Social enterprise boosts incomes in Quezon
Since fishing is a seasonal industry, fisherfolks like Enrico De Rama, manager of Aqua, have to look for other sources of income during the months where monsoon winds are prevailing in Tayabas Bay.
“Sa panahon ng January to May, ‘kung focus ka talaga sa dagat, kikita ka ng halos PHP 20,000 to PHP 25,000. ‘Pag habagat, pahinga ka na.”
Working in various jobs during these lean months can only provide Rico PHP 300 a day, barely enough for the rest of his family.
Good thing for Rico, he was able to gain additional income through the fishpond and cage operations supported by PEF in Padre Burgos. These enterprises enabled his family to get by during the monsoon season.Rico also learned how to culture bangus and lapu-lapu, fatten crabs, and properly plant mangroves through the mentoring sessions of Roberto “Ka Dodoy” Ballon, Jr., chairman of the Kapunungan sa mga Gagmay’ng Mangingisda sa Concepcion in Zamboanga Sibugay.
