Sunday Essay: Livelihood for better future

LIVELIHOOD refers to the means of securing the necessities of life. But not all have the means to secure such. Take, for instance, a case at Purok 7 in Barangay Talomo, Davao City, where livelihood is one of the main problems.

This purok is located along the shoreline and their basic source of income mainly relies on the aquatic resources. To be able to get these resources, they need boats.

But a boat will cost them over a million pesos.

"Ang problema jud sa among community kay panginabuhian sa pagpanagat. Ang pagpanagat man gud ang among unang source sa panginabuhi kay nakapuyo man pud mi duol sa dagat (The main problem in our community is about livelihood. Fishing is our basic sustenance because we live near the shore.) Corazon Pelostratos, a resident of of Purok 7, said.

She said that since it is prohibited to go sailing seven kilometers from the shoreline, some purok residents, who don't have any boat, were deprived of this livelihood. Those who don't have the means don't have any food to eat and can hardly send their children to school.

This problem was addressed to barangay Kagawad Francisco Josol .

"With regards to the livelihood, the barangay does not have any program intended for this, except for the Sanggunian Kabataan, but a minimal amount is appropriated due to lack of funds," he said.

"Boats will cost millions of pesos and residents can't afford that. Maybe small scale fishing can be affordable for any livelihood program. However, the government tried that before through Biyayang Dagat during the Marcos administration, but it failed maybe because people were lacking in knowledge. They also lack in guidance from the government, and lack of discipline," he added.

He also suggested that if there are any livelihood programs for their barangay, cottage industry will do, such as carpentry, welding, stuff toys making, and masonry.

He stressed that fishing is really only for their necessities in life. Unless, the government is willing to support them -- giving them enough funds and provide trainings -- maybe fishing will prosper.

"Perhaps, the best way to help these people is to provide them financial loan as capital for their livelihood, but with the obligation to pay. Small amount of loan to support their livelihood, which they can also afford to pay, will surely help" Josol suggested.

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Bfar) is a government agency which is concerned with the aquatic resources and livelihood for coastal residents.

But this time, problems occurred in this government agency on giving livelihood to the people.

According to technical research manager of Bfar-11, Jaime Fernandez, it's not easy to give livelihood to these residents "because it needs extensive research and training."

"Even us in the technical department of Bfar have problems. We are still on the rocks on deciding what kind of livelihood we can provide to people living along the shoreline," he said.

"We are still studying if seaweeds growing will be an effective alternative livelihood for fishing. We do not easily suggest a livelihood to the people along the shoreline because we are taking into consideration the environment and the condition of the sea in a certain area," Fernandez emphasized.

Solutions are still unclear because of different problems that may occur in the future.

If people want to have livelihood to sustain their needs, they must cooperate to the government trainings given to them.

People's discipline and support from government or any private organizations are the keys to achieve a brighter future for those who need a source of income.

Any suggested livelihood for these people may greatly help their families to have brighter future. And they are willing to do engage in any form of livelihood. (Ann Lorraine L. Mangkikis)