Philippine fisherfolk are among the poorest
sectors in the Philippines and are among the most vulnerable to natural hazards
and extreme weather conditions.
In 2020 alone, three consecutive typhoons
devastated Lagonoy Gulf, heavily affecting fifteen municipalities. Whole
fishing communities lost not only their homes but also their means of
livelihood, their boats.
World Wide Fund (WWF) Philippines has worked
with the fishers of Lagonoy Gulf for over a decade in establishing the
country’s first sustainable Marine Stewardship Council-certified handline tuna
fishery. As committed partners, WWF and the tuna fishing communities
collaborated on ways to “Build Back Better” post-disaster, with the latest
efforts anchored on replacing the wooden fishing boats that were lost or
damaged during the typhoons.
The “Build Back Better” boats, co-designed by industrial designer Mark Victor Bautista and the tuna fishermen, is an innovation combining traditional know-how and state of the art/best practice design technology. The boats will be made of a combination of fiberglass and steel, making for sturdier hulls that can withstand increasing storm intensities. The boats will also have features that will help maintain the quality of tuna catch and support other conditions of the tuna fishery’s sustainable certification.
WWF hopes to raise Php 21 million to deliver 27 units of these Build Back Better boats. One new boat is equivalent in capacity to three traditional fishing boats, and would translate to support for more than 200 families in 15 municipalities in the Lagonoy Gulf area.
Celebrity couple and WWF-Philippines
Ambassador Pia Wurtzbach and WWF-USA Ambassador Jeremy Jauncey went on a trip
to Albay in late April to meet the Lagonoy Gulf fishermen and see for
themselves how the “Build Back Better” campaign is helping fishers improve
their livelihood by applying environmental sustainability principles. Pia and
Jeremy also went on one of the Build Back Better boats to see up-close the
benefits of its design and material.
The couple are staunch supporters of WWF
and are known to be passionate about their advocacies.
“It’s high time that our local fishers have
more access to stronger boats to make their living. The stories of our fishers
represent the challenges faced by thousands of Filipinos who continue to work
hard for their families, and we are inviting everyone to help them recuperate
through the ‘Build Back Better’ campaign,” shared Pia Wurtzbach.
“This trip to the Lagonoy Gulf has not only
been educational for me and Pia but also affirming for us. One boat at a time,
we can help change the lives of several fishers and their communities through
the ‘Build Back Better’ campaign,” added Jeremy Jauncey.
“We hope that many more people, companies,
and organizations join in this Build Back Better campaign because of the long
lasting and transformational impact we can make together. Our experience
working with the Lagonoy Gulf fishers validates a model for sustainable fishing
that has improved community livelihood. We all need to support communities that
are at the forefront of addressing environmental issues,” said Ms. Katherine
Custodio, WWF-Philippines Executive Director.
WWF-Philippines continues to explore new
ways to help the fishers of Bicol as the organization moves further into
long-term recovery and sustainability efforts. WWF is committed to its partner
communities, most especially those that are in the frontlines of the dual
challenge of nature conservation and climate change.
For parties who are interested in
supporting the “Build Back Better” Boats campaign, you may visit Pia Wurtzbach
and Jeremy Jauncey’s SimplyGiving fundraising page at simplygiving.com/event/pia-jeremy-wwf
or reach out to Campaign Lead Ismael John Cabigao (icabigao@wwf.org.ph).
To know more about WWF-Philippines and its
initiatives, please visit https://wwf.org.ph/
About
WWF
The World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines
is an environmental non-government
organization committed to create an impact on biodiversity protection and to
respond to the climate crisis -towards a safe and just recovery.
WWF-Philippines works with a host of partners including national and local
governments, to co-create inclusive, innovative and interdisciplinary solutions
that emphasize the role of science in the service of life. WWF-Philippines'
focus is on scaled solutions with our partners to match the enormity of the
tasks required to address the urgent environmental challenges facing the
present and next generations of Filipinos. Its mission is "to stop, and
eventually reverse the accelerating degradation of the Philippine environment –
to build a future where Filipinos live in harmony with nature."
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