Environmental advocates launch glass-bottom boat

Having noted the decreasing catch of fisher folks in the island of Bantayan, a group of environmental advocates came up with an alternative livelihood proposition that at the same time aims to lessen the destructive effects of over-fishing in the area.

According to a World Bank study, the country losses around P8.41 billion yearly due to our poor marine protection in which P6.5 million has been attributed to over-fishing.

And to provide a restorative solution to the inherent problem of the destruction of our marine resources, the Law of Nature (Batas Kalikasan) Foundation recently launched its project called as the glass bottom boat aimed on making a widespread shift in the manner the locals in Bantayan earn their living.

The glass bottom boat prototype launched recently was locally designed and fabricated using bamboo strips woven into a mat, more popularly known as 'amakan' which is a boat-building material used by our ancestors before the advent of plywood.

The boat which can hold about four people is composed of two 21 feet fiberglass molded small boat structures connected by an open wooden box that holds the glass for viewing the sea surface.

According to the foundation's Executive Director Bonar Laureto in an interview, they spent only about P200, 000 for the whole project which could have amounted to thousands of dollars more if bought commercially.

"Our main goal is to make an industry out of glass bottom boat that can provide alternative livelihood opportunities for the locals here in Bantayan but the industry will never prosper if we do not ensure that the underwater is worth seeing so we will put watch towers and marine buoys," he told The Freeman.

Laureto added that the construction of the boat will not require much technical skills; in fact the first prototype made was constructed by a local carpenter for only two months. He said that with the locals' basic skill on carpentry, starting a boat making industry is highly feasible.

They are planning to supply these kinds of boats to different island destinations in the country such as Boracay, Bohol, Camiguin and Palawan to create more demand and awareness about marine adventures.

He also stressed that other than providing an alternative means of livelihood to the locals, the glass bottom boat will also become an innovation that can make the underwater available for everybody's appreciation including those who are unable to swim. In this way the foundation aims to advocate the importance of our environment and marine resources to people especially young ones.

As an alternative to scuba diving, Laureto said that sooner the boat will become an added attraction for both local and foreign tourists that frequent Bantayan Island so they will be creating an environmental leisure learning tour package that will include experiential learning activities which aims to widen awareness on environmental preservation.

"As this project becomes profitable, boat-making for glass bottom will then take an important niche in Bantayan’s local economy," he said.

This proposed restorative eco-tourism project will be funded by the Department of Tourism under its Grassroots Entrepreneurship for Eco-Tourism program, that provides grants to individuals and groups whose projects adhere to the vision of providing alternative livelihood to though the promotion of tourism.