Rotary livelihood projects for fishermen of Taguig and Laguna Lake, Philippines

1. “FISH FOR LIFE”
A livelihood Project for the Fish
Folks of Taguig City
A Joint Project of :
The Rotary Club of Taguig Fort Bonifacio
and
The Rotary Club of Koln – Ville (Cologne, Germany)
March 2014

2. PROJECT LOCATION
C6 Taguig City

3. A VIEW OF THE C6 ROAD
C6 ROAD UTILIZING THE SHORELINE OF
LAGUNA LAKE

4. OCULAR OF PROJECT LOCATION

5. Barangay fishermen of C6 Taguig –
main source of livelihood is fishing at
the Laguna Lake
PROJECT BENEFICIARIES

6. Distibution of Fish Nets to fishermen
along C6 Taguig City, the fish nets will
put them back to fishing immediately.
THE PROJECT
First Phase

7. 1. Creation of livelihood for the spouses and
family members of fishermen along the C6-
Laguna Lake shoreline through the KNIFE
FISH PROCESSING PROGRAM.
2. Donation of stuffing machines to barangays
THE PROJECT
Second Phase

8. FIRST PHASE
DISTRIBUTION OF FISH NETS
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

9. Taguig City Vice
Mayor Ading Cruz
together with Brgy.
Lower Bicutan
officials received
fishnets from RCTFB
for distribution to
fishermen
December 14, 2013
FIRST PHASE
Distribution of Fish Nets
DISTRIBUTION OF FISH NETS

10. RC Kolne-Ville
President Stephan
Zilkens and AG
Charry Misa joined
RCTFB during the
distribution of fish
nets in Barangay
Bagumbayan
February 5, 2014
DISTRIBUTION OF FISH NETS

11. SECOND PHASE
KNIFE FISH PROCESSING
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

12. Background on knife fish
Knife fish first arrived in the country through the
importation of aquarium or ornamental fish. It is
called such because of it’s shape that resembles a
knife. Because of floods, it made its way into Laguna
de Bay. It’s population has boomed and is harming
the aquaculture industry in Laguna Lake. Fish pen
operators are suffering from losses because the
knife fish lay eggs on stakes and poles in the fish
pens. They are highly aggressive and highly
carnivorous, They eat bangus, tilapia and shrimps.

13. According to a survey made by BFAR last
year, it showed that knife fish comprised
40.35 percent of the total catch while
harvest of aquaculture fish is much less:
Tilapia, 24.15 percent; carp, 15.92 percent;
and milkfish, 0.58 percent. Knife fish has to
eat 7 kilograms of different types of fish to
grow to a kilogram. The fish it eats costs an
average of P150 a kg while the knife fish is
so cheap at Php 18 to 20 a kg. So the
fishermen are really at a losing end. (Source:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/359781/knife-fish-newest-scourge-in-lagunas-fish-farms)
To date, Knife fish are still a threat in the
livelihood of the fisher folk communities of
Taguig. In an interview with some
fishermen, they said that they would just
normally throw the Knife fish catch
because it has no value to them.
Background on knife fish

14. Background on knife fish
The good news is, it’s EDIBLE! Knife
Fish don’t have to be thrown away, it
can be processed into fish products
like fish balls, fish patties, fish
dumplings, fish nuggets, fish
longanisa, fish hotdog and some other
fish meals that one can think of which
can be sold in the market.

15. Knife Fish Processing
With Brgy. Lower Bicutan
Meeting with Barangay
officials headed by
Chairman Ricardo Cruz
February 5 , 2014

16. Knife Fish Processing
With Brgy. Lower Bicutan
Participants of
the Knife Fish
Processing
seminar from
Barangay Lower
Bicutan, Taguig
City conducted
by BFAR Official
through
Gabayan Sa
Kabuhayan
February 8, 2014

17. Donation of
Stuffing
Machine
Knife Fish Processing
With Brgy. Lower BicutanFebruary 8, 2014

18. The project was
also featured in
the show Ating
Alamin by Jerry
Geronimo on
PTV4
Knife Fish Processing
With Brgy. Lower BicutanFebruary 8, 2014

19. Donation of Stuffing
Machine received by
Bagumbayan Administrator
Dante Aquino
Knife Fish Processing
With Brgy. BagumbayanFebruary 15, 2014

20. Participants of the
Knife Fish Processing
seminar
Knife Fish Processing
With Brgy. BagumbayanFebruary 15, 2014

21. Knife Fish Processing
With Brgy. San Miguel
Meeting with Barangay
Officials headed by
Chairman Vicente Espital
February 28 , 2014

22. Knife Fish Processing
With Barangay San Miguel
Knife Fish Processing
seminar participants
Donation of Stuffing Machine
March 12, 2014

23. Knife Fish Processing
With Barangay Wawa
Knife Fish Processing
seminar participants
Donation of
Stuffing Machine
March 12, 2014

24. Barangay Lower Bicutan
Barangay Bagumbayan
Barangay San Miguel
Barangay Wawa
…and counting
“FISH FOR LIFE” BENEFICIARIES

25. This project has not only helped
address the issue of the
increasing population of Knife
fish in the lake but also provided
sustainable livelihood for the
fish folks of barangays along C6
Taguig.
COMMUNITY IMPACT