REBUILD PROJECT

Rebuilding Livelihood Project for Typhoon

Yolanda/Haiyan Victims
in Northern Iloilo Coastal Communities
Conceptualized by: Daniel B. del Rosario, Jr., MDM
I. Problem Context
From all the visual images of the magnitude of Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan in the
Philippines, what we see are the unimaginable miseries of the victims. But beyond
what we cannot see, is the fact that the disaster is already turning once proud and
self-reliant coastal communities into mendicant communities. The disaster wiped
out their shelter and all other properties they labored to acquire though the years.
Most of all, the disaster robbed them of their human dignity as they are reduced to
begging even for one decent meal for the day. In coastal areas, where there are no
other economic opportunities except fishing, the disaster has created entire
communities of beggars. More than receiving intermittent relief assistance, these
coastal communities want to REBUILD their normal lives. One of the fishers in
Naborot, a small island barangay in the municipality of San Dionisio articulated it:
if only we could go back to fishing, we do not need any relief assistance. But it
appears that going back to fishing is not possible at this time. Almost all fishing
boats in Northern Iloilo towns were destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan.
Any delay in helping these coastal communities help themselves create additional
disasters. The disaster had actually denied these coastal communities of their right
to decent life. Any effort falling short of helping them recover their life would
undermine all the collective efforts various development actors are earnestly trying
to provide. Their fishing livelihood was their life. It is what brought meals in their
table, sent their children to school, built their shelters, and provide for any other
basic needs. Now it is gone.
Northern Iloilo is composed of 11 municipalities, 9 of them are coastal towns with
116 coastal barangays (villages) with total population of 201,445 (2010 Census).
The municipality of Estancia and its neighboring municipalities have been dubbed
as the Alaska of the Philippines in reference to its rich fishing grounds. Thus, it
could be said that the economy of Northern Iloilo is largely driven by the fishing
industry. With the decimation of Northern Iloilos fishing industry, it has resulted to
displaced employment and economic activities in related industries operations of
fish ports in the area, fish vending at municipal markets, ambulant fish vending, fish
processing, exporters operations, gas stations and many other subsectors.
Eventually, the displaced harvest will drive up the prices of fishes from the
municipal waters as under-harvesting becomes acute.
It must be said that among the sub-sectors of fishing industry, it is the sub-sector of
small fisherfolks that are more affected. They are the erstwhile operators of small
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and mid-size non-motorized and motorized fishing boats and whose fishing activities
were limited only on municipal waters. The commercial fishers had larger vessels
capable of deep-sea fishing in open seas. The commercial fishers usually have
multiple businesses and well capitalized, and therefore deemed to recover their
fishing business much easier than the small fisherfolks.
Lastly, if the fishing households are not immediately assisted to recover their
livelihood, they will be forced to migrate to mainland areas and cities/metropolis
and would create a multitude of social problems elsewhere.
II. Strategic Response: Mix of Short-term and Long-term Solutions
While relief operations are still needed to address the most common needs of the
victims such as food, water, medicines and temporary shelter, some components
that introduce the phases towards rehabilitation should be introduced quickly.
Prolonging relief services as stand-alone response will not be helpful in the longterm. It will promote a culture of mendicancy. But a more sustainable rehabilitation
should be preferred. In the coastal communities, a focused rehabilitation of
displaced fishing livelihood is critically urgent. Once the fisherfolks are assisted in
recovering their livelihood, it is assumed that they would acquire the capacity to
rehabilitate gradually their destroyed homes, bring decent meals in the table, send
their children to school, and address other basic household needs. Once they
gainfully employ themselves through fishing, they graduate from begging. While
the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan decimated part of their lives, they are in
the position to REBUILD the dignified lives they had previously. Entire coastal
communities would not need anymore any relief services.
The obvious logistical assistance that could help small fisherfolks recover their
livelihood is the provision of fishing boats both non-motorized and motorized. It
will immediately address the regular household income wiped out by Typhoon
Yolanda/Haiyan. But a sustainable development approach should guide the project
design, implementation, and replication otherwise, we do more harm than good.
REBUILD Project is not just about logistical assistance but a facilitation of a good
mix of organizational and institutional development, installation of management
and oversight systems, documentation and monitoring.
The short-term impact of the REBUILD Project is the fact that direct beneficiaries
with their families graduate quickly from dependency on relief services. By
rebuilding their livelihood, they gradually rebuild their lives. Government and
donors will not anymore strain resources to prolong relief services, or build their
destroyed homes, or subsidize medical and education needs of their children. By
being productive again, they will do these themselves. Proudly, and reclaiming their
dignity again. Aptly, the mantra of this REBUILD Project: Rebuild their
livelihood, rebuild their lives. The battlecry of REBUILD Project: One coastal
community at a time, one fishing boat at a time, one family at a time...
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III. Project Objectives

Short term: To help the affected small fisherfolks rebuild their fishing
livelihood so they could once again be self-sufficient.
Long-term: To empower the organized beneficiaries so they could reverse
the continuing depletion of their fishery resource base.

