(photo: “Standing strong after a disaster”)
16th and 17th of November, 2024, Tangke, Talisay City, Cebu, 45 participants
Reported by: Maeve Dizon, Jana Sofia Hupp, Mark Russell Lagunsad, and Rex Angelo Monreal
1. Key takeaways
- Support After the Storm: The SEAlayan Network reached out to the MATAPA Fisherfolk Community after the landfall of Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Kristine. Despite being in the mountains, we were severely affected by the typhoon, and we can only imagine the devastation faced by coastal communities like MATAPA. The community, residing right beside the sea, lost many items, especially fishing nets, which are costly.
- Understanding the Community’s Challenges: The visit provided us with a better understanding of the challenges faced by the community during typhoons. These fisherfolk communities experience such calamities almost every month and do not receive the necessary support. They are also directly affected by plastic pollution, as plastic waste washes up on their shores during high tides.
- Providing Practical Support: Before the visit, we attempted to procure the specific nets lost by the community but were unsuccessful. Instead, we provided them with money to buy the nets and received plastic PET bottles in exchange, which will be used for our bottle-to-3D printing filament project. This support helped them resume their livelihoods and recover from the typhoon’s impact. We continue to stay in contact with them to monitor their condition and plan future visits.
2. Main highlights
- Dates: 16th & 17th of November
- Location: Tangke, Talisay City, Cebu, Philippines
- Organizer: SEAlayan Network
- Co-organizers: SENTRO and MATAPA
- Participants: Fisherfolk Community
- Number of Participants: 45
3. Activities Implemented
Fisherfolk Receiving Equipment:
- Successfully donated fishing equipment to the fisherfolk community. They shared how their community was affected by the landfall of Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Kristine.
“Equipment received”
4. Outcome
- Equipment Donation: The fisherfolk community received the donated equipment and discussed the impact of the typhoon on their livelihoods.
5. Feedback
- Positive Response: The fisherfolk responded positively to the donations from SEAlayan. Their valuable feedback on how the typhoon affected their livelihood provided us with insights into how we can better support them during such events.
