New boats, new life for Panitugan islet folk

For most people, a daily budget of P150 to P200 is insufficient for a family of nine.

But the Tomabini family in Panitugan Islet, a 30-minute boat ride from mainland Bantayan town in northern Cebu, had to stretch that amount to cover their needs after losing their livelihood to supertyphoon Yolanda.

“Sakit kaayo sa dughan. Ang akong bana, mokuyog na lang sa lain nga naay banca. Pero gamay ra gyud iyang makuha (It breaks my heart. My husband would join others in their bancas. But he could only get less),” said 40-year-old Corazon Tomabini.

But they and other fisherfolk may slowly get back on their feet after they were given motorboats donated by Carmen Copper Corp. (CCC) and its parent company Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp. yesterday.

The Tomabini family on board the motorized outrigger they received from Carmen Copper Corp. (CDN Photo/Jose Santino S. Bunachita)

“I and the others can now resume our livelihood,” said 44-year-old Wilfredo Tomabini.

CCC vice president and resident manager Rodrigo Cal said they want to do more than just dole-outs.

Panitugan is one of several islets surrounding Bantayan Island populated by more or less 900 Bantayanons.

When Yolanda hit the islet three months ago, it flattened the whole area and destroyed houses and other structures. Each of the donated motorboats costs P30,000.

“The company decided to forego their Christmas party and used the allotted P150 for each of our more than 3,000 employees to fund this project,” Cal said.  One of CCC’s suppliers, Outotec also added P300,000.