There is a popular thought in development work that states: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
For the Talim Island fisherfolk community, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) has taught them how to fish, figuratively and literally.
Talim Island is situated in Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country, within the Rizal province border, and with barangays divided into the jurisdiction of two municipalities, Cardona and Binangonan.
The Laguna de Bay is a rich source of seafood, supplying most of the needs of Metro Manila residents.
For the community of Talim Island, the bay is a natural and viable source of livelihood. Thus, many of the locals are engaged in fishing.
William Tupaz, President of the Pamalakayang Boor SLP Association, attested that fishing has helped him send three kids through college.
“Sa dagat ko po pinag-aral kaya malaki ang experience ko sa dagat,” William told the DSWD’s #Kwento ng Pag-Asa at Pagbabago (KPAP) team that visited the site to interview the locals on how the agency’s SLP has taught them how to fish.
However, not all fisherfolk get the opportunity to earn money due to the lack of capital and the need to upskill themselves, considering the effects of climate change on the ocean, which affects the fish.
Boor Barangay Captain Nestor Valencia affirmed the struggles in the fishing industry.
“May mga panahon talaga na hirap yung panghuhuli sa lawa dahil sa gaya ngayon malalaki alon, hindi makapalaot yung mga mangingisda. Tapos eh minsan pag malalaki pa alon ay lumalabo yung tubig, bumabagal yung paglaki ng isda,” the village chieftain told #KPAP.
To alleviate the plight of the fisherfolk of Talim Island and help them sustain their source of livelihood, the DSWD’s SLP provided the needed capital assistance and technical skills.
On January 25, 2024, the DSWD’s SLP helped the Boor SLP association build a fish pen, as well as provide fingerlings for them to start with.
According to Randolf Victor, DSWD Field Office-CALABARZON’s SLP Provincial Partnership Officer (PO), the project was made possible in collaboration with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
The association received Php450,000 as seed capital with Php300,000 allocated for the building of the fish cage and the remaining amount for the purchase of fingerlings.
PO Victor told #KPAP: “Itong proyekto po ay in partnership with the Bureau and Fisheries Aquatic Resources na kung saan ito yung bahagi ng ating zero hunger program ng national government para tumugon din doon sa food security, bukod doon sa risk resiliency para magkaroon ng karagdagang kita yung mga mangingisda ng Barangay Boor ng Cardona Rizal. Sa pakikipagtulungan na rin ng BFAR sa amin at ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Cardona ay binigyan sila ng area o pwesto kasi dito.”
The DSWD partnership officer said that the BFAR helped the association secure a permit for the fish cage.
“Sa Laguna de Bay hindi pwedeng magtayo lamang basta-basta ng fish cage, kailangan ng permiso at magandang pagkakataon rin na si Mayor po ay i-dinonate [na area] na siyang na-maximize na gamitin para itayo yung fish cage so ang sukat ng fish cage nila ay isang ektarya,” PO Victor narrated.
To further support the livelihood project of the Boor SLP Association, Cardona Mayor Bernardo San Juan, Jr. provided a boat and fishing nets, aside from giving them an area for the fish cage.
The local chief executive said it is heartwarming for him to know “na meron na nagbebenta (ng isda),” telling him, “Mayor, magbebenta na po kami ng unang ani.”
With 30 members, the association lost no time in building the fish pen in Laguna de Bay.
The group initially bought 1,200 fingerlings of Bangus according to Jessie Salvio, treasurer of the Pamalakayang Boor SLP Association.
However, as the risk in all businesses and in dealing with Mother Nature, many of the fingerlings died as the association started during the rainy season. Despite this, the fishers were able to get their capital which they used to further their fishing business.
“Noong maliliit pa ito, nong fingerling pa siya mam maraming patay kasi hulog nito parang late na kami sa panahon dahil nong kinuha namin itong fingerlings, inabot kami ng ulan. Ang fingerlings eh takot sa ulan yan nagkasugat-sugat siya kaya ang daming isdang namatay,” William said.
Although the Boor SLP Association failed to initially inform BFAR of what happened to the fingerlings, they are continuously provided with technical skills to help them grow their fingerlings better.
Rizal Provincial Fisheries Office (RPFO) agricultural technician Cyril Eradil shared: “Kami po ay nagbibigay sa kanila ng mga technical assistance sa kung papaano ang tamang pamamaraan ng pag-aalaga ng mga isda. Tinuturo namin sa kanila is science-based proven na effective ng sa ganon po ay mapataas pa natin yung antas ng kanilang pamumuhay at mas mapataas natin yung production nila pag may available din tayong mga fingerlings…minsan bangus, tilapya nagbibigay naman kami sa aming office.”
The Pamalakayang Boor SLP Association fishers expressed extreme gratitude saying their livelihood opportunity would not have been possible without the DSWD and the BFAR.
Jessie affirmed saying: “Maganda po ang nangyayari kasi sa tulong na yan hindi namin inaasahan na darating sa amin wala kaming ginastos dyan kahit piso…kaya po nagpapasalamat po kami sa DSWD at tsaka sa BFAR na nabigyan po kami ng ganitong pagkakataon kasi malaking tulong po talaga ito sa aming pamilya.”
Presently, the Boor association fishers not only know how to fish.
More than fishing, they now manage their fish cages, have more opportunities to increase their production, and contribute to the food security in Metro Manila.
True enough, the fisherfolk of Talim Island were taught how to fish and now they can feed their own families.
The #KPAP is a joint production of the Traditional Media Service (TMS) and the Digital Media Service (DMS) which are under the Strategic Communications. It is posted every Tuesday on the DSWD’s official Facebook page.(GDVF)