Lantawan, Basilan – Fisherfolk in Barangay Lawi-Lawi and nearby communities of Lantawan, Basilan Province, now have reliable access to ice supply following the turnover of a solar-powered ice block machine. Co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through the Modelling Livelihood Solutions for Coastal Communities in Basilan or Model Lives, the facility is already making an immediate impact on local livelihoods.

For an off-grid community where 90% of its population relies heavily on marine resources for food and livelihood, the solar cold chain solution improves market efficiency. This intervention reduces the community’s dependence on more expensive and often distant ice supplies and cuts post-harvest losses of marine products. The solar ice block machine can produce nearly one ton of ice blocks per day.

The Kasalamatan Agri-Fisheries Association (KAFA) of Barangay Lawi-Lawi received the solar-powered ice block machine as its custodian, while the Lantawan Local Government Unit (LGU) also received one unit of seaborne patrol boat for Bantay Dagat (Sea Guard) teams to enforce coastal resource protection. The association has been actively involved in participatory planning and capacity-strengthening activities, with strong support from the LGU. Susing Jaappal, a KAFA member and trained ice block machine operator, shared, “We don’t have electricity here in our barangay (Lawi-Lawi), so we used to buy ice in bulk from nearby towns, and our products would often spoil. Now, with the readily available ice supply, we no longer need to buy from outside and experience income loss due to spoilage. The solar ice plant also benefits our neighboring fishing communities.”

Barangay Lawi-Lawi is one of three communities in Basilan selected to model fisheries-based livelihood solutions through Model Lives. The other two are in the municipalities of Sumisip and Tipo-Tipo. Selection of LGUs and barangays for Model Lives underwent a participatory planning process to assess community needs and organizational capacity.

During the handover ceremony, Lantawan Vice-Mayor Omaer Abubakar expressed his optimism on the LGU’s engagement with the project: “This is a symbol that Lantawan is progressing. This is what we have been discussing in the Sangguniang Bayan, on how we can have an income-generating project that will support the livelihood of our constituents.”

Model Lives is part of the EU’s broader initiative, the Bangsamoro Agri-Enterprise Programme (BAEP), which supports the Bangsamoro government’s goal for inclusive development, sustainable livelihoods, and peace through strengthening economic opportunities. 

In his virtual message, European Union Head of Cooperation to the Philippines Dr. Marco Gemmer underscored the collaborative nature of the project, its needs-based approach, and the importance of co-creating solutions with the community: “The BAEP is turning over the ice machine and the seaborne patrol to you, as these were identified by you as important step towards your agri-enterprise development and your economic development.” “This shows how strong we can be if we are working together - by having a dialogue with you, by showing how we can support you in your socio-economic development to bring a better life for you, your community, and your families,” Dr. Gemmer added.