Selinog Island, City Solar Salt Making as a Viable Alternative Livelihood for Impoverished Coastal Communities

Solar Salt Making as a Viable Alternative Livelihood for Impoverished Coastal Communities Copyright © 2005 -Canada Local Government Support Program (LGSP)

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This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Solar Salt Making as a Viable Alternative Livelihood for Impoverished Coastal Communities ISLAND, DAPITAN CITY

Philippines-Canada Local Government Support Program (LGSP) Documentation of LGU Exemplary Practices

Replicable Practice

SOLAR SALT MAKING AS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD FOR IMPOVERISHED COASTAL COMMUNITIES

SELINOG ISLAND, DAPITAN CITY (2ND CLASS CITY)

CONTENTS

Summary 2

Project Description: A community-based economic enterprise 2 for coastal communities Project History: 3 Addressing the requirements of marine conservation Results: Success for SIDFA and Selinog 4

Key Implementation Steps 6

Analysis and Lessons Learned: 10

Annex:

Annex A – Salt Making Steps Followed by SIDFA

November 2005 1 Solar Salt Making as a Viable Alternative Livelihood for Impoverished Coastal Communities SELINOG ISLAND, DAPITAN CITY

SUMMARY

In May 2001, Selinog Island, one of 50 barangays of Dapitan City in the province of , implemented a solar salt making project, an inexpensive and simple technology of extracting salt from seawater. Championed by Dapitan City Mayor Cedrick Ruiz with assistance from the Silliman University Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Studies (SUACKREM), the project was a community-based economic enterprise that aimed to provide an alternative source of income for island residents in an effort to sustain marine resource conservation efforts in the island.

Since the project is a community-based economic enterprise, a fisherfolk organization called SIDFA or Selinog Island-Dapitan Fisherfolk Association manages and operates the solar salt making project.

Over time, the project has been successful in providing additional income to SIDFA and Selinog residents. It has also helped conserve marine resources around the island by building the commitments of local advocates in community-based coastal resource management and the capacities of government officials in pursuing local economic development enterprises.

Project Description: A community-based economic enterprise for coastal communities

Basic Profile: Dapitan City Selinog Island, one of 50 barangays of Dapitan City, is a flat coralline island about Location: Northern tip of Zamboanga del Norte and north western 22 km northeast from the city mainland in coast of the Island of the province of Zamboanga del Norte. The Mindanao Land Area: 39,053 island has a land area of 78 hectares (ha), Population: 72,619 and is surrounded by a 40-ha coral reef and Ave. HH size: 5 members Income class: Second Class a 30-ha sandy area. IRA: Php 207.61M Local Revenues: Php 223.41M No. of barangays: 50 In 2004, the island had 168 households or Land use: Residential: 429,584 has, 944 individuals, mostly living off on fishing Commercial: 124,970 has, Agricultural: 29,0555,526 and farming with little access to other forms has of livelihood. Household incomes of Major industries/ Economic activities: Farming, fishing, processing residents in the Island have always been trading and government low, with families having little access to employment basic services such as fresh water and education.

However, incomes have decreased even more with the reduction of fish stocks after years of unsustainable fishing practices by local residents. In an effort to address diminishing levels of marine resources in the island, the city government in 1998 implemented a coastal resource management program, through the help of

November 2005 2 Solar Salt Making as a Viable Alternative Livelihood for Impoverished Coastal Communities SELINOG ISLAND, DAPITAN CITY

SUAKREM, which established a marine reserve in the Island and pushed for environmental protection laws in the Island (see related story under History). However, this further limited fishing activities in the island and made it worse for residents. The worsening condition of local residents made it clear to the city government that there was a need to alleviate economic conditions in the island through broad-scale enterprise development.

The Solar Salt Making Project of Selinog Island was thus initiated in May 2001 as a community-based economic enterprise that would provide alternative income for coastal fisherfolks whose livelihood were being negatively affected by the establishment of the marine reserve. The project aimed to compensate for the loss of fishing space.

