Global funding agencies seal deal with PBSP for Cebu economic rehab

Two global funding agencies, Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V (Help) and International Labor Organization (ILO), has partnered with Philipppine-based business organization, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), for a one-year economic rehabilitation for northern Cebu.

Based in Germany, Help is a worldwide working aid organization. Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe means “helping people to help themselves.”

PBSP, on the other hand, is the largest business-led social development organization.

With over million poured into the partnership, this assistance should benefit more than 800 households in the towns of Daanbantayan, Bantayan, Sta. Fe and Madridejos, which were identified as one of the severely hit areas of super-typhoon Yolanda, which occurred in November 2013.

The project, according to PBSP, aims to restore their local economies through the provision of various livelihood activities and to revive the towns’ coastal environments.

One of the major livelihood components of the project focuses on the restoration of the fishing industry on Bantayan Island through the establishment of four fish drying facilities in Madridejos, a town hugely dependent on dried fish processing as its major source of income.

The facilities feature a multi-commodity solar tunnel drying technology that preserves the quality of dried products due to lesser microbial contamination and allows ready supply of dried products even during lean months.

With the new facility, fishermen may expect an average volume of 25 kilos of dried fish a day, which can generate a monthly income of at least compared to traditional sun drying methods.

Normally, a fisherman only earns as much as a month from sun drying fish, which takes at least two days to completely dry.

Additional two multi-commodity solar tunnel dryer facilities will also be provided to income-less women as a livelihood opportunity. Beneficiaries of the facility will be provided with training on entrepreneurial skills and proper management of the facilities.

The project will be done in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in further improving Madridejos’ fish drying industry and other fishery-related livelihood.

Aside from the fish drying facilities, the project will also establish 7.5hectares of seaweed production farms in two barangays of Daanbantayan to help ease pressure on fishing.

The seaweed project, which will benefit 30 fishing households, will be complimented with two seaweed dryers for better production of their dried seaweed products.

Over 500 households in Madridejos and Daanbantayan will also receive training on bio-intensive gardening on basic food commodities.

In improving the towns’ coastal environments damaged by the typhoon, the project will work with local communities in establishing 68 hectares of mangrove forests.

The reforestation project will be implemented in six barangays in Daanbantayan, Sta. Fe and Madridejos and will benefit more than 200 households.

The partnership is anchored on PBSP’s Project New Dawn, which takes a more collective approach in achieving sustainable development in Yolanda-hit areas.

Since its launching in June 2014, Project New Dawn has mobilized more than million for seven livelihood projects in four communities in the Visayas which were least reached by local and international support.