GUIUAN, Eastern Samar- Two hundred motor engines and another three hundred fishing boats were distributed recently by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to fishermen coming from different towns of this province.
About 143 cash for work fishermen-beneficiaries were also given financial assistance amounting to P1, 500 each.
The distribution of the fishing facilities is under the Ahon!Sampung Libong Bangka para sa Dalawampung Libong Pamilya is a project of BFAR which aim to provide 10,000 fishing boats or bancas in three months to help rebuild the livelihood of some 20,000 fishermen hit by Yolanda.
In Eastern Visayas, BFAR-8 reported that out of the projected 19,000 fishermen hit by Yolanda, 5,000 of them would be given assistance.
The BFAR-8 reported that 1,864 fishing boats were either repaired or replaced for fishermen from the 11 municipalities of Eastern Samar.
For Guiuan,880 units were distributed; 284 in Salcedo;135 in Quinapondan;130 for Lawaan;114 for Giporlos;106 for Llorente;89 for Gen. Mcarthur;79 for Hernani and other fishermen from other municipalities of the province.
Also, at least 119 boat engines have been replaced and functional fishing boats were tallied at 482 for fishermen of this town, considered to have the highest number of fishermen affected by the massive typhoon.
And under the cash-for-work program of BFAR, 156 fishermen availed such program receiving P1, 500 each of them. Also, fishing gears were distributed to 60 fishermen while seaweed culture inputs were provided to 369 beneficiaries.
DA-8 Regional Director Bernadette San Juan and BFAR-8 Regional Director Juan Albaladejo were on hand to distribute the fishing boats, engines and cash assistance together with other agricultural inputs given to the agriculture sector.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala was present to announce the projects and rehabilitation being conducted by the Department of Agriculture for farmers and fishermen and the whole agriculture sector affected by Typhoon Yolanda. (AHLETTE C. REYES)