Project objectives

Specifically, the Selinog Salt-Making Project aimed to:

• Provide an alternative income for coastal fisher folks whose livelihood was affected negatively by the establishment of the marine reserve • Mobilize community support for the marine reserve project and other conservation efforts in the island • Contribute to diversifying the local economy which had been highly dependent on fishing and subsistence agriculture

Project History: Addressing the requirements of marine conservation

One of the major components of former Dapitan City Mayor Cedrick O. Ruiz’ s vision for the coastal barangays of Dapitan City in 1998 was the implementation of a community based coastal resource management (CBCRM) project. In order to operationalize his vision, the former mayor invited Dr. Angel C. Alcala, Director of the Silliman University-Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Management (SUAKCREM) in 1999 to become the city’s CRM consultant. With the assistance of SUAKCREM, various activities to preserve and conserve marine resources in the coastal communities of Dapitan were initiated.

SUAKCREM initially conducted ecological studies in Dapitan City. The results of the studies prompted the city government to declare part of Selinog Island as a marine reserve through a city ordinance. The Marine reserve was established in the northeast part of the island covering an area of 53,075 sq. m. A parallel effort by the national government, through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, declared Selinog Island as a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) law. Island residents, however, had little appreciation of this because the declaration was not supported by any community consultation or participation. Local residents believed that the

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establishment of the “no take” marine reserve in Selinog Island only meant a reduction of fishing area, and consequently, a decrease in their income.

In order to initiate greater community participation in the island for CRM, SUAKCREM facilitated the formation of three sectoral associations in 1999, namely:

• Selinog Island-Dapitan Fisherfolk Association (SIDFA): composed of fishers • Selinog Island-Dapitan Women’s Association (SIDWA): composed of wives and women • Selinog Island-Dapitan Youth Association (SIDYA): composed of youth volunteers

A Management Core Group that would spearhead CRM efforts in the island was later formed. This was composed of 14 leaders from the barangay government and the three associations. The three associations were provided education campaigns on the benefits of protecting and maintaining a marine reserve. With SUAKCREM providing technical assistance, the three associations were also tasked to protect the marine reserve.

The LGU also provided the legal framework for the marine sanctuary, helping in the implementation of its rules and regulations by providing services of coastguard and police whenever necessary. The city government also officially recognized the three people’s organization by issuing a certificate of registration and identifying marine reserve guards among them who were given monthly salaries (3000PhP), which went directly to the association’s coffers.

As CRM activities were being implemented in Selinog, local residents became concerned that they needed other income-generating projects to compensate for the loss of fishing opportunities because of the establishment of the marine sanctuary. This motivated SIDFA to think of producing salt in the island. The fisherfolks in Selinog offered this idea to SUAKCREM for consideration and consequent work resulted in the implementation of a solar salt making project in the island.

Results: Success for SIDFA and Selinog

After more than three years of implementation, the salt-making project has managed to provide an alternative source of income for residents. It has also assisted in diversifying the local economy and gathering community support for marine conservation and protection efforts in the island.

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These are some of the project’s specific gains:

Generated revenues for SIDFA

The City Agriculture Office (CAO) of Dapitan City reported that in December 2002, the salt making project gave SIDFA an income of PhP20,862. This amount was used as a revolving fund for the operation of the project for the succeeding year, and was also used to purchase materials to upgrade facilities. Income in 2003 was also used as revolving fund for 2004 as the community continued to construct additional salt beds and reservoir (talasikan). By 2005, SIDFA did not need to use funds as revolving funds but was able to deposit it as income in the bank, with the and Barangay Treasurer as signatories.

Provided SIDFA with economic capital

Through the project, SIDFA was able to own fixed capital composed of concrete salt beds, reservoirs and water pump amounting close to PhP200,000 accumulated over time since its inception in May 2001.

Mobilized community towards a common goal

More than generating income and establishing fixed capital for the community, the project enabled fisherfolks to work together in the salt making project towards improving their conditions.

The success of their enterprise has also given the community the confidence to advocate the same approach to other LGUs. Participants gained a sense of pride when the project attracted visitors to the island from as far as Lanao, Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao. Inactive organization members also wanted to rejoin the group when the project started producing salt.

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Improved capacity of LGU personnel to render technical assistance in relation to fostering barangay development

Through active LGU participation in the project, the capacity of the city government of Dapitan, specifically its City Agriculture Office and its Fisheries Division, in relation to providing technical assistance for coastal barangays was enhanced. But the project proved most beneficial to barangay government officials of Selinog since the project was able to enhance different leadership capacities.

