Aside from being an avenue of infrastructure and enterprise projects in the country, the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) also protect marine resources through Global Environment Facility (GEF).

As part of the Eighth World Bank (WB) Implementation Support Mission to South Luzon Cluster, another team from WB, headed by the Food and Agriculture Organization Natural Resource Management Specialist and Bank’s Consultant, Jim Hancock, and PRDP visited marine protected areas (MPAs) and microenterprise projects (MEPs) in Pilar and Magallanes, Sorsogon on May 29 – 30, 2019.

The site visit aims to review implementation progress of each subproject and ensure that the project’s objectives are being met.

Also, a dialogue with stakeholders was conducted to recommend solutions to the issues that may have occurred.

PRDP and MPA protection

Years after the MPAs were established, the fisherfolk association from Brgys. Inapugan, Pilar and Biga, Magallanes observed an increase in the volume of fish catch. They described the fish sanctuary and marine reserve as a channel in improving their lives.

“Noon pong panahon, maliliit palang po ang bangka namin dito. Ngayon makikita po ninyo, malalaki na po dahil sa tulong ng PRDP at LGU (We only used to have small boats. But through this project, with the assistance of PRDP and LGU, we’re able to get bigger boats),” Erwin Viñas, Bantay Dagat and Samahang Mandaragat ng Barangay Inapugan (SMBI) member, said.

“Ngayon, marami na rin pong isda at marami na pong natutulungan na mandaragat (Now, we have observed an increase in the volume of fish and this benefitted many fishers in our barangay),” he added.

The MPA primarily seeks to increase the biodiversity and fisheries productivity in Pilar and Magallanes and improve their living conditions at the same time.

Through PRDP, the fisherfolk associations received seaborne patrolling equipment and buoys or navigation markers, among other management facilities.

The Project also conducts capacity building training activities that will strengthen the local community and local government units’ (LGU) support towards coastal habitat conservation, protection, and management.

Sustainable enterprises

The Biga Farmers and Fishermen Association (BFFA) President, Comprencio Olitan, thanked the PRDP for the microenterprise subprojects given to them.

According to Olitan, these helped their family’s day-to-day necessities, especially, in sending their children to school.

“Ngayon na may PRDP na, masaya ako dahil nakatulong ito ng mabuti sa amin. Kasi dahil sa project naming ito, nakapagpa-aral kami ng mga anak at nakapagpatayo rin ako ng maliit lang ng bahay. Nagpapasalamat po ako sa PRDP ng marami (I am grateful because PRDP benefitted us a lot. Through these projects, we were able to send our children to school. Also, I was able to build a small house. With this, I am expressing my gratitude to the whole PRDP team),” he said.

The P2.8 million-worth Seaweeds Nursery, Production and Marketing Project in Brgy. Biga, Magallanes is being implemented by BFFA. The SMBI, on the other hand, run the Milkfish Culture and Marketing in Brgy. Inapugan, Pilar that costs P1.6 million.

These MEPs, through PRDP-GEF, will help the groups to boost their income by providing sustainable livelihood for them.
The PRDP assured that the said proponent groups will continuously receive the support that they need in monitoring the water parameters and temperature and other necessary assistance in the project implementation.

Strong commitment commended

“You are on the right track. We are very happy to see this is happening,” Hancock said as he lauded the passion and strong commitment shown by the LGUs and fisherfolk association in protecting their marine resources and strengthening the livelihood during the exit conference.

He also encouraged them to keep on taking care and protecting the seas and livelihood toward a sustainable future.
Hancock shared his hope that the benefits of the subprojects will be passed on to the next generation.  ### (Lea Caliuag, DA-PRDP South Luzon PSO InfoACE Unit)

Engr. Arthur John Garchitorena (center), Pilar Municipal Engineer, clears to the Brgy. Inapugan, Pilar, Sorsogon fisherfolk the marine protected areas boundaries in their municipality. (Photo by Ana Francesca Chavez)