Payapay fishermen receive 40 boats from generous NGO

By: Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, February 13 (PIA) – Forty (40) boats painted with blue color with length of 20feet and with of 18 inches, with motor engines¸ paddles¸ nets and life jackets, were turned over to the fishermen of Barangay 90 Payapay, San Jose, Tacloban City today by the Urban Poor Associates and the Holy Spirit Sisters.

The fishermen beneficiaries together with their wives and children gathered by the shore as Bishop John Du and Father Hector Villamil blessed the boats.

“I know that this boat will bring us luck because the boat united us all fishermen. We worked hard to make the boat and that is what made it different from all the gifts we received after typhoon Yolanda,” Rene Labucay, a beneficiary, said.

He said the beneficiaries are very grateful to the UPA and Holy Spirit Sisters for choosing the barangay for the boat distribution. He added that the Holy Spirit Sisters brought UPA and the local organizers to help organize the community.

Meanwhile, Sister Marie Claire Manding, SSPS, said that the livelihood project in Tacloban is a collaboration of the South and North Holy Spirit Sisters provincials. “We are planning to increase the number of beneficiaries by providing another 125 boats or more,”

Sister Marie Claire said. She added that the number of boats will signify the 125th foundation anniversary of the SSPS Congregation in the whole world. She gave thanks to the donors who believed in the project.

UPA partnership with SSPS was forged after UPA conducted a forum on December 17 dubbed as “Build Back Better that aimed to ensure that the people of Tacloban will beconsultedin all aspects of reconstruction, including land, houses¸health¸ jobs¸administration and hygiene kits.

For her part, Alicia Murphy, UPA Field Director said UPA helped in organizing Barangay 89 and 90, two areas hard hit by Yolanda where the beneficiaries reside.

“We are aiming that organizing 2000 families in the area will not only be for the livelihood program but will eventually lead to decent and resilient permanent homes, “ Murphy said.

“We are thankful to the DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman for giving tents and generator for the construction of boats,” Murphy added. The fishermen organized themselves into a people’s organization which they named “Yolanda Survivor Fishermen Association.” The women are also in the process of forming an organization that will focus on the needs of women and children.

Earlier, the UPA and the Holy Spirit Sisters distributed 14 pedicabs where the drivers are now earning P100 per day. It also helped them transport all their belongings every time there is a call for evacuation. The Holy Spirit Sisters and UPA also conducts Saturday feeding programs that aim to provide 165 children in Payapay with nutritious meals. (PIA 8)

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