MMDA donates boats to Samar fishermen

MANILA, Philippines - As part of its continuing commitment to help areas ravaged by supertyphoon Yolanda recover, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday donated 10 motor bancas for the fishermen of Sulat, Eastern Samar.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said each of the bancas, made of marine plywood, is equipped with a motor, lamps and fishing nets.

Tolentino said the 10 bancas will be transported by land from Metro Manila along with relief items from Cavite by 18 MMDA personnel. Tolentino said the boats and the goods are expected to reach Sulat by Wednesday.

Tolentino said the MMDA has committed to donate a total of 50 fishing boats to Sulat.

It would be recalled that the MMDA and the various local government units of Metro Manila had "adopted" towns and cities in Samar, Leyte and Palawan to help speed-up their recovery from the damage caused by Yolanda.

Aside from Sulat, the MMDA also adopted Coron, Palawan. The MMDA has pledged to rebuild Coron's public markets.

Meanwhile, under the same "adopt an LGU" scheme, the following Metro Manila LGUs have pledged to sustain rehabilitation assistance for the following affected areas:

Quezon City - Palampon, Tolosa, Sante Fe in Leyte
Pasig City - Mayorga, Palo, Barotac Viejo and Nuevo and Dumangas in Iloilo
Mandaluyong City - Isabel and Tanauan, Leyte
Marikina City - Hernani and Lorente, Eastern Samar
San Juan - Ormoc City and Albuera, Leyte
Taguig City - Gen. McArthur, Guiuan, Salcedo, Mercedes, and Quinapondan in Eastern Samar
Las Pinas City - Julita and Dulag, Leyte
Caloocan City - Abayog, Mc Arthur, La Paz in Leyte
Malabon City - Bogo, Cebu
Navotas City - Lawaan and Giporlos, Eastern Samar
Valenzuela City - Basey and Marabut in Western Samar
Paranaque City - Maydolong and Balanginga, Eastern Samar
Pasay City - Burauen, Tabon-Tabon, Dagami in Leyte
Muntinlupa City - Alang-Alang and Jaro in Leyte
Manila - Balangkayan and Taft in Eastern Samar
Makati City - Carigara, Leyte

Tolentino said the Metro Manila LGUs will help their adopted localities in a period of one year to help them recover from typhoon Yolanda's devastation.