Mindoro fishers look forward to new ways to bring prosperity to their coastal communities.
Throughout the month of April, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines donated food processing equipment and ingredients to fishing communities in Paluan and Sablayan, in the province of Occidental Mindoro. The materials were donated as part of the Kabuhayan Para Sa Kababaihan campaign, a WWF-Philippines initiative that aims to support the livelihoods of women in rural communities.
Funds for the equipment were raised with the help of Reggie Aspiras. “Chef Reggie,” as she is known, regularly extends support to the various conservation efforts of WWF-Philippines.
“On behalf of WWF-Philippines, allow me to thank you for helping me secure the livelihood kits of the 2 tuna fishing communities in Paluan and Sablayan Mindoro! Your help will prepare our local fishing communities face climate change and help protect our precious ecosystems and the species we cohabitate with. Thank you for choosing to support this endeavor and WWF-Philippines,” said Chef Reggie in a Facebook post on her personal page.
The donations were turned over to women from the Tuna Fishers Associations (TFAs) of Paluan and Sablayan. A TFA is a fisher-led body in charge managing fisheries on a local level.
Ten representatives of the Paluan TFA were present at the turnover while in Sablayan, a total of 17 members were there to receive the donations. The equipment will be used to start small businesses, to help fishers bring in additional income for their families and the larger community.
Participants will also share their new skills with interested TFA members, to help bring further wins for their community.
“My husband is usually out at sea. For someone like me, these donations mean a lot because I can earn more income to help my husband and my family,” said Edlyn Macatol, a member of the Paluan TFA.
Over the past decade, WWF-Philippines’ Sustainable Tuna team has worked to support the livelihoods of small-scale fisherfolk as part of their effort to secure the countries’ yellowfin tuna fisheries. Through the organization of Tuna Fishers’ Associations, the project has helped local fisherfolks take their livelihoods – and their futures – into their own hands.
Part and parcel to the projects’ livelihood work is locating women along the tuna supply chain. The recent donation supports this endeavor.
“We really are very thankful to WWF-Philippines and to all their donors for this additional source of livelihood and income,” added Macatol.
The STP 2 project will continue to seek ways to support the livelihoods of women in its partner communities, like the Build Back Better Boats project to create a new modern design of boat that will be faster, stronger, and can withstand rougher waves for fishermen who often lost their means for livelihood due to typhoons. Learn more about this at wwf.org.ph/buildbackbetterboats
