Czech Republic extends aid to displaced Batawel SSM

January 13, 2020 Provincial

BAGUIO CITY- Czech Republic has offered assistance through grant to Batawel Small-Scale Miners Association’s alternative livelihood project aquaponics.

“I have the pleasure to inform you that your project “Aquaponics” an alternative livelihood for displaced smallscale miners has been approved by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2020,” stated in an official communique by Jana Peterkova, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Czech Republic in the Philippines.

Neri Reynold Fangloy, president of Batawel Small- Scale Miners Association (BSSMA), who conceptualized the project, aimed to help displaced pocket miners of their association said, full details of Czech’s assistance and the implementation will be discussed during the signing of the contract set in February.

“ Agyaman kami iti maited nga tulong ti Czech Embassy para iti proyekto ti asosasyon, “ said Juan Tan-oy, 67, one of the oldest member of the Batawel SSM, who is among those hired workers developing the site.

[We are grateful to Czech Republic for giving support to our association’s project]. “Daytoy organic farming ket dakkel iti maitulong na kadakami nga pocket miners ken iti pamilya mi,” added Tan-oy, who lamented that since the “stoppage order” was issued last year, economic conditions of countless small-scale miners became difficult.

[This organic farming project by our association is a big help for us- pocket miners and to our respective families]. “Pagyamanan mi ta adda daytoy a proyekto ti asosasyon.Makatulong idi inaldaw nga gastos iti pamilya mi,”Wilson Cawed, 27, one of the youngest member of the group and also hired in the initial stages of the project.

[We are thankful that our association came up with this project. It help our respective families’
daily needs]. Cawed, an architect student, but opted to work in small-scale mining, is supporting his stepbrother (Apollo) schooling, who is the elementary level.

To date, physical development in the project site on going. The project is located at the boundary of Barangay Atok Trail (Baguio City) and Sitio Batawel, Gumatdang, Itogon, Benguet. Batawel Small-Scale Miners Association, is a rural-based farmers duly accredited by the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera (DA-CAR) and the labor department.

The project, aquaponics-is a food production system that combines conventional aquaculture and hydroponics (cultivating plants in water without soil) in a symbiotic environment.

Primo Agatep/ABN