• Reduced fishing pressure and helped safeguard marine reserve

Continued participation of fishers in the salt-making activities of Selinog also reduced fishing pressure on their depleting marine resources for at least part of the year. Because the enterprise was environment-friendly, the project managed to promote greater coastal resource management consciousness which consequently discouraged fisherfolks from overfishing and from other destructive marine extraction practices.

Key Implementation Steps

The Selinog salt-making project was implemented in May 2001 by the SIDFA, with the assistance of the Dapitan City government and SUAKCREM. The project development process covered a period of two years from its inception (1999) until the pilot salt farm became fully operational in 2001. Today the project is more than three years old, and is living up to its expectation of being a viable economic enterprise for the Selinog Island community. Selinog undertook the following steps in implementing the project:

1. Assessing the livelihood needs of the coastal community and ascertaining the feasibility of salt-making in the community

When SIDFA brought up the idea of undertaking a salt making project to SUAKCREM, SUAKCREM first facilitated an assessment of the livelihood needs of the community. SUAKCREM invited the local community, including barangay officials and members of community associations, to assess their socioeconomic situation.

The whole community validated the need for a salt making project. They also assessed the feasibility of a salt making project vis-à-vis their needs, local resources, market and the availability of experts who can be tapped for technical assistance. After the assessment, the community was convinced that salt-making was a viable community-based enterprise that would increase their

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income and prevent further damage to marine resources. The project was then endorsed to the city government.

2. Obtaining executive & legislative support for the project

When the project was endorsed to the city government, the city government, particularly the City Agriculture Office and its Fisheries Division, conducted an ocular inspection to identify the most suitable area for salt production in the island. The LGU also passed a municipal ordinance that promoted salt iodization. It also participated actively in building the capacities of the 3 organizations in managing and operating an economic enterprise. (To be discussed in Step 4)

3. Tapping experts to assist in the salt making project and promoting CRM awareness and consciousness.

Other experts that can help them with their salt making project were tapped. SUACKREM also continued to provide the community with technical assistance related to promoting greater appreciation for marine protection as the broader goal behind salt making.

4. Strengthening community associations by developing their capacity to operate an community based economic enterprise

Then, members of SIDFA and SIDWA went through a series of skills and capacity enhancement in preparation for implementing the salt-making project.

In April 2000, officers of SIDFA, SIDWA and a staff of the City Agriculture Office (CAO) of Dapitan City went on a “Lakbay-Aral” trip to the Sycip Salt Farm in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental and then to the Apo Island Marine Reserve. Through this SUAKCREM-sponsored study tour to the Sycip Farm, key members of the organization obtained knowledge on the requirements and procedure of operating a solar salt farm.

The trip to Apo Island Marine Reserve, considered as a model in community- based coastal resource management taught SIDFA how effective management of a marine reserve can lead to the improvement of habitat quality and fish biomass. The participation of the City Agriculture Office staff enhanced the ability of the LGU in providing technical support to the organization’s conservation efforts and livelihood development.

After the Lakbay Aral, SIDFA and SIDWA translated what they learned into action by initiating the operation of a salt making project. The city government, through the City Agriculture Office, provided technical assistance

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in project implementation, which included capacity development interventions. The LGU did this by sponsoring a financial management seminar to train key members of the association in handling financial records of the project.

The Philippines-Canada Local Government Support Program (LGSP) also provided a series of capacity building interventions to the LGU personnel assisting the salt-making project and assisted the LGU in the preparation of a project proposal for additional funding for project area expansion that would enable commercial production.

5. Accessing and generating funds for project implementation

To operate the salt-making project, SIDFA needed funds. The organization was able to raise funds from both internal and external sources. SIDFA was able to raise an initial fund of PhP600 from membership fees and monthly dues. With this amount the members were able to purchase plastic sheets used as matting over the salt beds.

Selinog also accessed external fund from sources such as SUAKCREM, LGSP, the Murciellagos Bay Alliance, and private institutions or individuals. Using profits to buy material requirements and facilities, SIDFA was also able to maximize their income from the project.

The association continues to fund its salt making operations from surplus earned from each production cycle. Instead of dividing the surplus among members of SIDFA, the income is used to bankroll the material requirements of project operation as well as to upgrade facilities.

