WBA enhances skills from cultural to technical diving

(L to R) Mr Noor Saada, MILAB project manager talking with Sama divers
in between the latter's SCUBA dive exercises. 

Zamboanga City (November 26, 2021) – Among the participants of the ongoing WBA dive training this week are participants from the Sama ethnic group and including Nomer Manisan (Aquaculturist II) and Komonie Janalhatib (Community Affairs Assistant) of Sumisip and Ramil Pakkari (Statistician) of Hadji Muhtamad. The Sama people are a maritime ethnic group that is spread across the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Sulu Archipelago in the southern Philippines. In Basilan, they are found in the island municipalities of Hadji Muhtamad and Tabuan Lasa and along the coasts of the mainland municipalities. 

Their swimming and diving skills are passed down from one to another generation, from the elder to the younger, from the fathers to the sons. Sons start with frog swimming, homemade goggles, and in the nude. As they become adolescents, they are still shirtless, but with underwear or shorts by this time. They can swim further and dive deeper mainly to catch fish and other sea products they can sell for livelihood. As they dive deeper, they use stones as sinkers and rope for signal. They also use compressors to be able to dive deep. They resort to deep diving in order to catch highly-prized species, such as kamun (sea mantis), kaulang (lobster), lapu-lapu kubing (leopard grouper), and bat (sea cucumber).

The Sama participants lament the beginning loss of indigenous knowledge especially on safety, prevention, and mitigation from the kaomboan (elders) as fewer among the new generation Sama youth venture into traditional fishing in favor of other non-sea livelihoods and for greener pastures. Partly because of this loss, repeated dives had made many of them oblivious to the dangers of abrupt ascent and absence of safety stops, changing underwater current, decompression sickness, and nitrogen narcosis, which through time and frequency had been accepted in the community as part of the hazards of seeking livelihood from the sea; without realizing that these can be prevented with safety and proper training.

For the past five days, Sama trainees Nomer Manisan, Komonie Janalhatib, and Ramil Pakkari were exposed to the proper techniques of swimming, diving, and finning; as well as the rudiments of SCUBA diving. Nomer says, he now realized the value of suits. He has come to appreciate the importance of safety beginning with proper breathing, being alert about the environment. He saw that diving can be safe and fun simultaneously if proper prevention, pre-planning, and rules are observed.

Ramil expresses his observation about the importance of weights and sinkers which greatly stabilizes the diver's position underwater. He likes now the ability to swim and dive comfortably and with balanced. Komonie notes the crucial points of having a dive buddy and sign communication underwater. With this new ability, he shares that diving can be comfortable knowing that they have prepared safely and had ways to continue communicating underwater. 

They are in agreement that their exposure to the ongoing training enhanced their pre-existing swimming, diving, and finning skills, and importantly, showed taught them safety measures, and mitigative measures, to avoid dangers and stay on the safe lane. 

The WBA 7-day dive training they are part of is delivered by the ZSCMST Dive Center and CMAS Philippines. WBA is the first inter-LGU cooperation in Basilan Province and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments.

Diving for the Star: The CMAS One-Star Dive Certification

Prof Dr Oliver Tito introduces the academic part of the CMAS one-star dive certification.

Zamboanga City (November 24, 2021) – The ongoing WBA dive training in this city will run-up to November 29 and is conducted by the Dive Center of the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST). The assessment and certification are through CMAS Philippines.

CMAS stands for Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques. In English, it is known as the World Underwater Federation and uses the French acronym CMAS in its logo. It was organized in the 50s, with renowned explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau as its founding president. CMAS offers several training programs, such as recreational diving, snorkeling, specialty diving, technical diving, and leadership diving with specialty grades. CMAS is recognized by international organizations, such as the Olympic, The World Games, Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), UNESCO, and International University Sports Federation (FISU).

The WBA dive training is geared towards CMAS One Star Diver certification (also known as CMAS* diver or CMAS*). CMAS defines a one-star diver as one “who is competent in the safe and correct use of all appropriate open-water scuba diving equipment in a sheltered water training area and is ready to gain open-water diving experience in the company of an experienced diver”.

