The Filipino-Chinese community has donated new school buildings and essential supplies to communities in Negros Occidental in an effort to address the shortage of school infrastructure and provide relief to victims of recent natural disasters.
These initiatives were spearheaded by the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) and its local chapters.
Two new two-classroom school buildings were recently turned over to elementary schools in Bacolod City.
The donations were part of the FFCCCII’s long-running “Operation Barrio School” project, which has now provided over 6,838 school buildings with over 12,000 classrooms across the Philippines.
SGS Hardware and the Simplicio Gamboa Sr. (SGS) Foundation Inc. donated a two-classroom building to the Andres Bonifacio Elementary School in Bacolod City.
KJ Fairmart Inc. and Best Tank Mfg. Corp. also donated a two-classroom building to Jose R. Torres Sr. Elementary School in Singcang, Bacolod City.
The local efforts were coordinated by the Southern and Northern Negros chapters of the Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The handover ceremonies coincided with a visit from an FFCCCII delegation led by President Victor Lim and former President Cecilio Pedro.
The federation has also pledged to donate five more two-classroom buildings to areas most affected by the recent Kanlaon volcano eruptions.
The FFCCCII has also swiftly responded to calls from mayors in cities and municipalities affected by the Kanlaon Volcano eruptions.
Working with its local Negros chapters, the federation delivered 14,000 GI sheets to displaced residents in Canlaon City, Moises Padilla, Bago City, La Castellana, and La Carlota City.
This followed an initial wave of support in December 2024, when sacks of rice were distributed to victims immediately after the eruption.
These recent donations highlight the broad commitment of the Filipino-Chinese community to serving the country.
The FFCCCII’s motto, “Dugong Tsino, Pusong Pinoy” (Chinese Blood, Filipino Heart), is reflected in their diverse charitable activities.
Other FFCCCII outreach projects include:
*The Volunteer Fire Brigades organized by local member chambers of FFCCCII all over the country, such as the Bacolod Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade;
*Regular weekly medical missions in Metro Manila; and
*The distribution of relief goods to areas hit by typhoons and other calamities, such as the P10 million worth of assistance given to victims of the southwest monsoon induced rains, recently.*