Fiberglass boats given to Palawan fishermen in post-Odette rehab effort

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — Fishermen in Roxas municipality, who endured the damaging impacts of Typhoon Odette nearly three years ago, received fiberglass boats from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Palawan Provincial Information Office chief, Atty. Christian Jay Cojamco, said Tuesday that 66 fiberglass boats were distributed to the fishermen on 10 November in a handover ceremony held at the Roxas Municipal Dome as part of the DOST's Typhoon Odette Recovery Project.

The fiberglass boats, which received P35,178,000 in funding from the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund (NDRRMF), were distributed to aid the fishermen impacted by Odette in Palawan in December 2021.

"The fishermen also received cash for work assistance of P6,000 each, along with equipment including engines, paint, and nylon for the boats," Cojamco said.

The handover was facilitated by Dr. Renato Solidum Jr., the secretary of DOST, with DOST MIMAROPA regional director Dr. Josefina Alibay, Engr. Bonifacio Madarcos representing Governor Dennis Socrates, board member Maria Angela Sabando, Mayor Dennis Sabando, and local officials from Northern Palawan.

The project, beginning in Roxas, plans to extend to towns including Cagayancillo, Taytay, Araceli, San Vicente, and Dumaran in the province, aiming to support more fishermen affected by Typhoon Odette.