Basilan’s tide of change

The coastal municipalities of Sumisip, Lantawan and Tipo-Tipo have been identified as key areas for the Model Lives Project or Modelling Livelihood Solutions for Coastal Communities in Basilan, a joint initiative co-funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in the Philippines.

Local-government officials, community representatives and stakeholders from the Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform, Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy, EU, and UNDP convened in Sumisip for the Project’s Stakeholder Engagement Meeting.

The session marked a crucial step in shaping livelihood strategies that empower fisherfolk communities and promote sustainable fishery practices.

The Model Lives Project was launched in January 2025 and is running until June 2026.

The initiative aims to offer a range of livelihood options tailored to the unique needs of coastal communities.

These include aquaculture and mariculture activities such as fish, seaweed, and shellfish farming; value-adding processes like fish preservation and product development for local markets; eco-tourism ventures such as mangrove boardwalks; and handicraft-making using marine materials.

The project also supports alternative income sources, such as boat repair services, and strengthens post-harvest systems through initiatives like ice production facilities and transport support, enabling fisherfolk to bring their catch to market more efficiently.

Despite its rich natural resources, BARMM remains one of the poorest regions in the country, with Basilan’s poverty incidence among families reaching 66.3 percent in 2018 and 42.5 percent in 2021.

The region also records the highest food insecurity rate in the Philippines, with 84 percent of households experiencing food access challenges.