‘6,200: Mission Possible’ gives hope to Ormoc fishermen

ORMOC CITY , Philippines   â€“ Macho men don’t usually cry, but the menfolk of Barangay Naungan here unashamedly shed tears as their leader made an emotional speech thanking the Rotary Club of Makati South and Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez for giving them motorized bancas last week.

The motorized bancas were donations from the Rotary Club of Makati South and its sister clubs from other parts of the world that they coursed through Lucy’s “6,200: Mission Possible.” The sister clubs are the Rotary Clubs of Tokyo Jonan, Hapan; Jakarta Gambir, Indonesia; West Lake Village, California; Tanglin, Singapore; Gumbak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Naungan-San Juan Mangrove Planters Association (NASAMPA) president Renato Quilay said the motorized bancas will not only give them back their livelihood, but it also gave them hope and faith in the goodness of men.

In the vernacular, Quilay said, “I will never forget this day in my life. I will make this day (March 11) a holiday for my family and I will tell them about this day when our beautiful congresswoman and people with golden hearts gave us our lives back through a motorized boat.”

Behind Quilay were his members who tried to hide their tears, unsuccessfully. It was an emotional moment and Lucy, groping for words, simply hugged Quilay.

“I was very touched by his words,” said Lucy, “and hearing him … seeing them in tears, so thankful and happy, just makes all the hard work worth it.”

Fifty bancas with Honda engines worth P32,000 each were distributed to the NASAMPA members. Gomez said more bancas will be delivered to the fishermen in the days to come.

Gomez said the Rotary Club of Makati was the first donor of motorboats who called her, signifying that its members wanted to help her district. “It was another answered prayer,” she said.

The Leyte congresswoman has since launched “6200: Mission Possible,” aiming to raise 6,200 motorboats for her constituents. The number is based on the registered fishermen who lost their bancas and boats to Yolanda.

“At first, it seemed a mission impossible but as things shaped up, we called it Mission Possible,” she said.

Present during the turnover were officers of the Rotary Club of South Makati led by their president Ritz Estorco. His group included past presidents Lito Panlilio, Louie Vega, Dars Padilla, Pocholo Chunsim and Bobon Topacio.

Also present were Lucy’s husband Richard, Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo Locsin Jr., as well as city councilors Roland Villasencio, Tommy Serafica, Mario Rodriguez, Bennet Pongos Jr., Vincent Rama and Gerry Penserga.

In his speech before the fishermen, Estorco advised them to take care of their boats well. He added it was their club’s way of helping, not by giving them fish, but teaching them how to fish.

Vice Mayor Locsin, on the other hand, urged the recipients to make good use of the boats. “You will not only be helping your families but with more supply in the market, your catch can help bring down the prices of fish,” he said.

Price of fish here, especially the good ones, ballooned to almost P300 a kilo after Yolanda.

Previously, Gomez had distributed 25 motorboats to fishermen in Tinag-an, Albuera, Leyte which she got from Sen. Franklin Drilon.

Ten more motorboats were also turnedover to Palompon town. Richard Gomez disclosed that it was just the initial delivery as the other boats were still being made.