ZAMBOANGA
CITY, NOV. 22 (PIA) - - “Ngayon po,
alam na namin,” (now, we know) said Sali Absali, when asked about his acquired
knowledge on the protection and conservation of coastal resources.
Speaking in mix dialects during an interview, Absali
explained that way back in 1972 the fish were in abundance in their traditional
fishing grounds. At present, both the fish and the coral reefs are gone. Absali
said, he now has better understanding of “things and why”.
Another Badjau leader, Mengpi Salbarati, described
how difficult it is to support a family of 6 with the dwindling fish catch
coupled with the presence of pirates in the open sea that constricted their
fishing activities.
Absali and Sabarati are among the 21 participants
who attended the “orientation on coastal resource management and fishery laws”
conducted at Claret Formation Center in Zamboanga City, from November 18-20,
2012. Other participants came from Siasi, Sulu; from Bongao, Tawi-tawi, and
from Zamboanga City.
The activity was a joint endeavor of the Claret
Samal Foundation, Inc. (CSFI), and the Regional Fisheries Training Center
(RFTC). RFTC is the training arm of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (BFAR-9).
RFTC training officer Abubakar A. Abdullah was
resource speaker on coastal resource management. He also lectured on fishery
laws and other pertinent laws related to fishing. Another resource speaker,
Jaafar Kimpa, president of Jabu-Jabu, lectured on proper utilization and
conservation of fishery resources.
In his message to the participants during its
closing ceremonies, RFTC Director Pendatun I. Talib underscored the importance
of education and attending seminars and trainings – for the empowerment of
every individual and the community as a whole. As he identified government
fishery programs, he expressed optimism that organized Badjau fisherfolks can
avail of some of these livelihood assistance, particularly in seaweeds
production.
He said that Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala
recently announced that the budget allotment for the seaweed industry
next year will be around P265 million, or six times bigger than that of the current year.
The conduct of this orientation-seminar is an
off-shoot of the annual Sama-Badjau national assembly conducted last April this
year h in Zamboanga. (JPA/FDM/
PIA9-ZBST)