Bantayan fisherfolk get 17 brand new motorboats from Carmen Copper Corp.

CEBU, Philippines - With the aim of giving back their source of  livelihood, a private company donated 17 brand new motorboats to the fisherfolk of Panitugan Islet in Bantayan town.  The fisherfolk, 17 of them, lost their means of livelihood when super typhoon Yolanda wreaked havoc in Visayas on November last year.

The fishermen were teary-eyed as they each received the engine starters during a turnover ceremony yesterday in Bantayan.

“Mapasalamaton kaayo mi na nabalik na ang among panginabuhian. Dili na gyud pait pagpangita para sa among pang-adlaw-adlaw na konsumo,” said Placido Batorsal, 46, who could not contain his tears from falling upon receiving the engine starter from Carmen Copper officials.

The fisherfolk are beneficiaries of Carmen Copper and Atlas Mining Adopt-an-Island project under its Social Development and Management Program, a Corporate Social Responsibility agenda of Carmen Copper.

Carmen Copper director and executive vice president Adrian Ramos said they particularly chose Panitugan Islet as this was the first islet among several other islets in Bantayan that they have reached at the height of their relief operations.

“While the other mining companies held their relief operations in Leyte, we decided to focus ours here in Bantayan, and in one of our relief operations, someone from Panitugan Islet informed us that they have not yet received any assistance,” said Ramos.

Ramos said Carmen Copper cancelled its Christmas party and the employees donated P150 each for the construction of the boats, which cost P30,000 each.

The construction, which started in January, was done in Bantayan. Some of the beneficiaries even helped to construct their boat. Apart from donating motorboats, Carmen Copper was also able to provide jobs and income to boat builders in the islet.

The company also distributed relief  packs to about 150 families in the islet during the relief operations few days after the storm. There were also over 7,300 families in the municipalities of San Remigio, Daanbantayan, Santa Fe, and Madridejos that benefited the relief operation of  the company.

Ramos said they are also considering on donating motorboats to fishermen in the islet of  Lipayran.

Bantayan Vice Mayor Chad Cañares said Bantayanons experienced “unimaginable” effects of typhoon Yolanda, but with the help of Carmen Copper and other donors, they were able to gradually recover.

“I know pila pa katuig before ta makabangon, but thanks sa nagkalainlaing donors, hinayhinay ta’ng naka-recover,” said Canares that garnered the applause of Bantayanons yesterday. (FREEMAN)