Coastal villagers whose fishing implements were destroyed by Typhoon Odette last December will get boat-making materials from the provincial government, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said Tuesday.

During a relief coupon distribution for typhoon victims in San Fernando town, Garcia said about 6,000 fishermen will be included in the Dasig Sugbu (Cheer Up Cebu) assistance program.

Of this number, some 1,000 fishermen can receive PHP25,000 from the insurance which premium is paid by the provincial government, she said.

“But what can they (fishermen with no insurance) do. Their boats were destroyed by the typhoon. There’s no more way to eke out a living, they don’t have something to spend, to buy for food,” she said in Cebuano, even as she cited the need to all the more help the uninsured fishermen.

Using the Dasig Sugbu cards, each fisherman can redeem marine plywood, nails, and Marine Epoxy to build a new fishing boat.

Apart from the materials, each fisherman will also receive PHP2,000 cash that can be used to buy other materials like wood, bamboo, and paint.

“While there are a lot of them who need help, we will make sure that the money we set aside for that help really goes to the intended recipients that we believe they badly need to get back and rebuild their homes, and (the fishermen) get back to normal life and continue rebuilding lives,” Garcia said.

She said PHP2 billion from the provincial coffer has almost been used up in providing cash coupons to typhoon victims whose houses were damaged by “Odette”.

She said they recorded as of Tuesday, more than 300,000 houses that were either partially damaged or wrecked by the typhoon. (PNA)