6. Implementing the salt making project

SIDFA then undertook salt production, which involved the following steps (See Annex A for details of salt making):

Site preparation & construction of salt complex Making and harvesting the salt Marketing of Salt Product

SIDFA continued to refine the implementation process as it operationalized the project.

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SIDFA spent about P500,000 in order to establish a one-hectare Salt production area, using P300,000 for site development and P200,000 for a water pump, accessories and the construction of the warehouse or supply shed. SIDFA also purchased scraping gadgets and rubber gloves to protect hands in harvesting salt, and wheelbarrows for transport of salt to the storage shed. They also built important support structures for the salt making project which included a storage shed.

7. Conducting project monitoring and evaluation

The City Agriculture Office conducts regular monitoring of project production and assesses its needs every four months. The officers of SIDFA and members of the management core group (e.g. Selinog Barangay Captain) are responsible for project monitoring and evaluation of the project output. Data is gathered on the volume of salt-production, financial management and staffing. A system of regular and accurate reporting has been developed for comparisons across times and project sites. They also identify problems encountered and recommend solutions.

8. Ensuring project sustainability

SIDFA has been ensuring project sustainability through their financial management scheme. Since project start-up, there has been no profit sharing among the members of SIDFA. Instead, their incomes have been rolled over for use to fund equipment needed for project expansion or deposited in bank for safekeeping. For example, they have set aside funds from their sales to buy plastic sheets and wooden support of the salt base in order to sustain the project and have good quality salts for fish preservation and home consumption. Members have agreed that profit sharing will be done once the project is stable. Meantime, the project provides incentives like honoraria to those who help in the production and operations.

At the same time, SIDFA and the barangay government hopes to undertake the following towards ensuring project sustainability:

Capacity building - providing interventions that would enhance capacities of key project officers and members, including among others, basic accounting and bookkeeping procedures, project management and in team building to improve cooperation and efficiency. Provision of more incentives for sustained community support such as commercial production and sharing of surplus or dividends from the project Intensified financial resource accessing to immediately expand the project into commercial production

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MATRIX ON KEY IMPLEMENTATION STEPS

Key Implementation Expected Outputs Timeframe Person/Agency Resources/budget Steps Responsible Required 1. Assess the Assessment of problems One day workshop NGO/CRM expert Budget for livelihood needs of the community faces; workshop the community and identify solutions to the Facilitators the feasibility of a problems Participants-Local salt-making project residents and community 2. Obtain executive & Enhanced skills and Throughout the City and barangay LGU involvement legislative Support knowledge of project duration LGUs and interest constituents; an LGU that encourages community-based enterprises 3. Tap experts to Concrete assistance Throughout the Local communities Expertise from assist in the salt received from experts project duration and CRM experts government or making project and and deeper CRM from government or non-government promote CRM awareness and NGOs organizations; awareness and consciousness among commitment of consciousness project stakeholders members 4. Strengthen Increased skill and 1-2 months LGU, NGO and the Involvement and community knowledge on project communities interest of organizations and implementation members of develop community community capacity to organizations operate an enterprise 5. Access and Resources for the As the need arises Community Funds for salt- generate funds for project throughout project organization; LGU; making equipment project duration NGO partner; private and facilities implementation sector 6. Implement the Sites for salt Continuous Community Commitment of salt-making project production; production; organization, with members of harvesting of salt; the assistance of LGU community income from sales organizations 7. Conduct on-going Regular monitoring Weekly or monthly Community Involvement of project monitoring reports on performance for local community organization, LGU Municipal and evaluation of the project; organization and and NGO partner agriculture’s mechanisms financial records once every four office; strong months for municipal leadership in agriculture’s office community organization 8. Ensure project Sustainable economic Throughout project Community Commitment of all sustainability enterprise duration organization and LGU stakeholders

Analysis and Lessons Learned

Several lessons can be gleaned from the salt making project of Selinog, namely:

Salt making as a viable and feasible community based enterprise for poor coastal communities like Selinog

The success of a salt production project depends on ensuring that it is economically viable and profitable. This easily translates to the need for a steady market. , where many families and businessmen

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are engaged in dried fish production, offers vast market opportunities for Selinog. And since Selinog is the nearest source of salt in Zamboanga peninsula, adopting salt making as an economic enterprise proved most feasible and showed great growth potential.

