Sibuguey Bay in the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay, supports the Philippines’ richest fish populations. Bordering eight coastal municipalities, the bay supplies fish for an estimated 330,000 Sibugaynons inhabiting the area.
Through several mangrove rehabilitation projects supported by Forest Foundation Philippines, Sibuguey Bay and the local fisherfolk find a way to keep thriving together.
From 2008 to 2011, Xavier Agricultural Extension Service Foundation Inc. (XAES), and with support from Forest Foundation Philippines, reforested 329 hectares of de****d mangrove, open space areas, and abandoned fishponds. It also capacitated 545 fisherfolks with coastal resource management, nursery establishment, and sustainable aquaculture enterprise development.
From 2009 to 2015, Kapunungan sa Gagmay’ng Mangingisda sa Concepcion (KGMC) continued these efforts. In 2012 and 2013, KGMC was a recipient of the Condura Skyway Marathon: Run for the Mangroves. Through the partnership, 20 hectares of mangrove forests were reforested and maintained at this time.
From 2009 to 2015, 550 fisherfolks from three municipalities have worked together to reforest 600 hectares of de****d mangroves.
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Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay—A convergence of the local government, civil society organizations, and a group of fisherfolks can turn an impoverished coastal community into a bustling center of development and environmental conservation.
This was proven by Barangay Concepcion in this municipality, as residents worked for the reemergence of their marine resources through mangrove planting and fighting îllégâl fishing activities in Sibuguey Bay.
During the learning exchange organized by Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) with the fisherfolks from Padre Burgos, Quezon on February 4-5, Kapunungan ng Gagmay Mangingisda ng Concepcion (KGMC) Chair Roberto “Ka Dodoy” Ballon told the story of revival that made their community one of the most successful and inspiring stories of community empowerment.
“The fishes were plenty in the 1960s and 1970s and the river is deep. But everything changed when settlers from Visayas and Mindanao came,” he said.
Ka Dodoy narrated that the mangroves were removed by fishers from neighboring barangays, and the river was blocked to pave the way for fishponds, which led to the decrease of their catch.
“îllégâl activities started when the income fell. When commercial fishers entered here, they introduced dynamite and cyanide fishing on which the residents here followed suit,” he added.
The continuous destruction of the environment and their subsequent loss of income moved Ka Dodoy and other fisherfolk to act.
With the help of the Xavier Agricultural Extension Service Foundation and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, KGMC began planting mangroves and trained as “bantay-dagat” (sea patrols) against îllégâl activities.
As KGMCs activities began to echo in other barangays as their mangrove planting brought back fish in the Sibuguey Bay, the local government passed a resolution that protected the mangrove forest in the entire town of Kabasalan.
“We recognize the local government as our partner to pursue coastal programs and projects. Now we feel their support,” Ka Dodoy added.
According to him, all coastal programs to be implemented by the LGUs are first being consulted with KGMC.
The convergence has brought prosperity to Concepcion, with some households now able to send their children to school, buy appliances, and provide for their basic needs.
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sources:
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