LINGAYEN–Help is finally on the way.

Governor Victor Agbayani has assured help to the families of fishermen whose motorboats were capsized by huge waves off the high seas in Scarborough Shoal at the South China Sea on December 16, 2006.

Agbayani said the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) has been coordinating with the municipal social welfare offices of the affected coastal towns of Infanta, Bolinao, Dasol and Agno to complete the socio/economic documentation of the families of survivors, casualties and missing.

Proper documentation, he said, is needed to enable the provincial government to determine the appropriate emergency relief and livelihood assistance to be extended to the victims of the sea disaster, considered as one of the worst in the province’s history.

Meanwhile, Charlito Manigo, chairman of barangay Cato where most of the fishermen reside, and Mayor Ruperto Martinez have written to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo thru Undersecretary for Local Governance Antonio Villar Jr appealing for financial assistance to the victims.

“As a result of this tragedy, our fishers are still in state of trauma and never went out fishing again since Dec. 16,” the letter dated December 30, 2006 read.

The survivors also could not go back to their trade as most their motorboats were totally wrecked during the tragedy.

Meanwhile, Task Force Infanta, led by Lt. Colonel Gregory Cayetano of the Philippine Army, has already terminated the search and rescue operations on December 27 after the safe return and recovery of 202 fishermen.

Some 55 fishermen are still missing.

The disaster occurred when strong winds from the north spurred by the cold front, locally known as nortada, capsized at least 38 fishing boats.

Agbayani also said many of the fishermen were employees of operators of large fishing boats and may also be compensated and assisted by their employers.

For his part, Villar said, “I am also appealing to the Good Samaritans in our country to please help these fishermen who are in dire need. It’s never too late. We can still make their new year merry through our kind deeds.”  — LM / EVA

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