and sources of income. Nakikiramay po kami.”
According to FFCCCII, its Southern Mindanao regional leadership and the South Cotabato Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce immediately coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and local government units following the earthquake to assess damage and identify urgent needs.
Initial assessments showed that about 2,000 families in General Santos City were affected, while evaluations in other hard-hit areas remained ongoing.
In response, Lim convened an emergency meeting of the Filipino at Tsino Magkaibigan Foundation, a coalition of 30 major Filipino Chinese civic, cultural, and business organizations spearheaded by FFCCCII. The group approved ₱6 million for immediate relief operations.
Of the amount, ₱1 million was released to the South Cotabato Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce for the preparation and distribution of relief packs to affected households. Each package, valued at about ₱500, contains five kilograms of rice, canned sardines, noodles, instant coffee, and 10 liters of drinking water.
The Filipino-Chinese community is also dispatching 4,000 galvanized iron roofing sheets to help families repair damaged homes and begin rebuilding.
“Our local chamber will continue to closely monitor developments on the ground and coordinate with government agencies to identify communities that may require additional assistance in the coming weeks,” Lim said.
Beyond emergency assistance, FFCCCII has earmarked another ₱5 million from its welfare fund for the possible repair and rehabilitation of public school buildings damaged by the earthquake. The funds may be used for schools built under the federation’s long-running Operation: Barrio Schools program.
The combined allocation brings the community’s total earthquake response commitment to ₱11 million.
Lim said the relief effort reflects a longstanding tradition of support by the Filipino-Chinese community during national emergencies.
“For centuries, the Filipino-Chinese community has stood side by side with our fellow Filipinos during times of calamity, crisis, and hardship. We believe that helping others is not merely an obligation—it is a moral responsibility and a shared expression of our gratitude to the nation we proudly call home,” he said.
He also thanked the 30 member organizations of the Filipino at Tsino Magkaibigan Foundation for contributing to the relief initiative.
Lim urged Filipino-Chinese organizations across the country, along with businesses, civic groups, and private citizens, to continue supporting affected communities and efforts to restore livelihoods and local economies in Mindanao.
“No act of kindness is too small when people are in need,” he said. “The road to recovery may be long, but the resilience, courage, faith, and bayanihan spirit of the Filipino people remain stronger than any earthquake.”
The announcement coincided with the Dragon Boat Festival, one of the most important observances in Chinese culture. Lim said the festival, which commemorates the poet and statesman Qu Yuan, serves as a reminder of the values of patriotism, solidarity, and public service.
“As we commemorate the Dragon Boat Festival—a celebration of patriotism, solidarity, and service to others—may we be reminded that our greatest strength lies in our unity and compassion for one another,” Lim said.
“Sa panahon ng pagsubok, mas lalo tayong dapat magkaisa. Sa panahon ng pagdurusa, mas lalo tayong dapat magmalasakit. At sa panahon ng pagbangon, dapat tayong magtulungan upang walang maiwan.”
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