Every action brings a corresponding change that is either positive or negative.

Medardo Capuno, President of the Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Caramay Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MMCMPC) in Roxas, Palawan attributed the decreasing volume of fish catch to the increasing population and high incidence of illegal fishing in Brgy. Caramay.

According to him, many of his fellow residents only became aware and concerned about their marine resources when they observed the declining fish catch.

Through the initiative of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Roxas and the assistance of institutions such as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the World Wild Fund (WWF), the barangays of Caramay and Rizal had established their respective marine protected areas (MPAs). Fisherfolk organizations in the said barangays also underwent training sessions on environment protection and coastal resource management of the UNDP and WWF.

With the Roxas LGU’s new project, this time with the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), more opportunities have opened for the town’s fisherfolk.

PRDP and conservation of marine resources

Years after the MPA was established, the fisherfolk observed an increase in the volume of fish catch. MMCMPC member Alfredo Cacatian Sr. described their MPA as the refrigerator of Brgy. Caramay because it serves as their primary food source.

Nilda Flores, also a member of the MMCPMC, said that there are fewer illegal fishers because of the MPA and fellow residents became more aware about how to protect the marine resources.

The MPA will continue providing positive impact to the fishing communities as the Roxas LGU and the PRDP Global Environment Facility (GEF) will start implementing the “Community-Based Coastal Ecosystem Protection and Biodiversity Conservation.”

The GEF subproject worth P26.93 million generally aims to improve the living conditions of fisherfolk in Roxas and increase the biodiversity and fisheries productivity in Green Island Bay. It will benefit seven barangays along the Green Island Bay through the rehabilitation of their MPAs.

Through the PRDP, the fisherfolk associations of Barangays Tumarbong, Johnson Island, Caramay, Malcampo, San Miguel, Rizal, and Tinitian will receive floating guard houses, patrol boats, geomapping equipment, underwater cameras, binoculars, radio communication sets, and buoys or navigation markers among other necessary MPA law enforcement and management facilities.

The Project also conducts regular capacity-building trainings on Coastal and Resource Management activities that will strengthen the local community and the LGU’s support towards coastal habitat conservation, protection, and management.

Medardo Capuno (fifth from left), Nilda Flores (sixth from left), Alfredo Cacatian Sr. (fourth from left), and their fellow members of the Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Caramay Multi-Purpose Cooperative recite a message during the PRDP InfoACE photo-video shoot. (Photo by Ana Francesca Chavez)

A sustainable enterprise

Compared to other agencies that provided assistance to the fisherfolk of Rizal and Caramay in Roxas, PRDP does not only focus on environment conservation.

Brgy. Rizal Chairperson Grace Bañes stated, “Sa PRDP po, nilahat na namin. Proteksyon, ang pangangalaga ng aming karagatan and mangroves, kung paano namin dapat gamitin ito at syempre isa sa nagustuhan namin ay hindi lang kami nagproteksyon o nagbigay ng alaga kung hindi nabigyan pa po kami ng dagdag na hanapbuhay (In PRDP, we covered it all. Protection, conservation of our marine resources and mangroves, how to utilize it, and of course one of the things we like is that we did not only aim for [marine] protection, we were also given additional livelihood).”

The Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Barangay Rizal will implement the Rizal Mangrove Crab Production subproject worth P1.61 million under the PRDP’s enterprise development (I-REAP) component. The MMCMPC, on the other hand, will lead the I-REAP subproject entitled Community-Based Green Grouper Livelihood Support Project worth P1.53 million.

Flores identified the link of the enterprise and the GEF subproject by saying that through the enterprise, the fisherfolk will earn more income that will help them acquire needed fishing equipment. Since the cage for the green grouper will be located within the MPA, their group will also be able to regularly monitor the area.

According to Bañes, the enterprise would be a big help to the Rizal fisherfolk association members, who are mostly women, because they have another source of income even if they cannot go fishing.

“Sa PRDP, medyo matagal ’yong proseso, pero maganda naman ang kalalabasan sa huli. Sa nakikita ko kasi pang-matagalan ’yong ibinibigay nilang proyekto, hindi pang madalian (In PRDP, the process is somehow tedious, yet it will have a positive result in the end. For me, the subprojects of PRDP are for the long-term, not for the short-term),” Capuno said.

The Caramay and Rizal fisherfolk association members also became more acquainted with preparing project proposals, business plans, procurement plans, and financial reports, because of their PRDP subprojects.

For the next generation

Bañes proudly shared that the members of their association and residents of Brgy. Rizal committed to plant mangroves annually and participate in activities that advocate the protection of mangroves and marine resources.

Realizing the positive impact of engaging the youth in marine conservation efforts, Cacatian mentioned that their group makes sure that the children are well-informed about the need to protect the ocean.

Capuno also expressed the same concern by stating, “Ang buhay ng ating mga susunod na henerasyon ay nasa ating pagbabantay ng karagatan (The life of succeeding generations would depend on how we will safeguard our ocean).” ### (Gumamela Celes Bejarin, DA-PRDP South Luzon PSO InfoACE Unit)