Always exposed under the scorching heat, 11-year-old Jhon Well Detablan does not mind how long he stays in the river. What excites him most are those cultured oysters that are growing so fast as months go by.
“Two months from now, these oysters will be harvested soon,” he said.
Jhon Well is very proud saying that his father Wilmer is the president of the Fisherfolks Association of Brgy. Barra, Roxas City, that is composed of 75 members. Of the number, 51 are beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
“That’s why I am always here with my father after my afternoon class or every time I have no class to help him monitor these oysters,” he said.
Jhon Well, together with two other siblings, is covered by the program for almost five years already.
According to her mother Excelyn, the cash grant they are receiving every after two months is already a big help for their family especially in health and education of her children.
“This is a very effective motivation for us. The program encourages our children to go to school every day to meet the 85 percent school attendance as one of the conditions set by the program,” she said.
Excelyn said they are very thankful that apart from enjoying the benefits of being beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya, their association was also given a seed capital to invest on oyster project as their alternative livelihood next to fishing.
The project is funded by the Sustainable Livelihood Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development 6 (DSWD-6) which started almost a year ago.
“These oysters are being cultured for eight months before it can be harvested. In August, these oysters are already ready to be disposed,” she said.
Excelyn added that this project is a great help not only for their family but as well as to all fellow members because if they will only depend on fishing, they could not sustain and provide for the daily needs of their respective family.
“Thank you DSWD and to our government for the opportunity given to us. We are really blessed. We will take good care of this project because the future of our children depends also here,” she said./dswd6/Montesa G. Caoyonan