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By Johanna M. Sampan
The storm struck violently and the ocean waves
smashed Ric Derain’s boat into splinters. While trying to save his
life, Derain couldn’t let go of what remained of his shattered
boat, thinking that without it he couldn’t earn a living.
Despite rampaging waves, the fisherman began
swimming until he reached the shore. He was glad to be alive. But
anxiety crippled him. He had no means to bring any fish for his
family to sell or eat.
Derain is just one of the fishermen of Barangay
Calayo in Nasugbu, Batangas who can no longer net a big catch
because of the lack of proper fishing gear. Paddling their boats to
and from fishing spots is slow and tedious. A boat without a motor
cannot go very far to look for fish.
Problems also arise when a storm hovers for it
prompts fishermen to just stay home to avoid the danger. Empty nets
mean empty stomachs and wallets.
To escape this predicament, some fishermen
resorted to dynamite fishing despite knowing that this would destroy
the very corals and mangroves that fostered the fish they depended
on. But such was their desperation.
Edgardo Limon, former district governor of
Rotary Club Philippines District 3830 and property owner in Calayo,
saw the problem and needs of the fishermen. He also observed how
they were slowly destroying nature.
A man of the sea, Limon was able to chance upon
a butanding (whale shark) not far from his place. He then learned
that these peaceful, plankton eating leviathans were frequenting
parts of the Calayo Bay because its abundance of marine life. Calayo
Bay, which opens toward the China Sea, harbors a community that is
strategically located at the very mouth of the Verde Passage, once
cited as the center of the world’s reef fish biodiversity. There
are 3,000 families in the village with a marginal income of P1,000
monthly per family. Observing the confluence of whale sharks with
the dire needs of the locals, Limon took action.
“It’s a must to help. You can’t just sit
and stay around in Calayo unwinding and enjoying knowing that people
around you need help,” Limon says.
Sea lovers, lifesavers
Limon decided to invite Rotary Clubs (RC) under
his district to adopt Calayo. Together with Punta Fuego Village
Foundation Inc. led by Executive Chairman Angela Quila, Barangay
Chairman Miguel Limeta and 11 other rotary clubs joined the project.
The participating clubs are RC Las Piñas headed by Boy Molina, RC
Parañaque South headed by Ed Castillo, RC Makati Mckinley led by
Bing Icamino, RC Muntinlupa South by Totoy Tijares and RC Muntinlupa
Filinvest headed by Sweetie Gardiner, RC of Parañaque Lakambini
headed by Arlene Cañas, RC Makati Uptown led by Mildred Vitangcol,
RC Makati Nielsen led RGP Deo Cumarat, RC Makati EDSA by Jasmin
Rodriguez, RC Makati Cristo Rey led by Mon Favila and RC Parañaque
Central by Sonny Pilares.
But the organization that funds the whole Calayo
project is Gilda Catalina Lim Foundation headed by Immediate Past
President (IPP) Gilda Lim. The program was dubbed “Save Butanding
and Coral Reefs at Baranggay Calayo.” The program aims to stop
fishermen from using dynamite, improve their livelihood, lower the
child mortality rate and improve the health condition.
Atty. Lim’s foundation hopes the succeeding
Rotary Smiling Visionary Presidents for Rotary year 2009 to 2010 to
continue this project and she is more than willing to fund it again.
This year the foundation will focus on funding environmental
projects
The initiative include providing boats, fishing
boat engines and nets for fishermen and conducting seminars on
beauty, wellness and other alternative source of livelihood for the
fishermen’s wives.
Holistic in approach, the program also held
values formation seminars and lectures on drug abuse prevention as
well as medical and dental mission for the whole community.
“We started giving them fishing boat
motors, boats and fishnets in exchange of their commitment not to
use dynamites for fishing anymore. They signed a memorandum of
agreement that they will refrain from using this destructive method
provided they were given proper fishing equipments,” says
Gardiner.
The Rotarians explain that the equipments were
not a dole-out. The fishermen will pay for the gears via an
affordable monthly payment scheme. “It is interest free. We
don’t want to just give it because we also want to teach them how
to work hard for the things they want to get and achieve.”
Castillo said.
The fishermen are required to make a P300
monthly payment for three years for the fishing boat engines.
Making dreams come true
The Rotarians also train fishermen’s wives in
alternative to have their own income. “The fishermen’s wives
were trained to run a beauty parlor. We gave them equipments
including scissors, chairs, combs, mirrors, cover capes, talcum
powder, shampoo and hair conditioners and a little cash to build a
small beauty salon,” Rodriguez reveals, adding, “Women are
empowered in this way because they can also earn money for their
family’s daily needs.”
Cumarat, a top beauty expert, taught the wives
basic hair cutting, shampooing and coloring. Cumarat plans to teach
the women massage, pedicure and manicure soon.
Dolly Limeta is the head of the community parlor
named Dreams Salon. They have begun charging P20 per haircut. The
business is generating money that enables it to sustain operation
and buy more equipment. The women of Calayo are also scheduled to
attend a seminar on basic fashion accessories making soon.
Long-term assistance
Icamina, an IPP and economist, explains
sustainability of the project: “What we are doing is sustainable.
It is not a one-time help because it is giving people a source of
livelihood. Our goal is for fishermen to shy away from unlawful kind
of fishing practices.”
He also explained that the sustainability factor
of the endeavor lies in the fact that the equipment are not for
free. “Every fisherman has the responsibility to pay. This is to
sustain the whole thing so everybody can enjoy and benefit of the
program,” Icamina says, adding, “Other external benefit is that
someday Calayo could become a tourist area that would create more
value to the place. This would mean more job opportunities and
employment.”
Today, fishermen in Calayo like Derain looks at
the horizon with new hope. They now felt empowered to face any storm
in the sea or even in life.
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