Bagongon, a quaint island barangay nestled in the Sierra group of islands in Catbalogan, Samar, is a place of quiet beauty and quiet struggles. Isolated from the bustling towns on the mainland, the people of Bagongon have long relied on the sea, with most families eking out a modest living from fishing. The women of the island, often working alongside their husbands, faced a life of limited opportunities, their economic prospects stifled by the island’s remoteness and the constant threat of weather-related hazards.
For years, the women of Bagongon dreamt of more. Yet, access to education and training—vital tools for broadening their livelihood options—was scarce. The tides of change, however, were set in motion by a programme that would alter the course of their lives: “Strengthening Resilience in South and Southeast Asia by Integrating Risk Management, Social Inclusion, and Socio-Economic Development.”
This initiative was a beacon of hope, aiming not only to fortify the community against the ever-present risks of disaster but also to empower the women with new skills and knowledge. Among the most transformative outcomes was the introduction of fish processing techniques—specifically fish smoking and sardine production.
The women of Bagongon, driven by determination and a thirst for change, embraced the opportunity with open arms. They learnt the intricacies of fish smoking, from the careful handling and cleaning of the catch to the brining process and the use of portable fish smokers. Ingeniously, they utilised local resources, such as the abundant coconut shells for fuel and salt produced from seawater through a project that further enhanced their self-sufficiency.
At first, the women sought to sell their smoked fish within their own community. However, with the local economy offering only meagre returns, they soon realised the need to expand their market. This realisation was a turning point. “We realised that we need to sell outside of our island barangay, that we need to reach out to buyers. And we need to work together as an organisation to be able to do that,” remarked Rosemarie Gagatiga, the president of the Bagongon Women’s Association.
Undeterred by the initial challenges, the women also ventured into gourmet sardine production, a skill they honed through a series of workshops in collaboration with government partners. Their first products, showcased at a fair-trade event organised by the local government, were a source of pride and a glimpse of the potential that lay ahead. However, the road to full operationalisation remains fraught with technical and sanitary hurdles, necessitating further support.
The journey was about more than acquiring new skills. The training fostered a sense of unity and mutual support among the women. “These trainings not only provided opportunities to add income to our families but also strengthened our organisation, making us more active in our community,” Ms. Gagatiga observed.
Their newfound confidence saw them take on greater roles within the community. They established a mangrove nursery, managed entirely by the women, and participated in training workshops on mussel and oyster culture, crab banking, and grouper culture. Such initiatives not only broadened their economic base but also instilled a more positive outlook on the future.
The women’s association’s involvement extended beyond livelihood projects. They played a crucial role in the community’s risk assessment and hazard mapping, identifying at-risk members such as the older people and persons with disabilities. Their participation in these activities marked a significant shift in their role within the community.
“Our organisation has grown stronger,” Ms. Gagatiga reflected. “We’ve noticed that we’re much more involved in any community activity. Our confidence and capacity to network with other organisations, especially government agencies, have developed. Our learnings and experiences are becoming bigger and better, and we are hoping to sustain this kind of energy from the community—unity and cooperation—all of this we learned from this project.”
The transformation of Bagongon is a testament to the power of targeted community programmes that seamlessly integrate risk management, social inclusion, and socio-economic development. Through such initiatives, the women of Bagongon have not only improved their livelihoods but have also emerged as resilient leaders, shaping a brighter, more strengthened future for their island community.