The academics part of one-star diver training program covers the selection, purpose, and function of diving equipment; the purpose and use of diving signals; diving physics; medical problems related to diving; use of dive tables and dive computers; the function and use of scuba equipment; the mechanisms of respiration and circulation; the use of buoyancy devices; comparison and selection of diving suits and ancillary equipment; methods for care and maintenance of equipment; accident prevention, self-rescue and buddy rescue – including the theory of emergency ascent, towing, expired air ventilation and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation; diving procedures, the role of the dive leader, the importance of planning and preparation; and the selection of dive sites, the effect of weather and tides, hazards, the importance of conservation. 

The practicum side of one-star diver training program covers assembly and fitting of scuba equipment; entry and exit; surface swimming with full scuba equipment; proper weighting, buoyancy; clearing and replacing mask and mouthpiece; out-of-air emergency procedures, using a secondary air supply; controlled buoyant lift; diver assistance techniques, towing and landing a casualty; employing expired air ventilation and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation; underwater removal and replacement of scuba and ballast systems; and simple under-water navigation. Practicum includes confined and open water dives.

For the 22 WBA trainees, lectures will be at the La Azotea, Garden Orchids Hotel; confined water practicum at the hotel's swimming pool; and the open water practicum will be at the Simariki Ancestral Domain. Written and practical assessment will be on the last day of training and passers will be issued the CMAS one-star dive certificate and identification card.

WBA is the first inter-LGU cooperation in Basilan Province and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments.

ZSCMST President inspires WBA dive trainees

ZSCMST President Prof Dr Jaime G. Jalon reflects on his past experiences about Basilan before the pandemic. He considers Basilan his second home. He urges participants to seize this rare opportunity.(Photo credit: ZSCMST Media Team)

Zamboanga City (November 23, 2021) – Participants from the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) municipalities of Hadji Muhtamad, Lantawan, Maluso, and Sumisip, and the Basilan Provincial Government, convene today for their 7-day dive training and 3-day training on participatory coastal resources assessment (PCRA), from November 23 to December 3, 2021, here in the city. Each WBA municipality and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist is allotted four (4) trainee-slots, plus two (2) trainee-slots for the WBA Dive Shop.

WBA AMO manager Mr Zia Ulhaq Basa welcomes the participants and expresses his gratitude to the MILAB Project and to ZSCMST for supporting their alliance through this training program. As mentioned by Mr Basa, this training program is delivered in partnership with the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) through a memorandum of understanding signed with the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG). Leading the ZSCMST management team in the opening program today is no less than its President, Prof Dr Jaime G. Jalon, together with Prof Arthur Panganiban, Director for Research and Development and Prof Marlon Omatang, Director for Training and Extension Services.

Also part of the management and leading the 11-person training team is Prof Dr Oliver Tito, Dean of the College of Fisheries and Marine Sciences and concurrent Vice President for Research, Innovation and Extension Services. Other members of the training team present in the opening program are Victoria Lim, Chairperson of the Chemistry Department; Angelo Macario, Masters in Fisheries Management Program Adviser; Annie Gonzales, Marine Biology Program Adviser; Kathleen Dalope, Fisheries Program Adviser; Rolando Pelingon, Faculty, College of Fisheries and Marine Sciences; and Kent Anthony Enocita, Dive Associate, SCUBA Center. Assisting Dean Tito and Head of the SCUBA Center is Raymond Antonio Lim.

In his inspirational message, President Jalon expresses his consideration for Basilan as a second home and how he yearns to be back again. He is also optimistic about this partnership and urges the trainees to “make the most of it”, to seize this rare opportunity afforded to the participants by the AECID-funded MILAB Project. He urges participants to feel free to interact with the ZSCMST training team, and he reminds the former how he had freed them from their school obligation for the duration of this training in order to respond positively to his second home's needs to build competencies on diving and coastal resources assessment so that these local government units can be proactive in developing and implementing their coastal resources management (CRM) plan. He reminds everyone that we are still in a pandemic and the need to observe health protocols is ever urgent and compulsory as he believes health is a treasure that everyone should value all the time and that the Covid-19 virus is ever-present in our midst.