IV. Protocol for Selection of Project Partners

Needs-based:
Small fisherfolk residing in a coastal barangay (village) in Northern Iloilo whose
identification would be meticulously verified
Small fisherfolk who used to own and operate a fishing boat, motorized or nonmotorized, that was totally or partially destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan
Small fisherfolks residing in island barangays will be prioritized first as they are
deemed to be more vulnerable and disadvantaged than their counterparts in
mainland coastal areas
No referrals will be entertained that would undermine the protocol for selection
in every site.
V. Mode of Project Implementation
Project partners (beneficiaries) will be organized. Thus no facilitation of
individual requests. Project Management Office (PMO) will be in place with onsite Field Officers/Community Organizers directly supervising project
implementation as designed.
Direct implementation while all other implementation partners are welcome,
the actual implementation, specifically the selection of project partners
(beneficiaries) and the mechanics would be directly between the PMO and
project partners for obvious reasons. There would be variations if some donors
would strongly recommend a particular site, but not specific beneficiaries even if
they are not eligible according to the selection protocol.
Customization of intervention. It is expected that fishing practices and diversity
of fishery resource base would determine the type of fishing boat and fishing
gears needed.
Institutional and Organizational Development with strong formational
component.
VI. Major Components of REBUILD Project
A. Database of Small Fisherfolks
One of the more critical component of REBUILD Project is the establishment of a
digital database of all affected small fisherfolks in Northern Iloilo segmented per
municipality, per barangay, per sitio. A well-documented database of affected
small fisherfolks would be quickly established, maintained, verified and updated
regularly to be the basis for selection of beneficiaries. An important feature of
the database is the precise inventory of damages on their fishing boats
whether total or partial. If partial, what approximate percentage are the
irreplaceable parts and those that could still be repaired. The project will initially
rely on available secondary data from appropriate government agencies like DA
and BFAR, but would swiftly validate the accuracy of these data from the ground.
Primary data gathered at the ground would increase the accuracy of database.
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B. Needs-based Identification of Project Partners/ Beneficiaries

This selection process will be insulated from any influence-peddling dynamics of
any kind. Thus, selection process will not be by any political party affiliation, nor
religious affiliation or any other institutional or creed affiliation but only and
strictly on the basis of need in the context of Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan
devastation. In sites where there are greater number of beneficiaries who
cannot be provided their needed fishing boats or have their partially damaged
boats repaired at one-time basis, a transparent process of raffle would be
conducted to determine the batches of beneficiaries.
C. Database of Project Partners/ Beneficiaries
With every turnover of fishing boat, whether repaired or entirely new, the small
fisherfolk will have comprehensive information covering himself and his entire
family. All data will consist the Masterlist of all project beneficiaries. The
database will also serve as the baseline information of all project beneficiaries
which shall in turn be the basis for gauging whether the project had
accomplished its intended impact over time.
D. Needs-based Provision of Materials
The provision of materials will be determined by the extent of actual damage on
fishing boats, either total or partial. If partial, parts that are still intact, and parts
that can still be repaired should be documented. This kind of detailed physical
inventory will provide PMO the accurate guide of the appropriate materials to be
provided. A mix of possible assistance package could be the following: a) for
those totally damaged, a simple provision of entirely new fishing boat is
required; b) for those partially damaged, costing should be accounted for the
parts that are beyond repair.
As for totally damaged fishing boats, REBUILD Project will facilitate the provision
of all materials required to build the fishing boat measuring approximately 15 ft
including engine (Loncin Brand, 5-7 horsepower, gasoline powered). Whether it
is provision of entirely new fishing boat or repairs, there is absolutely no cash
outlay. Skilled labor would be directly paid by PMO.
E. Labor counterpart of project partners
It is presumed that some participating small fishers have the skills to build their
boats. Thus, to facilitate a sense of ownership, labor counterparting would be
required. In sites where there are no available skilled laborers, external experts
would be tapped to supervise the building of boats. Building the boats on-site is
preferred to facilitate a high degree of ownership, transparency and real
participation among beneficiaries.
F. Provision of Operational Logistics
To ensure the success of their initial operations, part of the package is provision
for fuel requirements that would last for 15 days. Fishing gears will also be
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provided but only those that are environmentally recommended, as well

