Guimaras Petron Project Launching

I'm off to Guimaras to document the launching of a Petron-sponsored project.

Stormy Weather

The weather was very stormy last night and the rain battered the roof of our house I had a hard time sleeping. Even as I woke up at 5am, the weather led me to believe the project launching would be canceled again. It wasn't, and just rightly so. The rain stopped when I left the house and the sea was surprisingly calm.

Iloilo Port Expansion

Another thing that surprised me was to see the Iloilo Domestic Passenger Terminal undergoing renovation and expansion. They are extending the wharf up to the Rotary Park, hinting that it's present size will be doubled. This is good news for Iloilo's infrastructure.

Getting there

It took about 1 hour and 30 minutes to travel from Parola-Jordan by pumpboat , Jordan-Nueva Valencia by multi-cab, and Nueva Valencia-Igang Marine Station by another pumpboat. The scenery at Guimaras was really a good breather to Iloilo's urbanity. The asphalted road gave a smooth ride across orchards of countless mango trees.

We stopped at a bridge where we rode another pumpboat that was to bring us to Igang Marine Station. From the river, the station's is easily spotted as you move out to the sea - tiny white cottages perched on top of tiny islets.

Program Emcee

I could hardly enjoy the stay at first because I was to be the emcee of the program. Changes after changes in the program came. The congressman, governor, Petron Foundation president, and parish priest can't come, but the list of people to be acknowledged was getting longer. For me, the most awkward part is having to acknowledge each "VIP". Why can't I just say "Welcome guests"? Everything in the program went good. "Good", but not excellent.

I was told earlier that maybe I should host programs as a sideline. Somebody also said my voice was like that of a call-center agent. Uh-oh.. not my liking. I'd prefer to avoid unnecessary stage-fright.

The launching

The rain was intermittent and we waited a while for it to stop before proceeding to the cages. As they released the fish, the rain visited us once more. I had to hold an umbrella over the videographers I hired as they shot clips of the event. I had to be very careful about their equipment. It might cost us our entire year's budget for video production.

I was surprised they cooked a sabalo (milkfish broodstock) for lunch. Nevertheless, it was an interesting experience eating a humongous slice of milkfish. The interstitial bones were not so much of a bother since they were large and easily removed.

Petron might be the sponsor for the project we launched but the ladies washing the dishes didn't care if the bandanas they wore were Shell. Coincidence?

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This post has been staying in my drafts for a long while. I'm deciding to just post this unfinished.

Sea ranching of abalone launched in Nogas Island

More than 5000 abalone (Haliotis asinia) juveniles were seeded into the Nogas Island Marine Sanctuary last July 24. This is part of an experimental sea-ranching activity jointly undertaken by the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) and the Municipal Government of Anini-y, Antique where the sanctuary is located. Abalone is locally known as lapas or sobra-sobra in Hiligaynon.

Mr. Armando Fermin, project leader of SEAFDEC’s Integrated Mollusk Program, Dr. Hiroshi Ogata, SEAFDEC’s deputy chief, Municipal Mayor Reynaldo Pollicar, Vice Mayor Amado Rubite, and SB Members Jonathan Diana and Magdalena Cazeñas led the ceremonial releasing of abalone juveniles. It was the first time SEAFDEC released abalone into the wild for sea ranching.

The abalone could be partially harvested after about 9 or 10 months. The rest will hopefully become the parents of a healthy abalone population which will thrive in the area for generations to come. “Go forth and multiply,” Mr. Fermin said to the abalone as they settled among the corals.

After the release, a memorandum of agreement was signed between the Municipality of Anini-y and SEAFDEC. While SEAFDEC is responsible for stocking and an information campaign about the benefits of abalone ranching, the local government of Anini-y and their Municipal Fisheries for Aquatic Resource Management Council Systems (MFARMCs) will provide assistance to SEAFDEC personnel and protection to the seeded abalone.

“Today is another milestone in the history of our town,” said Vice Mayor Rubite during the MOA signing. The abalone seeding “could help our fisherfolk generate income which should mean economic progress in our municipality.” In addition, Dr. Ogata revealed that if large enough, abalone in Japan could cost from P1000 to P1500 per piece.

SEAFDEC divers and scientists continued to monitor the abalone for two more days after their stocking. According to Dr. Josefa Tan-Fermin, SEAFDEC also plans to stock abalone in the Sagay Marine Reserve and at Malalison Island in Northern Antique. She also added that while SEAFDEC may have the technical and financial resources to launch a reseeding and sea-ranching program such as this, it is more difficult to organize and educate people about sustainable aquaculture. The cooperation of the community is vital to the success of the project.

Abalone Sea Ranching

I haven't been to Anini-y for ten years now! It's good to revisit the place as part of my job, and for a good purpose. We reseeded thousands of abalone into the coral reef around Nogas Island. I shall post a copy of the press release I will write later.

I waited for an hour and a half for the coaster to arrive from Tigbauan. Just when I was about to lose my patience, the sight of this cute vehicle approaching almost made me smile. The road to Anini-y is rough so it's good we will be riding an airconditioned vehicle.

The travel was quicker than I thought. The subtle sting on my eyes told me I lack sleep but the beautiful scenery along the southern coast of Panay was not worth missing. We had steep, colossal cliffs on one side and the glistening sea on the other. The mountains were beautifully covered with a carpet of green and the aged trees along the coast held their leaves on enchanting branches.

We first got down at the municipal hall of Anini-y. Just outside, is the charming church of the town. The scientists with me greeted the Mayor and Vice Mayor while I took pictures. We immediately proceeded to Sira-an hot springs where we could ride a boat to the corals.

The boat took a loooong while to arrive. Much radiation has already penetrated my skin by the time we boarded. To my dismay, I was to expect even more radiation because the boat was only half-shaded.

When we finally got to the corals, those involved in the ceremonial releasing of the abalone juveniles scrambled to get into a smaller boat where the styro boxes containing the abalone were on. I too had to endure awkward positions just to balance myself in the small boat while taking pictures and videos of the deputy chief, abalone program leader, mayor, vice-mayor, and SB members releasing the abalone which were kept inside PVC pipes.

As the pipes were thrown overboard, the abalone were finally released into the wild. Now we can only hope they would survive, avoid being illegally collected, and reproduce to increase their numbers.

In the formal program for the signing of he Memorandum of Agreement, the local government officials appeared surprised when the deputy chief, Dr. Hiroshi Ogata revealed that if big enough, one piece of abalone in Japan could cost from P1000 to P1500. The master of ceremonies admitted at the end of the program hat they weren't really aware of what an abalone is.

SEAFDEC/AQD may have the technical and financial resources to launch a reseeding and sea-ranching program such as this. However, without the cooperation of the local government and its people, the program would be in vain. In order to build capacities, much, much effort must be exerted to make the fisherfolk appreciate the concept of sustainable aquaculture development. Please respect the sanctuary.