Reef Love: a concert to conserve corals and curb climate change

The ISO will hold a fundraising concert entitled Reef Love: a concert to conserve corals and curb climate change. It will be held in Mag:Net: High Street, in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig on April 30, 2010 at 10 pm. Proceeds from the event will go to supporting the Bantay Dagat operations and the management of marine sanctuaries in Mercedes, Camarines Norte.

Those who will join us in this event have a chance to win 2 tickets to El Nido resorts and other cool prizes.

Performing in this event are:

Color It Red
Duster Chicks
Falling at Zero Degrees
Giniling Festival
The Haneps
Jeffplane
Juanluna
Shuteyeview
Smoke My Cuban
Space Tinola

And view the latest collection of THE BEACHY LIFE SWIMWEAR

The event is initiated by the Coral Reef Champions project with its of its circle of volunteers and the assistance of various partners and sponsors.

Tickets cost Php270 (pre-event selling), Php300 (at the gate)
and comes with free drink.

Tickets sold at the ISO Office. Call 4266001 local 4834. Text 09082287771 or 09165204749. For more information, email us at coralreefchampions@yahoo.com.

Ongoing study with the Prelature of Infanta

The Institute of Social Order (ISO) was tapped by the Prelature of Infanta to conduct a study on Prelature Programs in preparation for its sixth Prelature Pastoral Conference VI. The Prelature of Infanta is currently headed by Bp. Rolando Tria Tirona, DD. The study covers 8 parishes in the Province of Quezon, and 10 parishes in Aurora.

Quezon:

In the Vicariate of Infant Jesus and St. Mark:

• Divine Infant Jesus of Prague and Saint Mark Parish in Infanta
• Sts. Anne and Joaquim Parish in General Nakar
• St. Raphael the Archangel Parish in Real

In the Vicariate of St. Joseph:

• St. Joseph Parish in Polillo
• St. Raphael Parish Burdeos
• Nuestra Señora de la Salvacion Parish in Jomalig
• St. John the Baptist Parish in Panukulan
• St. Isidore Parish in Patnanungan

Aurora:

In the Vicariate San Luis Obispo

• San Luis Obispo Parish in Baler
• St. Patrick Parish in Dingalan
• St. Therese of the Infant Jesus Parish in Dipaculao
• St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Maria Aurora
• Maria Ina ng Sambayanan ng mga Dukha Parish in Quirino
• San Luis Rey Parish in San Luis

In the Vicariate of St. Anthony de Padua

• St. Anthony de Padua Parish in Casiguran
• Nuestra Señora de la Salvacion Parish in Bianoan
• St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Dilasag
• St. Isidore the Farmer Parish in Dinalungan

The Prelature of Infanta is one of the pioneers in founding the Church of the Poor and of Stewardship Values in the Philippines. This is illustrated by the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) they have organized which are locally called Munting Sambayanang Kristiyano (MSKs). The study being conducted by the ISO aims to assess the status of these MSKs.

Coral Reef Champions Revived

The Coral Reef Champions (CRC) Project and  the CRC Circle of Volunteers have been re-activated. The CRC Project aims to generate awareness and support for the protection of marine resources particularly the coral reefs.

The CRC Project is also now in Facebook. Here, updates on activities are constantly uploaded for the CRC volunteers and other supporters.  Recently, the CRC volunteers had a general assembly last February 22, 2010 wherein old and new volunteers were oriented on the ISO and its programs. The CRC Volunteers also drew out their plans for the year.

Become a Fan! Click here to view the Facebook Page!.

ISO 2009 Celebrations

The ISO celebrated its 62nd Founding Anniversary last July 28-29. This began with a talk on Development and Change Politics given by Dr. Anna Marie Karaos of the John J. Carroll Institute for Church and Social Issues (JJC-ICSI). The ISO’s Research, Information Management, and Policy Advocacy Unit later presented a study on law enforcement entitled Tungo sa Pag-unawa sa Pagpapatupad ng Batas Pampangisdaan: Mga Karanasan ng Pagpapatupad nito sa Lalawigan ng Camarines at Quezon.

The former sought to demonstrate the impacts of national politics in the development of the urban poor and rural sectors. Through a series of workshops, it elicited the participants’ views regarding politics in their localities. Finally, Dr. Karaos discussed the importance of electoral reform in light of the forthcoming 2010 national and local elections. The law enforcement paper presentation, on the other hand drew out inputs necessary in the formulation of a policy paper on fishery law enforcement. It also related the experiences of ISO’s local partners with regard to the implementation of the Philippine Fisheries Code and local municipal and bay-wide fisheries ordinances in Northern Lamon Bay, Quezon Province; and San Miguel Bay, Bicol Region.

The ISO also initiated a sports fest held last August 14. The activity fostered camaraderie among the occupants/ tenants of the ISO building. These included staff from the ISO, JJC-ICSI, ADHD Society of the Philippines, Ramnani Computer Shop, Le Menu Catering Services, and Blessings Copy Center.

Mangrove Nurseries in Polillo

The ISO established several mangrove nurseries in Polillo and Burdeos, Province of Quezon. Alongside these, the ISO is reforesting portions of denuded mangrove forests in these areas. This is part of the ISO’s project for mangrove management efforts in the Polillo Island, which is in partnership with the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation Incorporated (PTFCF, Inc.) and Polillo Island Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc.