Community ownership, courage, enthusiasm and dedication of small island fisherfolks as foundation of a viable community-based enterprise

By embarking in an economic enterprise using membership contributions as their initial capital, members of SIDFA showed courage. Their courage and willingness to commit became a critical leverage for getting bigger assistance from external sources.

Their commitment to the project was even more evident in the members’ long hours of hard work and endless days of volunteer work or “pahina” in order to transform a rocky hill into flat salt beds. The Selinog Island Salt-making Project has shown that it is possible for a small but empowered community to reverse negative economic conditions by engaging in alternative community-based enterprises.

At the same time, because the economic enterprise was community-based, it built community ownership for the enterprise, which added to the success of the project.

Need for continuous capacity development

Perhaps the greatest strength of the salt-making project in Selinog Island is the unwavering enthusiasm of officers and faithful members of SIDFA. However, capacity building has to continue, with enterprise management and financial bookkeeping needing the most improvement.

Community-based economic enterprise important in promoting and supporting marine conservation

The implementation of the enterprises such as the Selinog salt making project promotes an environmentally sound income-generating venture for coastal fishers who earn only marginal incomes from fishing.

Communities who are indifferent to the state of marine resources can be transformed into empowered, cooperative communities that can contribute to alleviation of poor economic condition in their locality.

The need for committed city and barangay LGUs for CRM and improving conditions of coastal communities

Although Selinog is only one of 50 barangays of Dapitan City, it had the full support of a city government. This made a big difference as the city

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government recognized Selinog’s efforts as an important part of its bigger city- wide CRM campaign. The active participation of the barangay government in each component of the project also emphasized the truly community-based and participatory nature of the project.

Replicating the project

The salt making project can be replicated by mainland or island communities of fourth to fifth class municipalities that cannot afford more capital-intensive economic ventures. The technology is relatively inexpensive to implement. Target beneficiaries can be either marginal fisherfolk or coastal farmers who earn very little incomes from their traditional livelihood. With a small capital, LGUs can operate a solar salt making project following the implementation steps of the Selinog island project.

Who to contact if interested in replication:

Maja Napigkit 09186558798 or 065-2136377

Dr. Anghel C. Alcala Director SUAKCREM 2nd Floor, Silliman University Marine Laboratory Building 6200 Dumaguete City Telefax 225-250

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Annex A: Salt Making Steps followed by SIDFA

1. Site preparation & construction of salt complex

The original terrain of the pilot project site was hard, coralline rock. Site preparation involved backbreaking work of pounding and burning coralline rock to pieces, clearing of dense beach vegetation, filling of large potholes and flattening the rocky beach area. A path was created through this rugged terrain. All this work took a total of eight (8) days of community work or “pahina” over a period of two months.

The salt beds consist of pairs of rectangular plots measuring 3 x 12 ft (3.35 sq.m), with concrete walls, sand base and coconut lumber as frame for the Bantex plastic matting (Fig.3). A test run in May 2001 constructed seven pairs or 14 salt beds with only coconut lumber to build the shallow walls of each pair. Presently there are around 162 pairs (324 beds), occupying an estimated area of 1,085.4 sq.m.

2. Operation Cycle

Salt making operations in Seling Island involved pumping or carrying water from the sea to the water reservoirs or “talasikan”, where it is allowed to stay for at least a week, depending on solar intensity. Afterwards, seawater is transferred to the salt beds and allowed to dry for a week. When the salt is at least one inch thick, it is harvested by careful scraping off of salt crystals from each bed.

Salt production in Selinog Island is a seasonal activity, and lasts for four months between January and April, coinciding with the dry season or the tropical summer. After harvest, the salt is placed in straw sacks, which are carried to a temporary shed some 300 meters from the salt beds. There the salt stock is allowed to “season”, although the project members declare that the salt they produce is of high quality and is ready for household use (Fig.4).

3. Marketing of Salt Product

The bulk of the salt produced by SIDFA members supplies the household consumption of Selinog Island residents, either for domestic use or for the production of salted fish. Salt production is currently supplying five cooperative stores in the island at a retail price of P5.00 per kg or a wholesale price of P200 per sack (about P4.00 per kg). Occasional orders for the island- produced salt bring the produce to poblacion or city proper, Island, Apo Island. Selinog salt reached as far as Cagayan de Oro City and Manila, when relatives when it is given as gifts to relatives and friends.

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