ILIGAN CITY (PIA) – Personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Lanao del Norte station, in collaboration with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, distributed relief goods to fisherfolks within the bay area of Iligan and Linamon, Lanao del Norte.
As ‘tokens from the heart’ given through voluntary contribution, 60 packs of three kilograms of rice, canned goods, noodles, instant coffee, milk, and biscuits, were handed over to the fishermen on Saturday.
Ronald Batay, a fisherman from barangay Buru-un, expressed his gratitude by lifting the food pack as if victorious.
Batay shouted to the team, “Salamat kaayo, PCG! Puwede na ko mu-uli!” [Thank you so much, PCG! Now I can go home!]
PCG acting station commander, Capt. Dexter V. Torres, expressed apologies to the fishermen for the inconvenience they experienced caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis and how it slowed down their livelihood.
“Yung ginagawa natin is yung makakatulong tayo sa mga kapatid na nangangailangan sa panahon na ito na nahihirapan dahilan sa COVID-19,” Torres said.
[What we’re doing is to help our brothers who needed us in this trying time brought by COVID-19.]
Though limited, he said the food packs were given to provide the hardworking fisherfolks a little sigh of relief
“Pagpasensyahan nyo na po na konti lang ang nalikom namin para sa inyo, sana naman ay mauunawaan ninyo na kokonti lang rin ang aming mabibigyan,” the captain explained.
[We do really apologize that we only come up with a few packs, we hope that you will all understand that only a small number of you could receive this,” the captain explained.]
Realizing the need to provide more relief food packs, the team promised to gather another set of goods and prepare for a second round. (CLV/ PIA ICIC)