A mangrove nursery was established in Libjo and Tamulaya, Polillo on June 2009. This is being managed by the Association of Small Fishersfolks in Libjo (ASFFIL) and the Pakatan: Pag-asa ng Samahan Tamulaya – Anibong (PPSTA), respectively. Meanwhile, in San Rafael, Burdeos, around 13, 076 propagules found in the wild were collected and planted by the members of Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda ng San Rafael (SMMSR).

As of December 2009, an aggregate of 4.5 hectares in Tamulaya and Libjo, Polillo and San Rafael in Burdeos were reported to have been planted with around 5,000 seedlings grown in Tamulaya and Libjo nurseries.

Project evaluation held in Burdeos and Polillo last October 19 to 22, 2009 indicated the advantage of planting mangrove propagules grown in the nurseries. Nonetheless, a very high survival rate averaging 90% were observed in both areas where mangrove propagules were planted.

Livelihood Projects in Northern Lamon Bay

In Northern Lamon Bay implementation of several livelihood projects is currently ongoing.

The mud crab pen demonstration project for the Pakatan: Pag-asa ng Samahan Tamulaya – Anibong  (PPSTA) started its operations in the last quarter of 2009. It uses aqua-silviculture technology in mud crab culture, wherein the mud crab pen is designed to suit the natural mangrove environment rather than cause further damage to it (e.g. severe cutting of mangrove trees).  The pen is situated in an open section within the mangrove forest.  Additionally, members of the PPSTA planted various species of mangroves around the pen to demonstrate that livelihood ventures should not necessarily sacrifice the environment but instead help in preserving it.  The 50- day culture period successfully demonstrated the viability of the technology and showed that it is more feasible to grow mudcrabs in its natural environment rather than in a pond. This was proven by the 78% survival rate of the mud crab stocks. 
 
Meanwhile, the Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Sibulan (SMMS) is currently operating a rice retailing and animal feeds store  with funding assistance from the Assissi Development Foundation Incorporated (ADFI). Earlier this March, the SMMS members have started buying animal feeds and materials as start up to their project

Lastly, a small retail store locally called sari-sari store was set up for the members of the Association of Small Fisherfolks in Libjo (ASFFIL). The additional goods put up on sale were supplied by the ISO, in excahnge for the members’ participation in the mangrove reforestation efforts.

San Miguel Bay

Integrated Law Enforcement begins in San Miguel Bay

The Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council of San Miguel Bay (IFARMC- SMB) initiated the integrated patrolling of San Miguel Bay to ensure the protection of fishery resources. To ensure effective patrolling, the IFARMC decided to create composite teams. The municipalities of Mercedes and Siruma were assigned to secure the entrance to San Miguel Bay against big commercial fishing vessels. On the other hand, two other clusters composed of the municipalities of Cabusao and Sipocot, and Tinambac and Calabanga were assigned to monitor the fishing grounds within the bay, specifically those adjacent to their municipalities. Integrated patrolling operations began last September 2009. This was led by the Provincial Task Force who was designated as Team Leader. The municipalities of Cabusao, Calabanga, and Tinambac offered the use of three patrol boats. The ISO, through the funding of Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional para Desarollo (AECID) in partnership with Instituto para Promocion y Apoyo al Desarrollo IPADE, provided the uniforms for the patrol team, equipment, and other paraphernalia. 

Livelihood Project Update in San Miguel Bay

Livelihood projects in San Miguel bay are also currently ongoing.

In Cabusao, the ISO is continuing the implementation of a mud crab fattening pond project. The ISO hopes to transfer the technology to its local partners in the community, the Cabusao Fisher’s Association (CFA). To date, a total of two mud crab ponds were constructed in Brgy. New Poblacion and Brgy. Barcelonita. The pond in the former is now on its third cropping period. As of January 2010, the ISO and the CFA were able to purchase a total of 1,000 pieces of thin crablets. Similarly, the second pond was also stocked with 2,000 pieces of thin crablets. Thin crablets will be fattened until they reach a marketable size of 250 grams above.

A livelihood revolving fund system is also being implemented in the municipalities of Cabusao and Siruma. As of December 2009, the CFA is currently in the process of reviewing member applicants. In Siruma on the other hand, the Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Matandang Siruma (SMMMS), Samahan ng Mangingisda ng Penitan (SMP), and the Samahan ng Mangingisda ng Butawanan (SMB) have released loans to individual members. The Samahan ng Mangingisda ng Vito (SMV) opted to start a collective rice trading project with their loans.

Meanwhile, the Inter-island Management Council (IIMC) of Mercedes, Camarines Norte continues to implement its income generating projects. The ISO is assisting the IIMC in its CB-CRM efforts for more than 10 years. The IIMC is closely focusing on intensifying its loan collection efforts. Alongside this, it is also in the process of improving its financial management system. However, the IIMC temporarily discontinued their aquaculture project due to an unknown virus that has been affecting fishponds in the area since late 2008. Nonetheless, the IIMC plans to resume its pond operations within the year.