POC offers aid to families of drowned paddlers

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will provide financial assistance to the families of seven members of the Boracay Dragon Boat team who perished in an accident on Wednesday morning.

A boat carrying the team capsized in waters off Boracay Island that left seven paddlers dead. “This is a very sad and tragic incident.

All we can do is condole with the families and loved ones of the deceased and try and give some help to them,” said POC president Abraham Tolentino after the POC general assembly held at the Conrad Hotel on Wednesday.

Tolentino said the POC will give P10,000 to each family and another P10,000 as his personal donation.

A report from the Philippine Coast Guard said 21 paddlers were on board the boat with the 14 survivors immediately brought to Saint Gabriel Hospital for treatment. —JUNE NAVARRO