ABUCAY, Bataan- Fishermen from a fishing sitio here who have re-built their houses out of recycled materials appealed on Friday for the replacement of their bancas and fishing nets destroyed by Glenda last July.
Other residents in Sitio Bakawan in Barangay Wawa requested for construction materials to be able to build even a small house. Most of the villagers living adjacent to the sea came from Negros Occidental who have settled in the community for some 20 years now.
Wawa which is adjacent to Manila Bay was one of the hardest-hit villages in Bataan by Glenda. “Namulot lamang kami ng mga gamit upang maitayong muli ang aming bahay. Nasira ang bangka at lambat namin kaya sumasama ang aking asawa sa may bangka upang mabuhay kami. Tulungan sana kami ng gobyerno upang magkaroon uli ng bangka at lambat,” Rowena Gumahan said.
She showed the damaged fishing banca that was placed as a base of their stairs. Alex Gigutom said he rebuilt their house out of materials left by Glenda. “Pulot-pulot lamang ang mga gamit. Puro pagkain lamang ang tulong ng gobyerno. Gusto ko magka- bangka uli,” the fisherman said.
Glenda destroyed his banca. Priscila Samson, 76, was grateful to Abucay Mayor Ana Santiago who helped her with some money. “Namulot lamang kami ng kawayan, ibang gamit upang makapagpatayong muli ng bahay,” the old woman said.
Glenda did not spare even houses made of hollow blocks as in the case of Lourdes Ongoco. “Nakikituloy lamang kami sa kapitbahay. Wala kaming budget para maitayo uli ang aming bahay kaya sana matulungan kami upang magkaroon ng kahit maliit na bahay,” she said.
“Paskong darating sobrang lungkot at hapis para sa mga mangingisdang nawalan ng bangka, lambat at bahay,” fisherman leader Crispin Abadejos said. Guillermo del Rosario, chair of the Abucay Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council, appealed to government to help the fishermen.
“Walang pumapasok na sapat na income sa maliliit na mangingisdang nasiraan ng bangka, lambat at bahay kaya kailangang-kailangan nila ng tulong,” he said. “Ang ibang bahay naitayo mula sa mga pulot-pulot na kawayan, kahoy, pira-pirasong plywood at tarpaulin para matulugan lamang,” del Rosario said