as other items (ice chest, anchor, life vests, rechargeable flashlights, etc.)
G. Developmental and sustainable provision and operations of fishing
boat.
The provision of fishing boat is not dole-out. Providing it entirely free or as grant
is disempowering. It is proposed that 30-40% of the total amount would be
amortized at the lightest arrangement only at the 4 th month after operation since
they would still be rehabilitating gradually their physical structures. At the
second year, a more substantial repayment scheme would be implemented. The
amount collected will have a separate account, to be maintained by the
community but covered by project management oversight, that would
exclusively be applied for providing additional fishing boats to those not served
yet.
H. Organizational and Institutional Development
By design, REBUILD Project does not end with the repair of partially
damaged or replacement of totally destroyed fishing boats. While the
repair and provision of fishing boats would definitely rehabilitate their
decimated fishery-based livelihood and rebuild their lives, it provides
the entry-point by which these small fisherfolks rebuild also their weak
leverage in influencing the policy environment that should be the key
to ensuring the sustainability of their fishery resource base. Without
achieving this long-term organizational and institutional objective, even the
provision of fishing boats would not deliver the desired economic
impacts in the long-term if their fishery resource base (specifically the
municipal waters) would continue to be threatened by resource
depletion due to illegal encroachment of commercial fishers,
unregulated destructive fishing, overfishing, to mention a few among
other factors. History has seen that individually, the small fisherfolks are
disenfranchised from participating in the formulation of fishery policies.
Individually, they continue to be alienated from availing of government inputs as
agencies like DA, BFAR, DOLE, DTI, DOST, LBP among others, prefer to partner
with organized groups.
Active membership at the local-level organization would be required for all
beneficiaries. Parallel with the organizing efforts would be the facilitation of
institutional development that would seek to enhance the capacities of small
fisherfolks. Some of the Organizational and Institutional Development efforts
would be the following:
Capacity-building: once organized, various capability-building processes
would be facilitated that would help them maximize the potentials of their
fishing livelihood. Value-adding technologies by processing some of their
fresh harvest would maximize their income.

Resource-generation: once they have increased their capacities, the

organized small fisherfolks would be increasing also their absorptive capacity,
specifically in availing of available inputs and services for the fishery sector
that are usually channeled through organized groups. Most of all, they would
be encouraged to mobilize internal savings.
Enterprise Development: determined by the database of small fisherfolks,
and enhanced by the internal savings they mobilized, possible economic
enterprise that would basically be resource-based, and having match with the
available skills among them would be explored and implemented.
Policy Advocacy: the organized small fisherfolks will have increased
leverage in influencing the policy environment that gives direction to
regulatory and enforcement components in safeguarding the fishery resource
base that feeds them.
Mainstreaming into policy-making bodies: the organized small
fisherfolks would be encouraged to be involved in the different development
and policy bodies to represent better their sectors concerns. Starting at the
barangay level, they will join the Barangay Development Council (BDC), all
the way to Municipal Development Council (MDC). To safeguard their
resource base, they will join the Fisheries and Aquatic Resource management
Council, both at the barangay and municipal levels. Eventually, the different
organized groups would be federated (Northern Iloilo Federation of Small
Fisherfolks) to attain a more empowered, efficient and cohesive organization

I. Project Oversight
The REBUILD Project will have a fully-functional Project Management Office that
will oversee the project implementation as designed. The Administrative
component will take care of the logistical management, while Operations
component will supervise and monitor all project activities at the sites as well as
coordinating and monitoring all beneficiaries and organized groups. Both
components will have efficient bookkeeping and documentation. An External
Audit will regularly conduct financial and logistical audit to ensure judicious
utilization of project resources.
VII.

Project Policies in Operating the Fishing Boat

The beneficiaries would be covered by Agreements that would define their
required compliance with Project Implementing Rules and basis for possible
sanctions for non-adherence and non-compliance.
Simple bookkeeping and documentation will be prescribed for beneficiaries.
Required regular meetings for the whole organized small fisherfolks in the site
for fine-tuning the mechanics, facilitating accountabilities and responsibilities
and over-all Project Monitoring and Documentation. Some regular meetings will
also be allotted for skills enhancement, education sessions, values formation and
other capability-building processes.