Prof Omatang delivers the first part of the training overview and how the ZSCMST team is happy to support this WBA initiative. Dean Tito delivers the second part of the training overview. He reminds participants that while the training team will have flexibility, there are also rules and standards to be observed. The training will be a combination of lectures and confined and open water practicum. The 7-day dive training will end with a CMAS assessment and certification, while the 3-day coastal resources assessment will end with practicum and data analysis. After the opening program, the participants proceeded to the pool area for the preliminary water skills assessment. Participants demonstrated to the training team their initial capacity to swim and float.

Ms Sheila Tan Acquiatan, MILAB Project Coordinator, orients the participants on house rules including the need to observe health protocols for the duration of the training program. The project booked a larger venue with a pool nearby, with several French doors which can be open from time to time to allow for fresh air to circulate. The project also distributed health kits consisting of face masks and alcohol. All the participants applied through the S-PaSS entry requirements to get into Zamboanga City and this training program, following these stated protocols, is also authorized by the Zamboanga City DRRMO.

WBA is the first inter-LGU cooperation in the Basilan Province and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments.

Introducing ZSCMST Training Team

Prof Dr Oliver Tito
Dean of the College of Fisheries and Marine Sciences
Concurrent Vice President for Research, Innovation and Extension Services
SCUBA Trainer 
Team Leader

Prof Raymond Antonio Lim
CMFS Faculty
Head of the SCUBA Center
Trainer, Corals and Reef Fishes

Prof Dr Servando Halili, Jr
CENS Faculty
Trainer, Socio-Economic Assessment

Prof. Victoria Lim
Chairperson of the Chemistry Department
Trainer, Water Quality

Prof. Angelo Macario
Masters in Fisheries Management Program Adviser
Assistant Trainer, Socio-Economic Assessment

Prof. Annie Gonzales
Marine Biology Program Adviser
Trainer, Seagrass 

Prof. Kathleen Dalope
Fisheries Program Adviser
Assistant Trainer, Seagrass

Prof. Rolando Pelingon
Faculty, College of Fisheries and Marine Sciences
SCUBA Trainer
Trainer, Planktons

Espiridion Sales Jr
CFMS Staff
Trainer, Mangroves

Juniboy Alberto
CFMS Faculty
Assistant Trainer, Mangroves

Kent Anthony Enocita
CFMS Faculty
Assistant Head, SCUBA Center
Assistant Trainer, Corals and Reef Fishes

WBA prepares for Dive and PCRA training with ZSCMST

 

Photo: IAG, MILAB and ZSCMST officials posing for a group photo after a meeting on their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) through capacity building and technical assistance interventions. (L to R) ZSCMST Dive Center Manager Prof Raymond Lim, IAG Director for Planning Sheila Algabre, MILAB Project Coordinator Sheila Acquiatan, IAG Executive Director Atty Benedicto Bacani, ZSCMST President Dr Jaime Jalon, ZSCMST Vice President Dr Servando Halili Jr, MILAB Project Manager Noor Saada and ZSCMST Dean of the College of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Dr Oliver Tito. 

Isabela City, Basilan (November 17, 2021) – The Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) composed of the municipalities of Hadji Muhtamad, Lantawan, Maluso, and Sumisip, and supported by the Basilan Provincial Government, is scheduled to undertake a 7-day dive training and 3-day training on participatory coastal resources assessment (PCRA), from November 23 to December 3, 2021, in Zamboanga City.

These two trainings will be delivered by a composite team of marine science experts from the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST). This was made possible through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by ZSCMST and the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG). IAG is the managing contractor for the AECID-funded Modelling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan (MILAB) that is capacitating and supporting the WBA.

Atty Benedicto Bacani, Executive Director of IAG and the managing contractor of the AECID-funded MILAB Project, is happy to see this partnership slowly moving forward. IAG has built a reputation around local governance and alliance building, and with ZSCMST expertise in coastal resources management (CRM), he expects exponential benefits for the WBA. He is optimistic that the institutional commitment and resources of IAG and ZSCMST reflected in the memorandum of understanding will help WBA realize its vision of a peaceful and prosperous Western Basilan founded on good governance and a sustainable economy.

