Original article at: http://www.interaksyon.com/article/80893/ngo-gives-55-fiberglass-boats-to-tacloban-fishermen
TACLOBAN CITY – Fifty-five fiberglass fishing boats were turned over by the Negrense Volunteers for Change (NVC) to fishermen of Barangays 88, 89, and 90 of this city over the weekend.
Millie Kilayko, president of NVC, explained that the project dubbed as Peter Project 2 used to be intended only for residents of Negros who wanted to engage in fishing but have no means to acquire their own fishing boats.
However, after the devastation by typhoon Yolanda and with the suggestions of partner donors, NVC extended the project to the three regions of Visayas.
The 55 units were initial donations as NVC plans to provide 1,600 fiberglass fishing boats to the cities of Tacloban and Ormoc, the towns of Dulag and Javier, and some places in Samar Island, said Kilayko.
“This is the first batch, we will be coming back this March to distribute the second batch of fiberglass fishing boats,” he said.
A volunteer from their organization conducts the listing and verification of beneficiaries to ensure that there is no duplication of support from other organizations that provide similar help.
One of the recipients is Mark Ronald Lago of Barangay 88, a fisherman since the age of 11.
Lago shared that he stopped schooling because every time he comes home from school there was no food on their table. The only way to solve the problem was to go fishing.
Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin, who coordinated with NVC, said that giving the survivors fishing boats is better than giving them food to eat.
“This gives them new hope. This will make them continue with what they used to do – providing food not just for their family but for the entire community,” Yaokasin said. “The theme now should not only be Tindog Tacloban but also Padayun Tacloban, which is going forward to a better future with the help of this livelihood,” he added.