On September 4, fisherfolk leader Roberto Magbanua Ballon took a long journey from Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay to Tigbauan, Iloilo to discover what modern technology could offer to improve the lives of poor families in his community.
Ballon, also known as Ka Dodoy, is the only Filipino to win the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for 2021 for his community work in Barangay Concepcion, Kabasalan where he and his fellow fishermen rehabilitated the mangroves and succeeded in establishing an Oyster Garden and Fish Cages.
When I visited his community on July 20 this year, Ballon, who was just anj ordinary fisherfolk leader at that time, asked the help of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) in accessing technology which would enable them to produce fingerlings of high-value fish, Oyster Spots and crablets in hatcheries.
Just at about that time, MinDA was also finalizing the draft of a Memorandum of Agreement on Technical Cooperatiion between the South East Asia Fisheries Development Center based in Tigbauan, Iloilo.
During the signing of the MOA set Sept. 6, I decided to bring along Ka Dodoy so that he would see for himself what SEAFDEC could offer their group through technology transfer.
In Tigbauan, Iloilo, SEAFDEC Chief Dan Baliao assured MinDA that the hatcheries could be easily established in Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay with minimal cost.
Baliao told MinDA officials and Ballon that only P200,000 is needed to set up an Oyster hatchery to produce Spots or Baby Oysters which would be raised in the Kabasalan Oyster Garden.
SEAFDEC’s Oyster propagation expert, Marinelle Espina, has been designated to assist in the establishment of the Oyster hatchery.
The expert on the breeding of King Crabs, Ginalyn Lames, was also engaged in the establishment of a crab hatchery.
Ballon said the hatcheries for Oysters and King Crabs would greatly help the fisherfolk association of Kabasalan in boosting their production.
Initially, SEAFDEC could supply the Kabasalan fisherfolk with crablets for their King Crabs production.
MinDA will coordinate with the Kabasalan LGU and Zamboanga Sibugay Gov. Wilter Palma to facilitate the establishment of the hatcheries.
During the briefing tour conducted by Chief Baliao himself, I saw happiness in the face of Ka Dodoy because at long last, the dream of the fisherfolk of Kabasalan to have their own hatcheries would soon come true.
It was a long and difficult journey for Ka Dodoy and the rest of the MinDA but it was worth it.
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
(This video of the MinDA team and Ballon’s visit to the SEAFDEC headquarters in Tigbauan, Iloilo was prepared by the MinDA media team.)
https://fb.watch/aAMh1v2_P7/
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