Barbaza MPC builds ‘reefs’ for local Antique fisherfolk
Barbaza, ANTIQUE — Barbaza MPC extends help to local fisherfolk by establishing Six (6) fishing zones in the municipal waters of Tibiao. This project, in partnership with Katahum Tours, BFAR, DENR, LGU Tibiao, MFARMC and Antique Eco-Tourism Association, Inc, aims to provide fishing zones to local fisherfolk to improve their catch and also food for their families.
In each fishing zone, one balsa (bamboo raft) or fish aggregating device is deployed and five (padugmon) or indigenous artificial reefs have been installed near the shore with the depth of 15-40 fathoms.
This environment-friendly artificial reefs had been used by local fisherfolk during WWII. The design is similar to “tangkal” or pig pen made of dried coconut and nipa leaves which serves as the food and shelter for the small fishes, the smell of the bamboo as an attractant to demersal fishes, and the head size boulders will serve as the natural sinker and as shelter for moray eels or endong.
Each zone has “padugmon” watchers who are assigned to monitor the daily activities of the padugmon and the fisherfolk.
After a month of establishing these fishing zones, different species of reef fishes and squids have been frequent catch.
Truly, Barbaza MPC’s efforts, together with its partners in providing sustainable livelihood to the community, is very timely especially during this time of pandemic.
NATCCO CEO, Sylvia Paraguya, heaped praise on Barbaza MPC: “For 55 years, Barbaza Multi-Purpose Cooperative has been a vanguard of Self-Help, pushing “Sustainable Socio-Economic Advancement through Cooperation and Inclusivity” in the island of Panay. BMPC implements the current aspiration of the cooperative to meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.”
Paraguya also recognizes Barbaza MPC’s adherence to technology to better serve its members through the KAYA Payment Platform that it uses to allow members to transact digitally. “Indeed, the only way to achieve sustainable socio-economic advancement is through co-operation. Your providing Kaya Payment service to your members has been a key element in achieving inclusivity and thus, widespread economic growth that reaches the ‘underserved.’”
By Flord Nicson J. Calawag