What were once discarded shells along the shores of Taytay are being given a new purpose as women in coastal communities explore ways to turn capiz and mussel byproducts into sources of income.
Through Project KISLAP, the Western Philippines University (WPU) Extension Services is helping develop community-based products from capiz shells, aiming to increase their value while creating livelihood opportunities for local women.
For Nanay Rosa, one of the initiative’s pioneer participants, the change begins with seeing potential in what was previously considered waste.
“Dati, kapag nakahuli kami ng tahong o capiz, benta agad sa mababang presyo. Yung mga tirang shell, natatapon lang sa tabi-tabi,” she said.
“Hindi namin naisip na ang tingin namin ay basag na balat ng dagat, may angking liwanag pala.”
Project KISLAP, short for “Enhancing Capiz Shell Value Chains Through Community-Based Product Diversification in Palawan,” seeks to develop new uses for capiz shells and strengthen the value chain around the coastal resource.
The initiative focuses on women whose work in fishing communities often extends beyond harvesting. They help process catches, clean fishing gear and manage household finances, particularly when fishing yields and incomes are low.
By exploring ways to transform shells into products, the project aims to help participating women gain more value from resources available in their communities.
“Sa bawat shell na hinahawakan namin, hindi na lang pagkain ang nakikita namin—nakikita na namin ang kinabukasan ng aming mga anak,” a participating community member said.
The project reflects an effort to connect local livelihood development with scientific knowledge and community participation. With support from local government and a university extension program, the initiative seeks to demonstrate how product diversification can create additional economic opportunities for coastal households.
In Taytay, where the sea has long sustained families through fishing and other marine resources, the work offers another way to make a living from the coast.
For the women taking part, the shells are no longer simply remnants of a harvest. They represent the possibility of turning an overlooked resource into products that can help support their families and expand their livelihood options.
