A total of 500 fisherfolk here received food packs from the Capiz provincial government and Gerry Roxas Foundation.
This initiative was done through the “Task Force Pagdumdum” of Gov. Fredenil Castro as initial assistance amid the Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) contamination affecting the livelihood of the people in the coastal areas.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer lawyer Shiela Artillero said that the food packs from the Capiz provincial government include 10 kilos of rice and canned goods, while the Gerry Roxas Foundation gave out noodles, coffee, and milk.
“Subong, gina ready pa naton ang list sang mga beneficiaries nga mga registered fisherfolk sa iban pa nga coastal barangays sang probinsya nga naapektohan sang red tide (Now we are preparing the list of registered fisherfolk in other coastal barangays of the province that were affected by the red tide),” Artillero added.
For his part, Roxas City mayor Ronnie Dadivas expressed his gratitude to Gov. Castro and the Gerry Roxas Foundation for the food assistance given to the affected fisherfolk.
Aside from the initial assistance, Gov. Castro will also extend financial aid to the affected fisherfolk through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
One of the beneficiaries is Virgenia Adepin, a 77-year-old from Brgy. Calujao in Roxas City, whose only source to earn a living is through harvesting “litob” or blood clams.
She expressed her thanks to Gov. Castro and mayor Dadivas for the aid she received.
“Mayad man to kay ginbuligan kami sang gobyerno kay isa man lang ako nga gapangabuhi, kag gapasagod nalang ko subong sa akon apo kay wala gid ako kita kay may red tide subong (It is good that we have received help from the government because I am living alone, and now because of red tide, I am only relying on my grandchild),” Adepin added.
Further, Ruby Delanta from Brgy. Culasi said that her family’s livelihood is harvesting oysters, which was greatly affected by the red tide.
“Pasalamat gid kami sa Ginoo kag sa mga nagbulig sa amon kay nag-abot ang ini nga kantidad. Ang panginhas sang talaba lang ni ang amon ginasaligan sa pang adlaw-adlaw namon nga pagpangabuhi (We are grateful to God and to those people who helped us because we only rely on harvesting oysters for our daily needs),” Delanta stated. Based on the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Bulletin No. 21 issued on Sept. 8, the shellfish that were collected and tested from coastal waters of Roxas City and the towns of Panay, Pilar, Ivisan, Sapian, and President Roxas are still positive for PSP or toxic red tide.
