DOLE-assisted project strengthens community based tourism

After four months of hard work and dedication, the members of the Hoskyn Sailors and Fisherfolks Association reaped a bountiful harvest of bangus in the Department of Labor and Employment  (DOLE)-assisted Milkfish Production Livelihood Project that provided alternative livelihood to sailors from the municipalities of Jordan and Buenavista, Guimaras displaced by the pandemic.

Though the undertaking provided livelihood to the beneficiaries, DOLE realized that the project output may be utilized for other opportunities for the barangay and its local residents.

Regional Director Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez Jr. supported the collaboration to a multi-agency effort to strengthen the programs and activities of the community based rural tourism (CBRT) by utilizing the DOLE-assisted project.

DOLE-6 through its Guimaras Field Office provided full support to a two-day training on Bangus Processing for Community Based Rural Tourism (CBRT) for the members of Barangay Hoskyn, Jordan, Guimaras facilitated by the Provincial Economic Development Office/Public Employment Services Office Guimaras in collaboration with PTEDC and TESDA Guimaras,  Municipal Tourism Office, and Barangay Council of Hoskyn in the municipality of Jordan.

The objectives of the training were to add value to bangus products and to revive the CBRT programs and activities in the barangay.

Community based tourism often in rural, poor and economically marginalized communities invite tourists to visit their communities for their local accommodations and products.  The residents earn income, in this case, as entrepreneurs of the processed bangus.

“We are glad that through the livelihood project, we have created other opportunities beneficial to the members of the marginalized sector,” Rodriguez said.

“DOLE livelihood project extended the chance of earning an income not only for the members of the association but for their families as well. The impact of the program further benefits the community they are living in,” Rodriguez added.

To recall, DOLE provided a Php2,687,824. 80 milkfish production livelihood project that benefitted members of Hoskyn Sailors and Fisherfolks Association and Poblacion Montpiller Sailors Association who were affected by the pandemic.