Drilon donates 100 fishing boats to Iloilo fishermen
MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Franklin Drilon donated on Thursday a total of 100 motorized fishing boats to fishermen in typhoon “Yolandaâ€-hit province of Iloilo.
The turnover ceremony was held in the coastal town of Concepcion in Iloilo and was attended by Drilon and provincial officials led by Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor.
Drilon, an Iloilo native, said that P2-million was raised for the purchase of these bancas, which would benefit the towns of Concepcion, Estancia (which also suffered from an oil spill) and Carles which were badly hit by the recent typhoon.
He noted that during his previous visit, he saw how the calamity destroyed the livelihood of so many fisherfolk in the coastal towns.
"Thousands of bancas were destroyed by the storm, 80 percent of which were motor bancas much valued by the fishermen that used them,†Drilon said in a statement.
"I felt it was necessary to raise a fund from my personal savings, along with donations from some of my partner organizations, with which we were able to buy motorized boats," he added.
The senate leader said the donation would help fishermen and their families get back on their feet.
He also looked at the possibility of using Senate savings to procure more boats for fishermen in other affected provinces, including Leyte and Samar.
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