On 21 to 30 May 2019, CFSI conducted a series of trainings for Sama Bajaus on relevant Environmental Laws and Environmentally Sustainable Income-Generating Practices. This initiative was done as part of the Sama Bajau Capacity Strengthening Project (SBCSP), funded by the European Union (EU). Said trainings were facilitated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources (OCENR).
During the trainings, focus was given on environmental laws and policies, concerning mostly fishing, and proper waste disposal and management. Beneficiaries were oriented on the proper ways of fishing and on the aquatic resources that are prohibited for capture and consumption. Local community involvement in coastal resource management was also highlighted. Mr. Bonifacio Duterte, OIC Fishing Division of BFAR Region IX, encouraged the participants to observe discipline in maintaining cleanliness.
Moreover, participants were also trained on Financial Management and Basic Bookkeeping (FMBK). The aim was to provide basic bookkeeping skills and proper management of financial resources to ensure the sustainability of livelihood practices of the beneficiaries. Since 70% of the family heads of the SBCSP beneficiaries are unable to read or write, small group workshops on the actual bookkeeping or paglilista were facilitated by the project team so that participating representatives can relay their FMBK skills to literate members of the family. Aside from providing record books and calculators to all beneficiaries, CFSI community organizers will conduct monthly home visits to beneficiaries pf SBCSP for regular monitoring and coaching on FMBK.
Jatulliya Jammang, 51 years old from Batu-Batu, Arena Blanco, is a mother of five and married to Rasam Jammang, a fisherman. She is a sari-sari store vendor in her sitio, a community of houses on stilts in the coastal barangay of Arena Blanco. After the talk given by OCENR on environmentally sustainable practices, Jatulliya said that she realized right there and then how her livelihood practice gravely impacts the sea – which is the main source of income for all of the Sama Bajaus. “When I went home right after the training, I started my sari-sari store customers to recycle wrappers of junk foods and other consumable products including plastic bottles. As an example, I show them how I recycle plastic wrappers and containers as taught to us by the OCENR.”
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