The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Western Visayas, in partnership with BPI Foundation, Inc., the social development arm of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), turned over materials and equipment to fisherfolk beneficiaries in Sapian, Capiz under Project SAFE SHELL (Sustainable Aquaculture for Food and Enterprise – Safe, Healthy, Eco-friendly, Local Livelihood Fund).
The project is being implemented to address pressing challenges faced by the mussel and oyster industries in Sapian and to help strengthen the livelihood and productivity of local fisherfolk through the application of science, technology, and innovation (STI).
The beneficiaries of the project are three fisherfolk organizations in Sapian: the Lonoy Agriculture Cooperative (LARC), Maninang Farmers and Fisherfolks Association (MFFA), and Sapian Shellfish Fisherfolks Association (SaShFA).
Among the materials and equipment turned over were those intended to support the establishment of longline mussel culture and single oyster production modules, as well as the improvement of post-harvest handling and packaging. The project also provides a containerized cleaning and packing unit equipped with a photovoltaic solar power system, together with other equipment and supplies for cleaning, processing, quality monitoring, and packaging of shellfish products.
Project SAFE SHELL seeks to improve the depuration facility in Sapian to help ensure the production of safe mussels and oysters; introduce sustainable culture methods that can increase yield while reducing environmental impact; provide fisherfolk with training in technology adoption, financial literacy, business skills, and entrepreneurship; and improve packaging systems and provide appropriate packaging machinery to enhance product branding and market access.
During the activity, Ms. Melanie Magbuhos, Program Manager and Ms. Juvylyn Reniva, Associate Director of BPI Foundation, Inc., represented BPI Foundation in the turnover activity, highlighting the organization’s commitment to supporting sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities through Project SAFE SHELL. Ms. Reniva highlighted BPI Foundation’s commitment to inclusive development through its aspiration, “Kasama Lahat sa Pag-unlad.” She emphasized the Foundation’s desire to provide people with opportunities to improve their livelihoods and become more self-reliant and sustainable. “Gusto namin ang mga masisipag na manggagawa mag ka sapat na oportunidad para maging mas maunlad ang kabuhayan. Goal ng aming project ay matulungan sila na maging self reliant and sustainable. Naniniwala kami sa Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) para maging progresibo ang komunidad”. [We want hardworking individuals to have sufficient opportunities to achieve more prosperous livelihoods. The goal of our project is to help them become self-reliant and sustainable. We believe in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) as a means of helping communities progress].
Ms. Reniva also underscored BPI Foundation’s belief in the role of science, technology, and innovation in helping communities progress. She expressed the foundation’s confidence in the capabilities of the fisherfolk beneficiaries and the potential of the project to contribute to more sustainable livelihood opportunities.
For Ms. Juafe M. Abareles, Provincial S&T Director of DOST Capiz, the project supports one of DOST’s key thrusts of strengthening fisheries production in Capiz through the application and transfer of science and technology.
Ms. Abareles emphasized that DOST aims to bring technologies developed by researchers closer to communities so that these can be applied in actual livelihood activities. With the support of BPI Foundation, the project provides an opportunity for appropriate technologies to reach the fisherfolk who can directly benefit from them.
She likewise emphasized the important role of the beneficiary associations in sustaining the project. Beyond receiving the materials and equipment, the fisherfolk are expected to properly use, manage, and take care of the resources provided to them to ensure that the interventions remain useful and sustainable in the long term.
“Sa DOST, gusto namon nga ang siyensya indi lamang makita, kundi mabatyagan kag magamit gid sang komunidad,” [At DOST, we want science not only to be seen, but to be felt and utilized by the community], Abareles emphasized, expressing DOST’s goal of making science and technology more meaningful and beneficial to local communities.
Meanwhile, Keithlyn Sarah B. Bernardino, Assistant Regional Director of DOST Western Visayas, highlighted the importance of collaboration among different sectors in achieving community development. She recognized the contributions of local government units, universities, government agencies, the private sector, and fisherfolk organizations in working together toward a more progressive community.
Bernardino emphasized that development should be inclusive and that “walang dapat maiwan” in the country’s pursuit of progress. She encouraged the fisherfolk beneficiaries to maximize the training and technologies provided through the project, particularly those that can help improve their livelihood, strengthen their business capabilities, and increase their opportunities in the market.
Through Project SAFE SHELL, DOST and BPI Foundation seek to demonstrate how science, technology, and collaborative partnerships can be translated into practical solutions for local communities. By improving production methods, strengthening post-harvest and packaging systems, and building the capacities of fisherfolk, the project aims to contribute to safer, more sustainable, and more competitive mussel and oyster enterprises in Sapian, Capiz.
The turnover marks another step toward empowering local fisherfolk with technologies, knowledge, and resources that can help strengthen their livelihoods while promoting sustainable aquaculture practices in the community. (VBDelaPeña/DOST Capiz; Photos by: VBDelaPeña, LNGGebauer, VDGAlinsog)
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 (𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛) 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺’𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘴, 𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘚&𝘛 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵—𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰.
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