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Plant a Dream and Watch it Grow
Success Cagayan in the implementation of the project: Establishment, …. of Nipa Stands for Bioethanol Production.
Cagayan State University is privileged to parner with the Pasiguit Fisherfolks Association in Sta. Ana,

With the leadership of Mr. Jaime B. Yosores, the association is grateful of the benefits they received from the
Story “Sana huwag silang (CSU at DENR) magsawa sa amin. Kasi wala naman kaming ibang masasandalan talaga
project.

kundi ang ating pamahalaan lang,” said Mr. Yosores in an interview with the Cagayan State University Nipa
Project Team during the project monitoring. Mr. Yosores is the founder and long-time President of the multi-
awarded Pasiguit Fisherfolks’ Association operating in Sta. Ana, Cagayan. “Maganda ang proyekto na nagawa
ng CSU dito sa amin. Malaking tulong talaga,” he added.
During the interview, he shared the gratitude of the whole organization to CSU and DENR for the benefits that
they attained as beneficiary of the project. According to him, the association has set aside 10% of the income they
earned from the project to add to the association’s fund which they use today to fund the livelihood activities of
the association such as baklad (fish cage), building construction, maintenance of a commercial fishing boat, and
individual members’ enterprise.
“Hindi namin pwedeng iwanan ang asosasyon kasi hindi kami magkakaroon ng project kung hindi dahil sa asosasyon,
… dapat buhayin namin ang asosayon,” he explained.
According to him, the Pasiguit Fisherfolk Association is the lone organization in Sta. Ana which has a revolving fund
for its operations. He said: “Kaya dito sa buong Sta. Ana, sa biyaya ng Diyos, ang Pasiguit Fisherfolk Association ang may
pondo pa lang sa ngayon. Kung titingnan natin yung association talaga ng Pasiguit, milyonaryo siya.”
Jaime Yosores The project also benefited 96 members of the association who joined in the preparation of planting site, nipa planting, and
maintenance of the plantation site as part of their efforts to sustain the project. Some of them were able to have their boats
Fisherman and houses repaired as part of the benefits of the project to every household.

Pasiguit 2019, he jokingly added, “Tuwang-tuwa sila, nagpista kami, mga miyembro namin ditto, nagvideoke sila ng dalawang gabi…”
When asked about the reaction of the members when they received the check for the payment of planting in December

He also recalled that the nipa plantation site used to be a vacant and unprofitable public land with very few standing bakawan.
Fisherfolk Natural Resources, the said land gives hope to the people of Sta. Ana. It gives a promise of protecting the environment from
With the Nipa Project spearheaded by the Cagayan State University and funded by the Department of Environment and
Association degradation, a source of income from nipa products, and bio-ethanol production in the future.

The association continues to flourish with its efforts to attain its plans to acquire bigger and safe commercial boats, build a
fish processing building, and expansion of fish market by acquiring a delivery van, and finance the product development and
livelihood activities of women.

His vision is to ensure the growth and sustainability of the organization. To achieve this, he shared a plan to involve young graduates
from the community in the leadership and management of the organization and train them become future leaders. This will ensure
the organization’s future in the hands of trained and dedicated new generation of leaders.
He hopes that with the benefits of the nipa project, they will be able to send their children to school, be educated, and will soon
become the future leaders of the Pasiguit Fisherfolks’ Association.
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