Help is on the way.
This was the assurance made by Asian Shipping Corp. (ASC) to the owners of the shanties destroyed by two of its barges that rammed into 42 houses in Sitio Capulong, Tondo, along the shoreline of Manila Bay during the height of Typhoon “Gener” on Monday.
The shipping line agreed to pay P5,000 for each family affected by the displacement, according to the office of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.
The money can give the victims a fresh start, said ASC’s Robinson Sy.
The barges drifted towards the houses after strong waves let loose the anchors holding the vessels in place.
No one was reported injured, but the incident left around 138 families homeless, Barangay Happyland chair Luisito Reyes said.
Manila Department of Social Welfare head Jay de la Fuente said a feeding program is now in place for the victims who are temporarily housed at the covered court of Barangay 105. Jamie Marie Elona