Missing Catanduanes fishermen return home after rescue in Eastern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, Oct. 26 (PNA) –- The three missing fishermen that were rescued off the coast of Borongan City returned to their home province late Wednesday afternoon.

After 14 days of wandering in the open sea, the fishermen finally returned home two days after their rescue, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) reported.

OCD Regional Director Edgar Posadas identified the rescued fishermen as Zaldy de Jesus, 41; Renerio del Valle, 38; and Luis Tupig, 37.

The group left their hometown on Oct. 11 and had been reported missing after typhoon Karen made its landfall in Aurora province on Oct. 16.

The fishermen narrated that they were sailing home when big waves turned their fishing boat upside down.

They wandered at the sea for two weeks days, using a raft recovered from parts of the capsized boat until a group of fishermen from Eastern Samar rescued them. They fed themselves by eating raw fish they caught.

“We told each other that no one should give up. Our determination to survive kept us alive,” de Jesus said.

Upon their return, the three fishermen will advocate to their fellow fishermen the importance of having communication and lifesaving equipment in their fishing boats.

Each of them received PHP12,000 from the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Eastern Samar and Borongan City local government. They also went through psycho-social debriefing by the DSWD.

Posadas said the incident highlights the need to require all fishing boats to have safety and lifesaving devices.

“Fishermen should have at least a life vest or a GPS before leaving their place to ensure safety and monitor their location,” Posadas said.

Local government units were urged to come up with local ordinances that will enforce or mandate provision of safety materials in every fishing boat to ensure safety and survival of fishermen whenever they go out fishing in high seas. (PNA)

LAP/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR