When super typhoon Nina blew away their boats, fisherfolk in Bato, Camarines Sur had to take temporary construction jobs away from their families. They shared with the few who managed not to lose their boats. A day’s worth of one boat’s catch had to be cut in halves or thirds, even. Some are forced to fish during the day. On top of this, fish was scarce in Bato Lake immediately after the typhoon with fisherfolks reporting being able to catch only half the volume than they used to.
Four months later, many families around Bato Lake only had thin tarpaulins over their homes to protect their children from the beating of the sun and pounding of the rain. Relief helped for a while but they desperately needed to get their livelihood back.
Bato Lake in Camarines Sur November 2016 just before super typhoon Nina hit the area.
A fisherman in Bato, Camarines Sur with his children in front of his house and a fallen tree damaged by typhoon Nina.
“Kung maibabalik ang hanapbuhay namin, iyon na ang sasagot sa lahat ng problema namin e, ‘yong bubong, mga gamit, pagkain.” If we can get our livelihood back, it will answer all of our other problems: the roof, our things, food.
They did not only worry about feeding their families but they had to buy supplies for another upcoming school year, which has since started in June.
Finally, yesterday, fisherfolk in Bato, Camarines Sur gathered in Buluang for a ceremony to mark the turnover of ten (10) fiberglass boats and fifty (50) fishing nets. Fundación Educación y Cooperación – EDUCO oversaw the production of sturdy fiberglass boats and the procurement of fishing nets through its early recovery project with ChildFund Korea, funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency.
Fisherfolk in Buluang, Bato, Camarines Sur received new boats and nets on 12 July 2017 through Educo-CFK early recovery project post-Nina.
“Malaki po ang pasasalamat ng local na gobyerno ng Bato sa Educo. Atamanan ta ading Education Assistance and Recovery of Livelihood Project (EARLi),” said Mayor Frank Bernaldez to the fisherfolk. The local government of Bato is extremely grateful to Educo. Let’s take care of Project EARLi.
“Huwag po nating babaliwalain. Pangalagaan natin ang ibinibigay ng Educo and ChildFund Korea,” added Barangay Captain Ramon Pili. Let’s not take this for granted. Let’s take care of the support from Educo and ChildFund Korea.
For Educo, what was important was the end goal of the project.
“Sana makaabot sa mga kabataan, na ang benepisyo ay makikita sa mga bata, na sila ay patuloy na nakakapasok, patuloy na nakikibahagi, napoprotektahan… at natatamasa ang kanilang mga karapatan,” said Nancy Obias, Educo Program Manager. “Ito po ang layunin ng Educo kaya kami nandito.”
We hope this reaches the children, that its benefits be seen in children, that they continue schooling, participating, being protected, and their rights fulfilled. This is why Educo is here.
To this, the fisherfolk took on the challenge. “Malaking bagay para sa aming mga magulang ang tiwalang binibigay ninyo,” said Diosdado Gerobin in behalf of the fishing community in Buluang. This is a huge deal for us parents, for you to trust us. He acknowledged the responsibilities as a parent and committed to take care of the new boats and nets.
Rex, 12 years old, son of a fisherman, told Educo and his community that he understood the boats were really to ensure a better future for children like himself.
Educo and ChildFund Korea’s Project EARLi is helping families in Bato, Nabua, (Camarines Sur) and Libon (Albay) that were among the worst-hit by Nina so that the rights of their children, especially to education, are protected despite disasters. Aside from pushing for recovery in livelihood, Project EARLi is also filling the needs for temporary learning spaces in these areas, in coordination with the Department of Education.
The early recovery project will only run until December 2017 but Educo believes that with accurate points of intervention, regardless of the size of an investment, it should be enough to start a paradigm shift among duty bearers—local governments, schools, and households—towards becoming more child-centered, especially in times of disasters.
In the coming months, training courses on child-centered disaster risk reduction and management for both adults and children will be rolled out.
“Asahan po ninyo na pahahalagahan namin ito, pagsusumikapang mapaunlad,” said 12-year-old Rex whose father is among the fisherfolk acquiring a new boat through the project. “Alam ko po, mula sa mura kong isipan, na ang tanging basihan ng inyong pagtulong sa amin ay ang mapabuti ang kinabukasan naming mga kabataan.”
Trust that we are going to treasure this, to make it grow. I know, even if I’m still young, that the only reason you’re helping us is to make a better future for us children.
More photos from the turnover ceremonies can be viewed here.
