Her husband, Anecito, works in one of the mining companies in Agusan Del Sur. With ten children to take care of, Beverlyn initially decided to focus on homemaking. However, this did not stop her from trying to earn an income. At 59 years old, she had planted rice, made garments, and even bred backyard chicken.

It was while being a rice farmer that she became involved in a farmer’s association. Her community in Barangay Magsaysay, Davao de Oro, is near a man-made water reservoir made by the Department of Agrarian Reform and the Municipality of Nabunturan.

ENGAGING IN TILAPIA FARMING

The small reservoir is part of the Small Water Impounding Project (SWIP) created in various rural areas in the country to harvest rainfall and runoff primarily for agricultural irrigation during the dry season. In some areas in the country, SWIPs have been used as well for aquaculture and recreation facilities, the latter paving the way for Beverlyn to become a restaurateur.

Action Against Hunger, through the ProACT project with Fundacion CODESPA, initiated talks in 2019 with barangay leaders and the Municipal Agriculture’s Office of Nabunturan about developing alternative livelihoods for communities in the area.

Members of the farmers’ association participate in a livelihood workshop facilitated by Action Against Hunger through the ProACT project. (2021 © Photo by Vina Menez for Action Against Hunger | Nabunturan, Davao de Oro)

The different roles I play have made me flexible in managing members’ personalities, creative to find ways to further grow our restaurant and our customers. I am determined to open more livelihood opportunities for the community” – Beverlyn Albiso

Barangay Magsaysay’s Farmers’ Association posing for a photo after the livelihood seminars. (2021 © Photo by Albert Ehem for Action Against Hunger | Nabunturan, Davao de Oro)

The initial concept was to farm Tilapia in the reservoirt for community consumption to address the limited pork supply in the area when the African Swine Flu affected a lot of pigs in the Davao Region in February of 2019. This led to the creation of the Tuyawan Eco-Aqua Park, to which various government institutions, including the Municipal Local Government of Nabunturan and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), have committed more than 25 million pesos to further develop.

“The reservoir’s only been used for irrigation since 2003, now it is a livelihood site where we can showcase value chain from production to marketing,” Beverlyn states.

TILAPIA AND COFFEE

With the tilapia farm supplying more than what’s needed by the community, the park eventually opened the ‘Tila-Pehan sa Tuyawan’ restaurant on the 7th of August 2021. The restaurant takes its name from combining ‘tilapia’ and ‘kapehan’ (coffee shop) and is now a new tourist site where visitors can enjoy fresh Tilapia delights while enjoying the peaceful ambiance of a man-made lake.

Sample cuisines from Tilapehan sa Tuyawan. (2021 © Photo by Vina Menez for Action Against Hunger | Nabunturan, Davao de Oro)

The farmer’s association manages both the Tilapia farm and the restaurant. When it came to choosing who will manage the restaurant, the association didn’t have to look far. Beverlyn was unanimously selected to lead the venture.

Currently, she’s doing multiple roles in the farmer’s group: secretary to the association and manager and treasurer of the restaurant. “The different roles I play have made me flexible in managing members’ personalities, creative to find ways to further grow our restaurant and our customers. I am determined to open more livelihood opportunities for the community” says Beverlyn.

Outside the Tila-pehan sa Tuyawan restaurant is a small sari-sari store. (2021 © Photo by Vina Menez for Action Against Hunger | Nabunturan, Davao de Oro)

Beverlyn had everything ready for us when we arrived, including all the materials she and her staff would need for the course. It has been a breeze working with her,” – Ruel Fegarido, ProACT Head of Project

LIVELIHOOD TRAININGS FROM ACTION AGAINST HUNGER

Action Against Hunger has shared ideas with Beverlyn on improving the restaurant. “We got a resource person to conduct short courses on food preparation, safety, and hygiene as well as a cooking demo and recipe enhancement before the restaurant opened,” says Ruel Fegarido, ProACT Head of Project of Action Against Hunger TandagOffice. “Beverlyn had everything ready for us when we arrived, including all the materials she and her staff would need for the course. It has been a breeze working with her,” he added.

Beverlyn and Action Against Hunger Staff discuss improvements for the restaurant. (2021 © Photo by Diosdada Paresol for Action Against Hunger | Nabunturan, Davao de Oro)

A SUSTAINABLE RURAL INCOMEGENERATING ACTIVITY

Profits from the Tilapia farm and restaurant will be used to further enhance the establishment. “Since the soft opening last August, we have installed new toilets and water facilities for the customers, as well as improved the kitchen,” Beverlyn proudly said. “We are making our vegetable garden here in the park for use of the restaurant.”

Beverlyn and restaurant staff repurposing plastic bottles for other uses. (2021 © Photo by Vina Menez for Action Against Hunger | Nabunturan, Davao de Oro)

GETTING LEVERAGE FROM AGENCIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Government assistance delivered through training courses has improved the capabilities of TEA Park staff members. The office of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) supplied the park with additional Tilapia feeds to boost production. BFAR also donated a marination dryer and held an orientation on how to create lamayo—a marinated Tilapia dish famous in the region—the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Office (MDRRMO) of Nabunturan conducted training on water safety and basic first aid, and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provided funds for the Inter-agency Training Hall.

Beverlyn tending to garden plants at the Tuyawan Eco Park. (2021 © Photo by Lea Anora for Action Against Hunger | Nabunturan, Davao de Oro)

The officials of Barangay Magsaysay spearheaded the creation of local ordinances to protect the park and to limit its operations balancing economic and environmental activities. Beverlyn supports this, saying “the park is owned by the community, and we need to play our part to sustain it for future generations.”

‘Advancing Climate and Disaster Resilience Transformation in the Provinces of Agusan Del Sur, Surigao Del Sur, and Davao de Oro’ (ProACT) is a consortium project funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and implemented by Action Against Hunger & Fundacion CODESPA.