BY: AMORGANDA Y. SALUDAR
Central Visayas, September 3 (PIA) --- Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade recently turned over new motorboats to eight (8) Yolanda-hit fishermen from the coastal villages of Carigara, Capoocan and Albuera on August 22 at Camp Downes, Ormoc City.
In a press release to PIA, Col. Dinoh Dolina, commander of the 802nd Brigade said the motorboats were donated by good citizens from Papua New Guinea and Army Cavaliers who volunteered to help people having hard time feeding their families after Yolanda.
The project is just one of the Army’s peace and development initiatives that aims to rebuild the livelihood of fishermen in areas affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda.
These donated boats are made up of quality wood with a 10-valve motor costing around Php15T for each unit.
The recipients were chosen based on the recommendation of military units who conducted the survey a month earlier.
Fifty-one year old Armando Macabenta, one of the recipients from Brgy. Guindapunan, Carigara, Leyte said he was surprised when informed by his wife that in a phone call from 19th Infantry Battalion he is advised to attend the awarding of motorboat in Ormoc City.
The latter (Macabenta) thought it was just a joke until members of the Charlie Company, 19th Infantry Battalion based in Brgy. Tinaguban, Carigara, Leyte came to their house to formally inform him along with two other recipients from their village on the awarding of motorboats.
In his speech, Col. Dolina was optimistic that the recipients’ income will increase with their brandnew motorboats. He also called upon them to promptly report to the authorities any illegal activity that they may encounter at sea.
It was then learned that the 802nd Brigade, with the same sponsors have already awarded three (3) units of motorboats to selected fishermen from San Isidro, Leyte and Baybay City on March 26 this year. (mbcn/ays/PIA7/with reports from 19th Infantry (Commando) Battalion, 81D,PA)