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Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine
National Red Cross (PNRC) said 19 fishermen from Surigao del Norte
were rescued off Borongan, Eastern Samar Tuesday after being adrift
at sea for 11 days.
Gordon,who is now in Borongan,
learned of the rescue from a report submitted by the PNRC Eastern
Samar Chapter. He immediately directed PNRC personnel to check the
medical condition of the fishermen and ensure that they were
provided with the necessary assistance and support.
“These fishermen survived the
wrath of Typhoon Frank. They have been through a lot of hardship and
pain. They should be given proper medical attention to ensure their
immediate recovery,” he said.
The 19 fishermen left Surigao del
Norte on June 16 at the height of Typhoon Frank. Their boat capsized
and they were adrift at sea for 11 days. Erwin Encio, a fishing boat
owner from Borongan, found them off Borongan on Tuesday, July 1.
The senator identified the
survivors as Cesar Gabato, Jegan Nillas, Rolito Barbatillo, Benigno
Arias, Edsel Espenosa, Jay-Ar Pailden, Joselito Mahusay, Francis
Allonar, Rodel Abule, Edmund Buhian Jr., Effren Rivales, Joel De la
Cruz, Bambie Ramirez, Nelson Arsaga, Alexander Gabato, Gino Rendon,
Rogelio Jalog, Marlon Gabato and Romeo Gecosa.
They were taken to the Eastern
Samar Provincial Hospital in Borongan where they are now confined
and given medical attention. The Red Cross is taking care of the
food for the survivors and will provide for their accommodations
once they are discharged from the hospital. PNRC Eastern Samar also
coordinated with the PNRC Surigao Del Norte Chapter to ensure that
relatives of these fishermen are informed of their rescue.
Gordon said PNRC has already
raised a total of P10,749,294.21 in donations for the relief of
Typhoon Frank victims. He said that of the total, P7,322,294.21 came
from foreign donations, P2,870,000 came from local donations and
P557,000, from individual donations.
“USAID has already approved a
$100,000 donation. We are just waiting for its release. The proceeds
will be used to purchase Jerry cans, blankets and mosquito nets.
USAID boxes will also be given to the victims of the calamity,” he
added.
He said that PNRC distributed
1,035 packs of relief supplies to the citizens of Aklan on Saturday,
which were airlifted by US Navy helicopters. Each relief
supply contained 4 kilos of rice, four cans of sardines and four
packs of noodles.
“The 1,035 packs of relief
goods were just the initial supplies out of the 7,000 relief
supplies we will be sending to Aklan. We’ve sent an additional
5,965 packs of relief goods through a Sulpicio Lines vessel bound
for Aklan which departed 7 a.m., Monday,” Gordon said.
Earlier, Sen. Bong Revilla
distributed relief goods worth P1 million in Iloilo City and Iloilo
province when he visited Panay Island. Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri also
pledged to allocate a sizeable portion of his priority development
assistance fund for the rehabilitation of Panay, one of those worst
hit by Typhoon Frank.
--Efren L. Danao
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