BOTOLAN, Zambales — A lawmaker on Sunday has provided assistance to the fisherfolk who owned the wrecked payao after it collided with a Hong Kong-based cargo ship last month.
According to Zambales Second District Representative Doris Maniquiz, she will provide a soft loan to members of the New Masinloc Fishermen’s Association in the amount of P150,000, the cost of their destroyed payao.
The solon also said that she made sure to contact the fisherfolk, hoping that the loan will be used for them to start all over again.
Maniquiz gave her assurance of financial assistance to NMFA vice chairman Rodencio Edora, the group’s secretary Honorio Mandario Jr., and 12 other members of the organization, who visited the legislator on Sunday.
Edora and Mandario expressed their gratitude to Maniquiz for the assistance and promised that given the loan, they will immediately work on another payao project.
“This will go a long way for our association members, as well as the other non-member fishermen from Masinloc who also fish at our payao. We thank you from our hearts,” Edora said.
Prior to this, Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. also announced assistance for the Masinloc fishers in their quest to seek damages from the management of HC Glory, the vessel that destroyed the fishermen’s payao some 16 kilometers offshore.
Ebdane said a government legal team will represent the Masinloc fishermen and that the matter has been referred to the agriculture and legal committees of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board) for further action.