Kin of 2 drowning victims given aid

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines  — The Eastern Visayas Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council gave P10,000 cash assistance to each of the families of two drowning victims in Leyte.

Office of Civil Defense-8 director Rey Gozon, also the RDRRMC chair, said the council always gives financial assistance to the families of fatalities of calamities in the region.

Gozon personally handed over the money to the family of 5-year-old Jassen Bacate, of Barangay Los Martires in Dagami, Leyte, who drowned during the massive flooding last Dec. 27.

The next day, Gozon delivered also the financial aid to the family of 80-year-old Isabel Matol, of Barangay Buntay in Abuyog, Leyte, who also drowned at the height of the flooding in that town.

Also in Dagami, two victims survived: Adolfo Pejula, 59, of Barangay Lusad, who nearly drowned but was revived while sustaining injuries in his body; and a 14-year-old boy, of San Antonio district in the Poblacion, who was wounded.

Another victim, a 12-year-old boy from Barangay San Miguel in Tanauan, Leyte, remained missing to this day. He and five others were crossing the mouth of the Canbatista River to watch the opening of a skimboarding competition when strong currents swept them away. The five boys were however saved by the town’s rescue team.  (FREEMAN)