FAIZZA TANGGOL is a Communications
Assistant for the World Food Programme
(WFP) Philippines. She is currently based in
WFP's Manila country office but often travels
to Mindanao to document stories of WFP's
work in the Philippines.In 2014, the World Food Programme (WFP) helped
to build protection dikes, construct a fishing cage
and establish a vegetable gardenparticipated in the food-for-work
programme which aimed to change
Marayag Lake into a place with more
productive sources of an alternative
livelihood. The local government of
Matanog also provided monetary
incentives to the participants who
helped in the rehabilitation. The
participants built protection dikes
along the 36-hectare lake, constructed
a floating fish cage and bridge and
established a vegetable garden in
exchange for food.
Positive wave of tourism
Now, hundreds of visitors drop by
Marayag Lake every year to take in the
scenery. The lake also serves as a rest
stop where guests can order and eat
the food prepared by the women of
WOW Matanog while enjoying the view
of the lake. Aside from the tourism
potential, Marayag Lake also has fish
and vegetables which the community
members harvest to sell and use for
their consumption.
“We have tilapia and dalag (murrel)
in the lake and various vegetables
such as pumpkin, eggplant, string
beans and bitter gourd planted along
the mountainside,” shares Larida. “We
sell the fish from the lake and it’s one
of our main sources of income. We also
harvest the vegetables which we sell
along the highway.”One of the key missions of WOW
Matanog is to provide livelihoods
to their community and with the
rehabilitation of the Marayag Lake,
they are able to continuously fulfil this
mission. With the various sources of
income from the lake, the women of
Matanog now feel more empowered.
“We have felt a huge effect here in
our community,” says Larida. “Before,
our women used to just stay at home.
Now, they have the opportunity to
go out, socialise and earn additional
income for their family.” agbelow Some members of Women
of War in Matanog garbed in their
traditional malong wearabove The women harvest the
vegetables they plant along the
Marayag mountainsideleFt The 36-hectare Marayag
Lake is located in Matanog,
Maguindanao in the PhilippinesPHOTO © FAHIMA ABDULAZIZ/WFP, BONNIE SINGAYAO/WFP