What once was a group divided, one woman stepped up to help everyone around her come together to form one big organization of farmer fisherfolks.

Under her wing, Flora Limoico, General Manager of the Batangas Seaweeds Farmers Association (BASEFA), members have built their individually owned floating cottages to transport tourists to various destinations in the town, and diversifying in other sources of income that stems from the organization’s farm of seaweeds in the area.

Flora proudly shares that a lot from the organization are women. Local women fish vendors and widows have found a way to support their families by working in the seaweed farm to provide for them day-to-day.

“Napakalaki ng involvement nila sa seaweed farming,” Flora shared.

With support from the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project, tons of opportunities have sprouted not only for the fisherfolk, but also to the farmers in the area as well, who switched from land farming to seaweed farming, together with the majority of the women in Calatagan.

What once was a seed planted by the determination of Flora Limoico has now grown into a fruitful livelihood for everyone in BASEFA. (Eli Ocial, InfoACE Unit CALABARZON)