TACLOBAN CITY – ‘Tahong’ growers in Jiabong, Samar are enjoying brisk sales of their products, thanks to the assistance they received from the government.

The tahong or green mussels vendors would no longer worry whenever there is an advisory issued by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of a red tide along Maqueda Bay or Irong-irong Bay, where they grow and harvest this marine product.

Oscar Acotin, president of the Maligaya Agri-Business Association(Maba), a group of tahong growers, said that they are happy that they received assistance from the government as this resulted to increase of their income as they were able to produce food items using tahong as the main ingredient.

He narrated that prior to the intervention by the government, they rely solely on selling tahong and whenever there is a red tide advisory, their income dropped drastically.
MABA, with 42 members, was organized in 2012 as a prerequisite for the government to provide additional assistance like livelihood supports to farmers and fisherfolks.
They started to produce processed tahong in 2018.

Acotin is thankful that they are now producing processed tahong that they sell at higher prices allowing them to have a bigger income.

These products include tahong and shrimp sticks and crackers, and bottled tahong in different flavors such as adobo, adobo sa gata, escabeche, and bopis.
On January 2018, initial materials and equipment were delivered to the association to start the production of the processed tahong.

Various national government agencies and non-government organizations assisted the group to improve their product and production.

Among them was the International Fund for Agricultural Development which help the group in funding their processing area thru the Fisheries Coastal Resource and Livelihood (FishCORAL) Project of BFAR.

The Department of Science and Technology provided them with equipment that help them improve their production of processed tahong from 10 to 15 bottles prior to the intervention increasing it to 50 to 75 bottles, from 20 to 50 pieces of shrimp and tahong sticks and crackers increasing to 100 to 200 pieces per production after the assistance was given.

This equipment includes a sterilizer and pressure cooker, two chest freezers; and two stainless steel working tables.

This assistance helped them increase their order-based income from a minimum of PhP1, 000 per month to PhP15, 000 per month, Acotin said.

“Mas malaki na ang kita namin ngayon,” he said.

Acotin said that they always attend trade fair as a way to promote their product aside from having an assured income.

Aside from equipment, DOST- Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) also provided them technology interventions by setting up a 100-meter-long line culture method for tahong production which is more sustainable way of farming tahong in contrast to the traditional way of using bamboo.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY-In celebration of this year’s World Day Against Child Labor with the theme, “Buong Bansa, Lahat ng Bata, Sama-sama para sa Batang Malaya”, the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. 8 through its North Leyte Field Office (NLFO), conducted a Project Angel Tree activity on June 12, 2023 at Robinson North, Abucay, this city.

The activity, held in convergence with the Regional Council Against Child Labor-Eastern Visayas (RCACL-EV), brought so much fun and benefitted 100 profiled child laborers from the municipalities of Tanauan and Tolosa in Leyte.

Engr. Emmanuel Y. de la Cruz, Head of NLFO, shared that through the support of the RCACL-EV and other benefactors or “angels”, each child received grocery packs, a backpack full of school supplies, one sack of 25kg rice, assorted toys, clothes, vitamins, and hygiene kits.

Also, 86 parents and guardians of the child laborers were awarded during the event, certificates of entitlement to a Rice Retailing Project worth P28,000 each under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).

Alexis Yu, representing Rep.Yedda Marie Romualdez of the Tingog party-list, graced the activity together with DSWD-8 Regional Director Grace Subong, DOLE-8 Regional Director Henry John S. Jalbuena, and Assistant Regional Director Norman L. Uyvico.

Director Jalbuena thanked all the benefactors or ‘angels’ who donated for the said event to be realized. He likewise gave some words of encouragement to the children.
“To our children, we hope to give you that fresh ray of hope that will bring out the best in you and lead you to greater heights”, said Jalbuena.

Meanwhile, Director Subong, as vice-chair of the RCACL-EV, expressed continued commitment to ending child labor in the region.

“Ang DSWD po ay kaisa ng DOLE na tugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga kabataan lalo na ang tiyakin na sila ay malaya mula sa child labor,” said Subong.
Aside from the gifts, the children were likewise treated to some fun activities such as puppet show, magic show, and fun games, while their parents were given orientation on some of the DOLE’s programs and services. The DENR Mascot also brought happiness when it had a special dance number.

To cap the activity, a symbolic signing of the pledge of commitment was done by the different members of the RCACL-EV in support to a Child-Labor Free Philippines.
Simultaneous Project Angel Tree activities were also conducted by the different Field Offices of DOLE-8 in Ormoc City, Maasin City, Naval, Biliran, Catbalogan City, Borongan City and Catarman, Northern Samar, benefitting a total of 350 child laborers.

The Project Angel Tree is a component of the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program of the department which aims to improve economic and social conditions of the child laborer through provision of social services that range from food, clothing, educational supplies, and even work and training opportunities.(PR)