MORE than 1,000 families in Masinloc, Zambales affected by the fishing ban by the Chinese government in the disputed South China Sea, were provided free medical and dental services by the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, headed by Dr. James Dy, in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard.
The medical mission was part of the CGHMC and the Filipino Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Inc. continued medical assistance to thousands of poor Filipinos in the different provinces affected by the natural and man-made disasters, Dy told the Manila Standard.
Among the patients provided with immediate medical attention was Shena Esico, who suffered a third-degree burn in her right leg and needed medicines and for her immediate recovery.
PCG Rear Admiral William Melad, Masinloc Mayor Arsenia Lim and Inhobol barangay chieftain Dennis Ukol, were also present to assist and provide the necessary medicines and equipment for the medical mission.
During the event, Dy urged the Chinese government to allow the Filipino small fishermen folds to continue to fish on the disputed waters on humanitarian grounds.
“I hope that the territorial issue will be set aside for the sake of this small people whose only means of livelihood is fishing in the area,” Dy said.
Filipino fishermen are still not allowed to fish in the waters of Scarborough Shoal, even after an international court backed the maritime case filed by the Philippines against China.
Only recently, Filipino fishermen attempted to enter the area but they were met by a Chinese fishing vessel and stopped them from entering the area around Scarborough Shoal.
Fishermen were also blocked by Chinese fishing vessel blocked near the Bajo de Masinloc, one of the traditional fishing grounds of the Filipinos living near the area.
Dy his group will visit Beijing, China, in the coming weeks, to appeal to the Chinese government to allow Filipino small fishermen to fish in the area, since China has already allowed the Philippines to again export bananas and pineapples to China.