Alsa-Alsa is a local practice in the fish market of Barangay Tabuc-suba, Barotac Nuevo, where part-time laborers earn by collecting small amounts of fish from each box they handle. These workers perform tasks like loading, unloading, weighing, and repacking fish, and instead of receiving wages, they are allowed to take some fish, which they later sell at lower prices. This system, called sakot, provides income ranging from ₱300 to over ₱2,000 a day depending on the volume and fish quality. The practice is passed down informally through experience and observation within the fish market. Alsa-Alsa strengthens social bonds among workers and vendors, fosters community support, and serves as a vital economic lifeline for those without stable jobs. Despite challenges such as reprimands from sellers and job instability, it remains widely practiced due to its economic necessity and the lack of formal employment alternatives.
Domain:
Location/s:
, Iloilo, Tabuc-Suba
Photo Credit/s:
Araneta, Bryan 2024
Mappers:
Bryan Yves G. Araneta, Chera May Batisla-ong
Tags:
Alsa-Alsa, , , community support, economic lifeline, fish handling, fish market practice, fish sales, informal economy, informal income, informal work, job instability, loading and unloading, low-price fish, market workers, part-time labor, Philippine fish markets, sakot system, , traditional labor system, weighing and repacking
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