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Seaweeds Nursery Updates - Surigao del Norte share
Seaweeds Nursery Project in Brgy Montserrat, Dapa
This working area in Brgy Montserrat, Dapa is halfway done with lumber materials still lacking. The materials are expected to be delivered on the 19th of May, 2012.
Frames for the seaweed nursery had already been set – up by the Montserrat Seaweeds Farmers Assn (MONSEFA); however, cultivar lines are not yet in place. The whole structure is expected to be completed within the month of May 2012, including the partial planting of cultivars.
Seaweeds Nursery Project in Brgy. San Carlos, Dapa
As of the last week of April, the working area in Brgy. San Carlos, Dapa had been partially completed by members of the San Carlos and New Uba Aquamarine Assn (SCNUAA). The whole facility is expected to be completed within the month of May 2012, including the initial planting of seedlings.
Seaweeds Nursery Project in Sitio Capinggon, Brgy. Maribojoc, San Benito
This photo of the on – going construction of the working area in Sitio Campingganon, Brgy. Maribojoc, San Benito was taken during the 3rd week of April 2012. As of May 18, it is almost complete, with guard house and flooring already installed. The frame for the seaweeds nursery is yet to be established on the 21st of May, 2012. Target date of completion for the whole nursery structure is also within this month.
PDAP starts pre-deployment of PBSP business advisers for SEAWEED Project share
As part of the SEAWEED Project, volunteer business advisers from the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) were pre-deployed last February 20-27, 2013 to conduct site assessment and meet with PDAP partner POs in Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte. The advisers discussed with the POs the scope and approaches of the business advisory program. The advisers will be deployed for the next 12 months to provide capacity building through coaching/mentoring to improve the POs organizational and enterprise performance.
The shift in the manner of providing capacity building intervention was a result of the performance capacity index (PCI) assessment last July 2012 and recognition that though the POs are mostly at the start-up stage, they do have different needs. By engaging the expertise of PBSP in business advising, participating POs will be provided with learning experience which will help in addressing their organizational and enterprise development needs.
Siltation Affects Seaweed Farmers in Surigao del Sur share
Cropping season for seaweeds in Surigao del Sur was cut short in the first quarter due to soil siltation caused by illegal small-scale mining activities in the coastal barangays of Barobo and Lianga. These small-scale mining activities employ soil flushing wherein miners use water pumps to flush gold from the soil resulting in siltation. Soil sediments are then carried by waste water to the coastal areas causing growth stagnation and eventual decay of seaweed plants. In effect, seaweeds production in the area declined.
Seaweed farmers in Surigao del Sur specifically those in Liatimco in the Municipality of Lianga and in some barangays of Barobo were greatly affected. Based on the assessment made by PDAP and the local government unit, estimated damage reached Php679,000 affecting 78 seaweed farmers from six (6) of the PDAP PO partners. Because of this, farmers stopped planting seaweeds and instead tried other means of livelihood like fish peddling and gold panning as well as to apply as skilled workers.
In response, the PDAP Seaweed Project Technical Working Group (TWG) submitted a resolution/position paper to the local government units (LGUs) of Lianga and Barobo. It urges the LGUs to immediately stop flushing along the coastal areas or areas that channel waste to the bay and the immediate relocation of the small scale mining operations to areas where waste water could no longer affect Lianga Bay. The same resolution/position paper was submitted to NEDA on May 22, 2013 and was subsequently endorsed to the Regional Development Council Economic Development Committee (RDC-EDC).
The RDC-EDC technical working group met last June 4, 2013 at the NEDA Conference Hall in Butuan City to discuss and address the issue. The group came up with recommendations which were submitted for consideration in the RDC-EDC Full Council Meeting held last June 20, 2013 at the Provincial Governor’s Office, Provincial Capitol, Tandag City. In the full council meeting, an RDC-EDC resolution was passed enjoining all LGUs and mining companies to adopt filtering technology (i.e. bio-logs to address heavy siltation of rivers and creeks brought about by mining activities). Also, Provincial Governor Johnny Pimentel informed the committee that a cease and desist order to stop all illegal mining activities has been issued. PO representatives were tasked to monitor its enforcement and provide feedback to the office of the Mayor of Barobo.