Assessment of the Perceived Impact of Fisherfolk Livelihood Programs in Cabog, Dingalan, Aurora

Abstract

The Dumagats of Barangay Cabog, Dingalan, Aurora are indigenous people who rely on traditional fishing. These Dumagats are small scale fisherfolk who are considered one of the marginalized sectors in the region. Moving towards the mission of Lyceum of the Philippines University-Manila to build a community extension program and be a catalyst for social transformation and custodian of Filipino culture and heritage, the College of Business Administration has conducted livelihood programs aimed at improving the living standards of Dumagat fisherfolk in Barangay Cabog, sitio Matawe, Dingalan, Aurora. Various efforts in developing livelihood opportunities and introducing new activities were implemented to generate income and food for the last five years. However, the sustainability of such alternative livelihood programs over time remains uncertain. The study assessed the perceived impact of Livelihood programs among Fisherfolk covering the programs implemented from 2018 to 2023. A total of 23 fisherfolk participated in the study. The study employs a mixed-method approach combining descriptive and correlational research designs and interviews to assess the perceived impact of the fisherfolk's livelihood program. The research used an adapted questionnaire to assess the perceived impact of the fisherfolk livelihood programs in terms of economic status and values gained. A correlation was employed to determine the significant difference in terms of effectiveness of the program and impact of the program as to economic status and values gained. Finally, the research used semi-structured interview questions to determine the challenges experienced by the beneficiaries. Results of the study revealed that the livelihood programs positively impacted the economic status and values gained among respondents. The project has brought about improvement in the living standards of the community members for the last five years. Furthermore, the study revealed a strong positive relationship between the impact of the livelihood program and the effectiveness of the program, which implies that the impact of the livelihood program is a reliable predictor of its success. However, the majority mentioned that the income they earn from fishing is not enough for them to save for the future. This is because of the challenges experienced by the beneficiaries during the implementation of the livelihood programs. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach and long-term commitment from all stakeholders involved. Findings revealed that there is a need to create alternative livelihood projects to provide additional sources of income beyond fisheries. The study recommends continuous improvement of fishing resources and having direct market access to eliminate middlemen taking a cut of their income. There is a need to explore livelihood projects on agriculture as well as continuous capacity building, enabling fishers to manage new ventures. Regular assessment of the progress and impact of the projects is crucial to making the necessary adjustments and ensuring long-term success.