Bridging the Gap
Boat-building in Panay after WWII
Upon the end of the Second World War and after the granting of Philippine independence, a remarkable increase in the population of Panay was observed. This brought about a corresponding rise in the demand for inter-island travel services. This was especially evident in the case of Iloilo with Guimaras and Negros Occidental, as well as with smaller islands in its vicinity. But this was also observed with the other provinces of Panay that have maritime contacts with the nearby islets. Other than for transportation, a still greater demand for boats came from the fishing sector.
Beginning with the 1970s, especially with the advent of large numbers of commercial fishing activities, a large demand for boats was felt in Panay. Larger new fishing outfits began to operate and older ones were innovated as the traditional technologies for fishing from the outriggered "baroto" could no longer meet the people's need for protein from the sea.
The considerable increase again in the population of Iloilo and the neighboring provinces in the late 1970s and onwards required the construction of still larger and faster passenger boats, "pambots." this was especially observable in the passenger load between Iloilo City and Guimaras, as well as northern Iloilo with Negros Occidental. Added to this was the opening of a number of island resorts found especially in the northern waters of Panay, such as Sicogon in Iloilo and Boracay in Aklan. Boats used to ferry passengers and cargoes in these various points still depended on traditional boat construction activity in certain places in Panay. In fact, because bigger wooden vessels have now been ably constructed by local boat-builders, trips have been opened between Antique and Palawan in the west.
Today, although one can easily find the boat-building industry in Panay still alive in coastal and small island communities where the only means of transportation towards the "mainland" or another island is by boat, the number of practitioners of the craft has dwindled considerably. Seldom are there more than three expert boat-builders in the barangay or sitio. Neither can they limit their activities to boat-building as in times gone by; they also have to engage in fishing in order to survive because the orders for boats are not that continuous. Also crucial to the survival of boat-building is that very few young people are interested to learn the skills from their carpenter fathers or grandfathers because most if not all of them are inclined to pursue other vocations. For them, there is no money or fame anymore in being a boat-builder.
Despite the lack of technical and financial support from the Philippine government, the boat-builders themselves are confident that the industry will not die out. When asked about the prospects for boat-builders in Panay, the individuals concerned say that as long as there is a body of water to cross and marine resources to catch, boats will always be needed and boat-builders will certainly have a reason to practice their craft. For example, foreign and domestic tourists going to such island resorts as Boracay, Sicogon and several other points around Panay need boats to reach those places. This is not to forget that there is an increasing need for fishing boats because of the great demand for fish and other marine products. Thus, the boat-builders say that even if their children are not interested in the craft anymore, they still have carpenter-helpers who assist them in their work and who, in the process, learn the necessary skills and expertise to carry it on.