Red Cross tracing missing fishermen in Surigao Norte

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Red Cross has activated tracing services for at least five fishermen from Surigao del Norte who went missing since typhoon "Frank" lashed the country late June. In a statement on the Red Cross website, PNRC chairman Sen. Richard Gordon said the PNRC tracing service had been activated for the fishermen from the boat Lynstar. "The fishermen have been missing since June 18, three days after Typhoon Frank's rampage across the country," Gordon said. The five missing fishermen have been identified as Ronald Eligan, Raul Calonia, Julieto Arnaneo, Roel Moreo and Charlito Villanueva. At the height of typhoon "Frank," Gordon said a total of 419 fishermen were aboard 22 fishing boats that either sank or ran aground in Cadiz City in Negros Occidental. Out of the 419 victims, two-hundred eighty-three have been rescued. 84 others are still missing while 46 have been confirmed dead. Gordon called on boats weighing 50 tons and above that were in the area to aid in salvaging the sunken vessels. He urged government to provide fishermen with soft loans and negotiate with the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and other funding agencies to provide loans with easy terms to the fishermen. - GMANews.TV