“Noong na-elect ako as lider ng fisherfolk, nasa aking puso at isipan na hindi ako dapat chairman na naka-tayo lamang, naka-upo. Meron dapat akong magawa para sa mga mangingisda.”

Conchita Roldan is a fisherfolk in Rizal, Occidental Mindoro. At 63, Roldan holds leadership in multiple organizations, including the Kababaihan na Magtitinda ng Isda at Gulay sa Barangay Malawaan, the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMC), the Occidental Mindoro Federation of Tuna Fishers Association, and the Federation of Fisherfolk Associations in Rizal (FEFAR).

FEFAR alone includes 13 organizations and 650 members. The Occidental Mindoro Federation of Tuna Fishers Association, on the other hand, has more than 2,000 members. When asked how she manages the load, Roldan credits proper time and workload delegation.

“Napakahirap para sa isang lider at isang babae na pangasiwaan mo ang ganyan kadami. Nagkakaroon lang ako ng time management, tamang oras at schedule… kung minsan nagkakasabay-sabay, tumatawag lang ako sa mga vice ko na sila muna ang umattend. Ngayon syempre may edad na ako, nagsisimula na rin ako mag-develop ng papalit sa posisyon,” shared Roldan.

Through Roldan’s leadership, her organizations achieved various recognitions and government interventions.

“Ang MFARMC, two times awardee kami sa Gawad Saka, sa regional at sa provincial. Third kami sa national. Dati wala itong opisina, Simula nang ako ay maging chairman, nagkaroon kami ng opisina. Noong nagkaroon kami ng refrigerated van galing sa DA, nagkaroon kami ng resolution na may allowance ang worker na sasama sa bawat byahe ng van. Nakita ko naman nagkaroon ng sigla ang mga miyembro,” Roldan continued.

Conchita Roldan also holds leadership of the Federation of Fisherfolk Associations in Rizal (FEFAR), the proponent group of the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project’s Tuna Trading and Processing in Rizal, Occidental Mindoro. With a subproject cost of Php42.6 million, this enterprise aims to promote value-adding and market linkages for processed tuna in the province.

When asked of her vision for their nearly completed facility, Roldan shared that they are already preparing for the subproject’s operations.

“Meron pong training ang DTI tungkol sa pagprocess ng mga tinapa, ng tuyo, isinama ko sila [mga member] sa training para magamit nila. Sa ngayon pag operating na ang project, kukuha ako sa mga member na dyan na sila magtatrabaho para makatulong sa kanila. Ang mga finished products, sila rin ang magbebenta,” she stated.

Despite her age, there is no stopping Conchita Roldan from dreaming and achieving big things for the fisherfolk of Rizal, Occidental Mindoro. ###