PAGBABAGO
Dr. Florangel Rosario-Braid
During the two-day visit of Kamala Harris, the US 49th vice president, and its first female VP, she reaffirmed her country’s “unwavering commitment to the mutual defense pact” by stating that “we stand with you in defense of international rules and norms as it relates to the South China Sea.”
She assured us about the strength of our security alliance, and further hope to strengthen economic and investment ties.
And, she also visited Palawan that faces waters claimed by China where Beijing has reportedly built a fortresses over reefs which are within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zones.
Likewise, she confirmed reports that the US will spend $66.5 million in expanding its military powers in the Philippines under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). To some sectors who would like to see a more independent stance between the country and the two powers, this may not be as well received, even as a Social Weather Stations’ survey indicated that seven out of 10 favor the strengthening of defense through EDCA.
The country, now caught between the two great powers, the US and China, with strategic and political interests, would now have to play a “balancing act” as it weighs costs, benefits and interests in engaging between these two powers.
During her visit to Palawan, VP Harris visited the small family village of Tagburos on the edge of South China Sea. There again, she reiterated that the US stands with the people of Palawan and will continue to support them, their ecosystems, and their livelihood.
The fishermen belong to the poorest sector in the country despite their huge contribution to the economy. But because of factors like climate change, and destruction of fisheries resources like coral reefs, mangroves, and destructive fishing practices, their catch had been severely diminished.
Thus, they have turned to alternative livelihood such as handicrafts and cucumber farming and “land-based” activities such as processing and trading that may account for half or more of fisheries-related activities.
The women fisherfolk in Tagburos that VP Harris visited, may be among those involved in fish processing which now provides a major livelihood for women fisherfolk.
The photo of VP Harris with the fisherwomen of Tagburos reminded me of my experience with a similar group some years ago. It likewise may show support of our claim to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) because of the strategic location of Tagburos, with a large portion of its fishermen rendered unemployed because of the brewing conflict in the WPS. As well as support for women empowerment.
The photo revived my memories of experiences while working on Information-Education-Communication (IEC) projects in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. The two fisheries resources management projects – an ADB funded project implemented by the Department of Agriculture in 100 fisheries municipalities and a Central Visayas Regional Project dealt, among others, with alternative employment opportunities. In two sites – Bohol and Honda Bay Palawan, women fisherfolk usually handled the buying, marketing, and the processing of dried fish. Some of the women used to work as OFWs and had come home when they learned that their fisheries resources had been revived through these projects.
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