Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands—Cagdianao Mining Corp. has turned over a P5.6-million ice plant and cold storage facility to the members of GAAS Dinagat Fishermen Cooperative in barangay Legaspi here.
The newly minted facility, a proud first in the mining industry in Caraga Region, is funded by CMC’s Social Development Management Program.
Fishermen from Cagdianao town used to source blocks of ice, needed to preserve freshly caught fish, from distant Surigao City, a two-hour travel by boat, or from Placer, a three-hour boat ride away.
With the new ice plant and storage facility, fisherfolk from barangays Boa, Legaspi, Valencia, and Cagdianao will cut on travel time and expenses to get ice and could add the savings to their personal income.
Remar R. Flores, President of GADIFCO, received the symbolic key to the new facility from CMC on Sept. 19 on behalf of the 30 fishermen-members of GADIFCO.
Flores said the facility, currently the only one operating in the entire island, will provide ease and comfort in their daily lives as fishermen.
“This ice plant will save us time and money and will make our lives easier. We don’t have to worry about ice that we need to keep our fish fresh,” he said, adding they are more motivated and optimistic about their future.
“When we bring our catch in the markets they are still very fresh because we have enough and ready supply of ice so we can ask for a good price for our fish. That is a big help,” the co-op president added.
The new plant can produce 50 blocks of ice in the first 8 hours of its daily operation, then 50 more every four hours after that.
Flores alone would be needing at least five blocks of ice each time he goes out to sea to catch fish. The ice from the new plant sells for P54 per block.
The facility can produce enough to accommodate the needs of the fishermen in all the barangays in Cagdianao, perhaps with extra to sell to other fishermen in adjacent barangays.
Mansueto G. Cadeliña, Provincial Fisheries Officer, said the ice plant “helps our fishermen in Cagdianao to be contented as they now earn better and this is actually a very effective support to the campaign of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)–Para sa Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan.”
“We can now expect our fishermen to be the protectors against illegal fishing. And supporting the traditional way of fishing is effectively a way of protecting the environment,” Cadeliña said.
Engr. Aloysius Diaz, CMC Vice President for Operations, said the project reflects “our commitment to the communities in Dinagat Islands, we have programs for the farmers, now this is for the fishermen.”
“Soon, we will have programs for tourism. You see, a lot of people are curious about responsible mining. This is the showcase – because tourism, farming, and fishing can thrive in a responsible mining community,” Diaz said.