ANTIQUE PERSPECTIVES
By Jun Escalona, Antique Bureau Chief

A small barangay strives for development

Barangay Idio is both a fishing and a farming village in Sebaste, Antique,

Ideally situated along the South China Sea to the East and a wide expanse of rice fields to the East, it is 4 kms. North of Sebaste proper and 10 kms. from Pandan in the North.

During the rainy months, the majority of its population are engaged in rice farming. Fishing is at its prime during the summer months.

It has a population of 2,200 in 420 households, and a voting population of 1,155. Its economy is predominantly agricultural and much of solid waste comes from agriculture.

Since the local economy could not absorb a growing number of skilled and semi-skilled workers and professionals, more and more young people are seek employment overseas as contract workers or seamen in ocean going ships.

The rest of the population are either employed locally in and out of government, although some are in retail trade or agribusiness. A majority are either farmers by day and fishermen nighttime.

Economic benefits from waste recovery can be a potential livelihood when properly tapped. Advanced countries have derived significant payback from solid waste with positive results in the economic welfare of its people. When sorted into Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable items, solid waste may provide additional income to not only low-income households but also to enterprising households. Barangay officials share this aspiration for an orderly disposal of material waste while earning a modest income from agricultural waste.

Processed, agricultural wastes could fetch a good extra income for farmers in such an agricultural area. Shredded leaves, hay and animal manure that is found almost everywhere in the rice field is a good source of organic fertilizer. That is the primary purpose of a barangay-wide plan of collecting these material waste and processing them into organic fertilizer. Punong barangay Isabelo Bulos is also optimistic, having had the assurance of support from an international NGO.

A barangay counterpart of a Material Recovery Facility shed house may have to be built through voluntary labor by residents on a scheduled household group basis, such that each HH is represented. The shed house will contain the material shredder. Four (4) laborers will take turns operating the machine and collecting solid garbage on a minimal compensation.

A shredding machine to be run by a gasoline motor is necessary to process leaves and twigs into organic fertilizer, or as medium for Vermiculture, the culture of earthworm, a rich protein source for meat extenders. This is not feasible now but is a future alternative that may be possible with the Facility. It may need additional requirements and training.

But barangay head Isabelo Bulos is unfazed. He has the support of the Congressman and an NGO aiming to see a willing barangay take off.

I reached for something to attach myself to – and found nothing. .But in reaching out, left high and dry as I was, I found something I had not looked for – myself. . . . . . Henry Miller