LEGAZPI: The provincial government of Sorsogon has started to provide financial assistance to geographically isolated and disadvantaged island villages. A total of PHP15 million will be disbursed to five coastal villages in three towns of the province, provincial information officer Salvador Mendoza said in an interview Tuesday. "The Sorsogon government has decided to give them financial assistance from the provincial fund to somehow improve the social services they provide to their people. Among their allocations of funds are medicines and boats that they can use in case of emergency, and delivery of services and basic needs of residents whenever there is a disaster," Mendoza said. The first batch of recipients were three areas in Magallanes -- Barangay Behia, PHP4.2 million; Barangay Biga, PHP2.95 million; and Barangay Sablayan of Juban, PHP2.60 million. "The two villages for the next batch that will receive financial assistance are Calintaan and Calayuan in the town of Matnog. It will be distributed th is week," Mendoza said. Source: Philippines News Agency