In 2021, as part of its Manila Bay rehabilitation program, the government ordered the dismantling of bamboo poles used as fish cages and “tahungan” farms along the waters of Cavite — a move which the fisherfolks say is a “prelude to massive reclamation projects that are meant to wipe out not only the fishing structures but also the fishing villages along Manila Bay” (Manila Bulletin, Nov. 2021).

The projects have already caused the demolition of houses along the edges of Bacoor.

Laarni Villamon and family belongs to the many fisherfolk who were driven away from their homes and relocated to far away Naic. Finding no livelihood for them on the site, they decided to return to Bacoor.

Today, they content themselves with the use of trawl net for fishing while the tahong farmers make do with different sorts of floating materials for mussel propagation. All grappling to keep their hopes of livelihood afloat