Men and Women in Heels (Health.Education.Environment.Livelihood.Shelter. )

“I saw how my boat was destroyed by the storm, but I had to prioritize my family’s safety. I just wept because there’s nothing I could do. Typhoon Yolanda was not the typical kind of storm we used to experience. The day after the storm, you’ll see people weeping because their houses were destroyed. But thanks to PBSP and IRC (International Rescue Committee) who gave fishermen like me new motor boats, we can now go back to fishing every day and feed our families. Apart from this, they also rehabilitated the Estancia Fish Port which helped us sell our fishes easier. Before, the fish port was small and congested so it was hard for us to access it. But after its rehabilitation, it became spacious. Our catch arrives at the fish port still fresh, and we sell them faster. We’ve also planted mangroves that will soon provide food for the fishes and serve as their breeding ground. Mangroves can also filter floodwaters coming from the farms uphill, thus protecting the sea from getting silted which will in turn secure our livelihood. It was a holistic program. I have two children studying in high school and the livelihood intervention of IRC and PBSP greatly contributed in supporting my children’s schooling and food.” —JONEL BENTING, fisherman and Barangay Kagawad, Tanao, Batad, Iloilo.