MILAB manager Mr Noor Saada explains that diving is a foundational skill for participatory coastal resources assessment and PCRA is a preparatory mechanism to develop CRM plan required of every LGU in the country. He added that the 11-person ZSCMST team will be a composite of professors and professional divers and the two trainings will be a combination of lectures, confined water, and open water skills development, and fieldwork on socio-economic, mangroves, seagrass, coral and reef fishes, and water quality and plankton assessment drills. Participants will also undergo assessment and certification by CMAS Philippines as basic divers. The fieldwork is slated to be undertaken inside an ancestral domain area of Sama Bangingi' who have been preserving and promoting their area as an eco- and culture-based tourist spot.

WBA is the first inter-LGU cooperation in Basilan Province and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments.

Basilan Gov Jim Hataman inspires WBA personnel to continue trekking the path of sustainable development

Participants having a photo op with Basilan Gov Jim Hataman 
on the sideline od the Day 2 workshop.

Isabela City, Basilan (November 17, 2021) - Basilan Provincial Governor Jim Hataman, a champion of alliance-building, visits the WBA workshop on Operations Manual today and inspires key personnel to continue trekking the path of sustainable, meaningful development. He reminds everyone that other forms of development are now possible in Basilan because of the security improvement. He reckons that the security improvement was possible because of the ownership and participation of all to make Basilan peaceful. 

He also explains why good governance and cultural reforms are integral to each other. He observes that unproductive age-old practices continue to define daily lives and how this should be changed in order to make life meaningful. For Basilan, the connection between people and the land should be symbiotic, i.e. land is what can improve people's lives, but as people's lives improved, the land should be nurtured not destroyed.

Behind this improved security background, other forms of development are now possible including this alliance building and efforts towards sustainable livelihood.

WBA enhances its draft Operations Manual

 

'Recall Circle' on day 2 of the workshop with participants recalling and

 sharing what each of them remembers from yesterday's session.

Isabela City, Basilan (November 16, 2021) – Local planning, agriculture, and finance personnel from the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) convenes today for a week-long workshop to enhance their draft operations manual. The workshop will run for up to Friday, November 19, at the Kasinnahan Hotel and Resort, this city.

In his opening statement, Mr. Zia Ulhaq Basa, the WBA Alliance Management Office (AMO) manager welcomes the participants to this activity and hopes that they will exert their best efforts to share their ideas and experiences in enhancing the first draft which they started developing in May 2021.

Mayor Hanie A Bud of Maluso, the interim chair of the WBA, claims that this alliance is arguably the most functional in the BARMM region. He reminds everyone that the current coastal resources management (CRM) is just one of the many development focuses of the alliance. He enlightens the participants about the other development focus, such as good governance, peace and security, critical social services, and eco- and culture-based tourism.

The training team comes from the Ateneo Center for Leadership and Governance (ACLG) of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) and composed of team leader May Bulanon, lead trainer Ari Ismael and documenter-writer Cha Ibanez. Aside from facilitating this week's workshop, the training team will also come up with version 2 of the operations manual, incorporating salient points of the WBA Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), critical ingredients in the alliance-building manual, organizational development theory, and from the unique Basilan context.

The ACLG team engages the participants through a generative lecture-workshop methodology. Each session starts with a short overview of critical ingredients in the alliance-building manual. Small group workshop follows building on the participants' experiences and aspirations. Thereafter, every group presents their output and listens to comments from other groups, and is given another round to refine their output.

Western Basilan Alliance is the first inter-LGU cooperation in the province and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments.

Project Updating

L to R - WBA AMO manager Zia Ulhaq Basa, WBA SC interim chair Mayor Hans Bud of Maluso,
WBA TWG lead facilitator Jan Zanoria and MILAB Project manager Noor Saada.

Isabela City, Basilan (November 16, 20221) - WBA Steering Committee interim chair and Maluso mayor Hans A Bud met with TWG lead facilitator January Yap Zanoria, AMO manager Zia Ulhaq M Basa, and MILAB project manager Noor Saada, for project updating on the sideline of the 5-day workshop on the WBA operations manual, November 15 to 19, 2021. The latter three personalities discussed with Mayor Bud updates on the project prototypes, preparations for the dive and PCRA training, and initial project ideas for the CRM blueprint.