Philippines fishermen warm to fridge boats
This small fishing community in the Philippines looks like a wasteland in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan.
But the destruction's given rise to ingenuity as the fishermen try to revive their shattered livelihoods.
Fridges damaged in the storm are getting a new role as boats to replace the real thing smashed to pieces.
Jimmy Obaldo was the first to take to the waters aboard a floating fridge.
(SOUNDBITE)(Waray) LOCAL FISHERMAN JIMMY OBALDO SAYING:
"We got the idea to use refrigerators as boats from my children. They just asked me if we could use it as a boat and then we tried it and tested it."
There are drawbacks.
Steering isn't easy, the sea has to be calm, the fridge fishermen have to paddle faster and use smaller, lighter nets.
The fishermen are able to catch enough seafood to feed their own families but not to feed the whole town.
But fishing from a fridge may be the only option for some time to come.
It takes up to two months
But the destruction's given rise to ingenuity as the fishermen try to revive their shattered livelihoods.
Fridges damaged in the storm are getting a new role as boats to replace the real thing smashed to pieces.
Jimmy Obaldo was the first to take to the waters aboard a floating fridge.
(SOUNDBITE)(Waray) LOCAL FISHERMAN JIMMY OBALDO SAYING:
"We got the idea to use refrigerators as boats from my children. They just asked me if we could use it as a boat and then we tried it and tested it."
There are drawbacks.
Steering isn't easy, the sea has to be calm, the fridge fishermen have to paddle faster and use smaller, lighter nets.
The fishermen are able to catch enough seafood to feed their own families but not to feed the whole town.
But fishing from a fridge may be the only option for some time to come.
It takes up to two months
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