Fisherfolk Empowerment
For the fishery law enforcers of Lupon, Davao Oriental, keeping an eye on their coastal waters is not just a job, but a commitment they resolve to keep.
The same MCS center has been the second home of Ms. Elsa Orjaliza, who stand as Lupon’s MFARMC Chair. Already an active member of the Kabataang Barangay (KB) in her young days, Elsa is one of the few active female youth who rose into an active leader participating in activities conducted by the FARMC, the government, and the non-government agencies.
Even before the implementation of the Philippine Fisheries Code (Republic Act 8550), Lupon had already organized its deputized fish wardens and Bantay Dagat, composed of the 47 presidents and leaders of coastal puroks. Of the three women leaders who joined the training, only Elsa had sustained her membership and participation.
The Bantay Dagat and Deputized Fish Wardens have maximized their capabilities through series of trainings and IEC campaigns conducted by the BFAR - Regional Fisheries Training Center (RFTC) and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).
Elsa became an effective tool in lobbying with coastal communities and establishing effective linkage with concerned agencies.
Like Elsa, members of the FARMC and different fisherfolk organizations have also enhanced their skills through series of capability building trainings on fisheries resource management, livelihood, and gender and development (GAD) conducted by the BFAR and other government agencies.
At the MCS center, while the male Bantay Baybay members perform seaborne monitoring, Elsa together with Ms. Grace Guinez-Perez (also an MFARMC officer), are either facilitating the processing of the court case documents of the apprehended illegal fishers or handle other administrative logistics. Likewise, they initiate and facilitate IEC campaign on fishery resource management through coastal clean up and mangrove planting activities, orientations, seminars , etc.
As a FARMC officer, Elsa participates in the formulation of coastal resource management (CRM) plans and municipal fisheries ordinances (MFO), in which the drafting phases also involved women leaders in the barangay councils, puroks, and community organizations in the four coastal barangays of Lupon.
Working together toward sustaining fisheries development, preparation of the resource enhancement project (REP) management plan for Lupon’s Panggubaan reef also recognizes the capacity and involvement of Elsa and the rest of FARMC members.
The MFARMC took its first leap in 1998, when they conducted orientation and registration of fisherfolk. In 2000 - 2003 the MFARMC members lost their JO appointment to new job orders hired under new administration, which later took over the MCS center and carried out the law enforcement activities. But to Elsa and the rest of MFARMCs who were bound to depart from their duties at the MCS center, they instead decided to channel and continue their support to the establishment of fish sanctuaries.
Capability building trainings have allowed Elsa and the MFARMC of Lupon to enhance their abilities in the field and achieve more. The trainings on law enforcement, livelihood, and cooperative development were not just absorbed as processes of skills development but also as channels to develop attitude, principle and belief. After their three-year crisis, the MFARMC of Lupon regained their appointments and duties at the MCS center in year 2004. And it had also been a challenging come-back since the Council has to re-start the IEC groundwork including the conduct of focus group discussions, meetings, general assemblies and orientations. For eight years, the period January - June 2005 has the highest collection for the municipality. The amount of PhP 126,547.70 was gathered from licenses, auxiliary, and penalties.
Although occupied with her roles at MFARMC and other organizations such as the Baybay Fish Processors Association and Association of Purok Presidents, Elsa would always find time to do her roles as a mother to her two children, Elsa (25 years old) and Roel (26 years old).
Gender and development and core leadership have enhanced the management capabilities of Elsa and her fellow FARMC members. However, there were challenges that needed to be confronted in the process. This includes the invitation and encouragement of women’s participation.
Elsa had been a role model to the womenfolk of Lupon, who now participate in decision-making venues such as regular dialogues, monthly barangay level assemblies and meetings, etc. In a focused group discussion, Elsa noted that women who attended on behalf of their husbands and or family members have also been acknowledged during these venues. Women have also become chairpersons and members of the committees under BFARMC which include the Livelihood Opportunity; Rehabilitation and Conservation; Research, Education and Training, among others.
Cooperatives have also become catalyst of women empowerment in the community areas. In fact, women in Lupon contribute household incomes by working for livelihood projects such as consumer store, fish processing, and merchandizing. Women leaders of these cooperatives like Elsa are also able to source out technical assistance from the local government units to sustain their enterprises.
Income-generating projects by the Nagkahiusang Kababayinhan sa Purok Imaculada alang sa Kalambuan a 15-member women folk organization organized by Elsa herself, promotes paluwagan. Microenterprises have also been assisted by the MFARMC in five cooperatives of Lupon including micro-lending, consumer store, and fish pot (bubo) projects.
Two units of shallow water payao projects of Brgy. Poblacion Demano Association and Purok Lawis Fisherfolk Association now become a new home of three spinner dolphins. Profits earned from the livelihood projects elicited more opportunities for the marginalized fisherfolk in Lupon.
Elsa is also a part of the Association of Purok Presidents, who now plans to launch the Pera Para sa Basura income generating project among puroks.
Moreover, the Bantay Dagat of Lupon is presently preparing for the planting and launching of their Seaweed Test Plant, which is aimed to become a Model Seaweeds Farm.
Indeed, Elsa has been truly a dedicated leader to the FARMC. With numerous trainings attended and good education achieved, she uses all her skills by way of exerting humble and kind effort in sharing all these “blessings.”
