“BUILDING BRIDGES TO
RECOVERY”
BINTULAN
Six
months after Typhoon Yolanda struck Leyte and Samar, there still remains a need
for extensive livelihood support throughout the region. LCDE (Leyte Center for
Development) and CDRC (Citizens Disaster Respons Center) through Hope Bridge –
Korea began livelihood projects across five project areas in Marabut, Samar as
early as February, one of this projects was the construction of a Bintulan
“fish trap” for the benefit of Brgy. Tag-alag, a community heavily damaged by
the typhoon.
On
May 28, 2014, a short program was held in Brgy. San Roque for the Bintulan’s
turnover to the communities’ beneficiaries attended by LCDE’s Executive
Director Ms. Jazmin Jerusalem and Ms. Edna Luna from CDRC and LCDE staff
involved in the project.
The
Bintulan is a large fish trap that is installed offshore with a depth ranging
from 15 to 20 meters. Materials used are coconut lumber, bamboo, nets and nylon
cords. Catching fish with the bitulan is usually done at night and early dawn
as fishermen use kerosene lamps to attract fish and trap them inside.
The principal goal of this
project is to answer Brgy. Tag-Alag’s lack of sources of food from the sea due
to its high price in the local market. Non-members of the organization will
also benefit from the low price of catch the bintulan will offer.
Tag-Alag’s organization has
a policy which encourages all members to participate on operations of the
Bintulan, profit from a days catch is divided among the four people who manned
the bintulan. This project was made possible due to the strong presence of it
organization, where almost everyone in the community are members.
By Reniel Sanica, LCDE Regional Administrative Officer
Translation - Carlo Jerusalem, LCDE Advocacy Coordinator