VIII.

In no circumstance shall a beneficiary be allowed to sell or transfer ownership of

the availed fishing boat.
The beneficiaries will only employ fishing practices that are environmentally
sound. Non-compliance could be the basis for forfeiture in favor of other small
fisherfolks not yet served.
The beneficiaries will be required to repay 40% of the amount of availed fishing
boat at the lightest scheme. The collected repayment will be banked, recorded
and posted at the community center by the community-assigned treasurer. If
the amount could finance another boat, it will be utilized to procure materials.
They are all victims, but they learn to become responsible for each other.
Cost per Fishing Boat plus operational inputs: PhP 20,000.00 (US$
456.00) tentative cost only
BREAKDOWN OF COSTS
A. PROVISION OF FISHING
BOAT
Materials
10,000.00
Engine
5,000.00
Labor
3,000.00
Operational
Inputs
2,000.00
TOTAL
20,000.00

B. REPAIR

8,00012,000

Note: Currently, we are facilitating the piloting of REBUILD Project in Bgy.

Naborot, San Dionisio, Iloilo the only island barangay of this municipality.
Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan passed directly over this small island on its way to the
mainland. As we progress, and finish the first batch of new fishing boats and
repaired ones, we will be coming up with an accurate and actual costing fully
documented and itemized. The REBUILD Project targets to facilitate the
provision of 400 new fishing boats and 100 repaired ones. We will dovetail with
the efforts of other agencies/ institutions and accurately assess the remaining
small fisherfolks who are not addressed. If resources will allow, we will aim to
provide for the rest of small
fisherfolks,
starting with island barangays. Very
Project
Trustees
recently, we expanded our pilot areas into three mainland coastal barangays
Odiongan, Agdaliran and Borongon.
Project Manager
IX. Proposed Organizational Structure of Implementation
Administrative Operations
Financial/Logistics Officer

Field Operations
External Audit

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Database Management Officer
Organized Groups ofOrganized
Beneficiaries
Groups ofOrganized
Beneficiaries
Groups of Beneficiaries

Field Officers

NOTE: A lean staffed Project Management Office would be maintained at the city
with just the Project Manager, Financial Officer multitasking as Logistical Officer and
Data management Officer. A Field Office will be maintained at the site, probably
San Dionisio, to take care of on-site project management oversight functions with
full-time Field Officers/Community Organizers whose number will be decided later.
X. Mechanics in acknowledging donations:
Issuance of Official Receipt
If donation is wholly computed per fishing boat, we will send donor the
pictures, names, addresses of the beneficiary who would own and manage
the sponsored fishing boat (with their family members), as well as actual
picture of sponsored fishing boat during turn-over
Regular update of the utilization of donated fishing boat and its impact on
the lives of beneficiaries

XI. Website Management

For a more effective campaign, a website will be maintained that would detail the
processes and strides of project implementation. Project beneficiaries will also be
featured prominently in the content with some testimonies.
XII.

Timeframe of Implementation

PROJECT COMPONENTS
Survey of Affected
Fisherfolks
Database of Affected
Fisherfolks
Provision of 1st 100 Fishing
Boats
Repairs of 1st 50 Fishing
Boats
Provision of 2nd 100 Fishing
Boats
Repairs of 2nd 50 Fishing
Boats
Provision of 3rd 100 Fishing
Boats
Provision of 4th 100 Fishing
Boats
Organizational & Institutional
Devt
Oversight & Monitoring
Terminal Evaluation

MONTHS
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1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
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2

1
3

1
4

1
5

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For Donations
Account Name: Jaro Archdiocesan Pastoral Secretariat
Account Number: 000740020870
Bank: Banco de Oro
Branch: Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines
Signatory: Fr. Robert Amalay
Office Address:
Jaro Archdioceasan Pastoral Secretariat
Archbishops Residence
Jaro, Iloilo City
Contact Nos: (63)33 329-4252; (63)33 329-6051
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Project Convenors:

Professionals for Social Responsibility (PRO-SR) represented by Daniel B. del

Rosario, Jr. (dannydelros@yahoo.com); Globe-(0917)7772118; Smart(0918)9659519; Sun-(0922)8368160
Archdiocese of Jaro (Jaro Archdiocesan Pastoral Secretariat/JAPS) - represented by
Fr. Robert Amalay
San Dionisio Parish (host community for piloting) represented by Fr. Joji Cabaluna

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