ROXAS CITY–At least P1.7 million worth cash assistance was released by the DSWD regional office to fisherfolk who were devastated by Typhoon Yolanda in Roxas City, Capiz.
DSWD6 director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre personally distributed the checks, through Capiz 1st District Rep. Antonio del Rosario, to 51 members of the Barra Fisherfolk Association on September 4, 2014 in Barangay Barra, Roxas City. Each check was worth more than P32,000.00
The checks will not be given directly to the fisherfolk but will be deposited in the account of their association to be used in their talaba culture project. Most of the fisherfolk are also beneficiaries of the DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilya.
Macapobre encouraged beneficiaries to make good use of the funds and work hard to make their project successful.
“It’s like basketball. We have passed the ball to you now. It now depends on you how you will dribble it. I wish that someday, even if I am no longer assigned in Region 6, I will hear how famous your project is,” said the director.
Del Rosario said they have already talked with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, who pledged to also give technical assistance to the fisherfolk on how to run their project, which they envision not only to become a source of income for the beneficiaries but also a tourist attraction.
The barangay is already known as supplier of talaba in Roxas City and the province of Capiz. Once their project blooms, the congressman said they will become more famous and more people will visit their place./dswd6/Wenna B. Bendol