Talim Bay Coastal Resources Management Project

      Talim bay’s stakeholders continue to support and implement activities necessary to help maintain the bay’s biodiversity and health by  preserving areas declared as "marine protected."  Also,  Initiatives for other alternative sources of income for local fishers like community-based ecotourism, crab fattening, sea cucumber ranching, among others, for the local fishers are being explored  to mitigate the adverse effect on the marine resource availability (which reduces the income of local fishers) due to over extraction of marine resources, pollution, destruction and bleaching of coral reef, among others. Thirty-eight (38) local fishers  and/or their household members attended on December 9, 2019 a training-orientation on Mud Crab culture / fattening and  Sea Cucumber Ranching.  De La Salle University’s (DLSU)-Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA) has  partnered with the team of Dr. Chona Abeledo, a faculty from the DLSU Biology Department and a member of DLSU’s Practical Genomics Laboratory (PGL).  PGL’s goal is to help in the 'democratization of science and the development of practical technologies for the advancement of Philippine agriculture and fisheries.'

       A Memorandum of Agreement was executed by official representatives from the Office of DLSU’s Vice President for Lasallian Mission, DLSU-COSCA, Office of the Commission for  Filipinos  Overseas, Lian Fisher folk Association, Inc., Feed the Hungry, Inc. (FtH) and Feed the Hungry FA for the implementation of  Mud Crab Fattening and Sea Cucumber Ranching.  FtH  has expressed willingness to provide funding  for these livelihood projects in Lumaniag, Lian, Batangas.

       Also,  Talim bay's stakeholders continue the regular reef monitoring with the assistance of  Ms. Sapugay and Mr. Quenamot, COSCA Specialists and  Mr. Tadena, Program Coordinator and in  coordination with LGU Lian’s Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Mr. Jonson. The  activity helps encourage local fishers and other members of the community to continue their efforts to protect the remaining pristine reefs and rehabilitate damaged reefs in Talim bay.  A  community-led reef check activity conducted on November 28, 2019 to December 1, 2019  undertaken in the marine protected areas of Sitio Kay Reyna, Lumaniag and Binubusan, both in the municipality of Lian, Batangas helped enhance the local fishers' capacity to monitor their marine ecosystem.  both in the municipality of Lian, Batangas has enabled  local fishers to observe any increase in fishery production and note the presence of marine life / type of fish in the area thus, 

       Moreover, members of LFA and other organizations of fishers in Talim bay such as the  Barangay SAGIP Women’s LOVE, and the Samahan ng Mandaragat sa Sulok Fisher folk Association participated in the December 15 and  16, 2019 team building  activities facilitated by DLSU-COSCA.

      Talim bay’s local fishers,  Local Government Unit (LGU) of the Municipality of Lian, Batangas (reprsented by Municipal Mayor Isagani Bolompo), conservation advocates and the De La Salle University-Manila (represented  by  Br. Raymundo Suplido, DLSU President) through its Center for Social Concern and Action and the Br. Shields Ocean Research Center push to sustain biodiversity conservation initiatives with  the renewal   of   partnership   and  signing  of a Memorandum of Understanding  (MOU) on Sept. 23, 2019 in Matabungkay,  Lian, Batangas.   

      During the MOU signing, local fishers  were represented  by the  leaders of  LGU of Brgy. Lumaniag, Lian, Batangas and of  local peoples’ organizations  like Lian Fisherfolk  Association, Inc. and the Samahan ng mga Mandaragat sa Sulok at Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Binubusan.

      While maintaining  Talim bay’s biodiversity remains a challenge for  conservation advocates  and the fishing community given the concerns on coral reef bleaching  and limited  fish catch  in  Talim bay areas declared as marine protected ,  stakeholders commit to take a closer look at establishing  their version of a Marine Protected Area, designed to protect the municipal coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove forest and help ensure the integrity of these ecosystems. The operative word is to sustainably utilize resources through regulation and peoples’ participation.

      To date, one coastal community in Talim Bay continues operation of its community based-ecotourism activity as alternative source of income for fishers.  Also, stakeholders pursue initiatives to help keep Talim bay's health, sustain peoples’ participation through continued  capacity building  activities and facilitate the  conduct of  relevant  services  with the community, among others.

      Moreover, De La Salle-Red Cross Youth, the DLSU-Lasallian Scholar’s Society, Sagip Bayan Foundation, Inc. and DLSU-COSCA through its Lasallian Health Education, Accessible Resources and Training Services component facilitated the conduct of a Medical Mission  last July 27, 2019.  Approximately 180 household members of  fishers in the coastal communities of Lian, Batangas received health services during the mission through medical check-up and provision of medicine supplies.