Rotary Club to re-equip Samar fishermen

Typhoon Haiyan survivors walk at the destroyed port in the town of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Friday, Nov. 15, 2013. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – After fishermen in Eastern Samar lost their sails to Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” a rotary club chapter in Makati is coming to the rescue to help reestablish lost livelihoods.

The Rotary Club of Makati Dasmariñas (RCMD) launched the Dolores Boat Project to give the fishermen of Dolores, Eastern Samar new equipment to resume their livelihood, a statement said.

“The boat project is our way of heeding the urgent plea of the community,” said RCMD President Lia Francisco whose group sponsored a free cataract surgical mission in Dolores last year.

“It uniquely provides a means of sustainable livelihood for the hundreds of fisher folk after the devastating typhoon.”

According to the statement, local craftsmen in each villages in Dolores would be employed to build the fishing boats that would be given to the local fishermen.

RCMD is aiming to produce about 300 fishing boats, each fitted with oars,  outriggers, fishing nets and a kerosene lamps that would help jumpstart the fisherman’s livelihood.

Donors are asked P5,500 for the project that would also give them naming rights to each sponsored boat.

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