One of the key sectors identified by the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) are women fisherfolks. Despite the significant size of the fishing industry and its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and despite the fact that fish is a huge part of Filipino diet, fisherfolks remain to be among the poorest of the basic sectors. The situation is even direr for women fisherfolks. Women fisherfolks are among the poorest – largely because of the non-recognition of their roles, the kind of roles they are engaged in, the low value and trivialization of their contribution, their lack of access to modes of production, and due to their multiple burden in the house and in the fishing community.

Women participate, before, during fish capture, and after the fish capture. They form part of small scale fisherfolks in municipal waters, and some are also employed in commercial fishing vessels, mostly post-production. However, their participation has been given little importance, leading to near invisibility as important contributors to this sector. Poverty of women fisherfolks has also rendered them vulnerable and at risk of violence – with accounts of domestic violence and cases of trafficking in some areas.

As Gender Ombud, and as monitor of the implementation of the MCW, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and its 16 regional offices conducted focus group discussions (FGD) with women fisherfolks starting in 2019 and even amid the pandemic. The FGDs were conducted in fishing communities, focusing on the situation of women fisherfolks. Primarily, CHR sought to render visible the situation of a sector that is among the most vulnerable and left behind.

After a year of data gathering and report writing, the Commission is pleased to present the initial results of the FGDs. This comes at an opportune time – just when Senate has a proposed measure to support fisherfolks during the pandemic. We hope the results of the FGDs will further support the immediate passage of Senate Bill No. 2100 that seeks “to provide direct cash assistance to small-scale farmers and municipal fisherfolk whose livelihoods have been most severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The FGD surfaced how women fisherfolks were adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and how the lockdown resulted to limited to no income for women, increased their unpaid work, and increased anxiety and food insecurity. The pandemic has greatly affected their livelihood — many were not allowed to fish and sell during lockdown, which led to acute food insecurity. While there are programs for women fisherfolks through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), substantial number of women fisherfolks have very limited knowledge of their rights and of the programs.

Gender division of labor persist in fishing communities, with women accorded stereotypical roles resulting in multiple burden especially during the pandemic. It was also observed that the label fisherfolk remained to be primarily associated with capture, contrary to MCW definition of fisherfolks, resulting in persisting invisibility and non-recognition. There is also very limited if not total absence of participation of women fisherfolks in fisherfolk organizations, often as substitute of husbands and not part of decision-making process.

During this pandemic, women’s non registration and non-recognition as fisherfolks affected their access to government support and programs. There is confusion as to what programs they can access and avail of, and of how they can access benefits independent of their husbands. The initial results also showed accounts of gender-based violence (GBV) even prior to the pandemic, and issues of cases of intimate partner’s violence. Concerns were also raised as to women fisherfolks’ lack of knowledge on available remedies and of the practice of mediation in barangay levels.

The recommendations that were gathered emphasized the need to ensure equal participation of women fisherfolks in fisherfolk organization and to have a separate women’s organization in fisherfolk communities. To address the acute insecurity brought by the pandemic, there is a need to strengthen women specific programs and enhance support to women fisherfolks like financial aid, livelihood including alternative livelihood, loans with minimal interest, fishing equipment.

Equally expedient is the need for enhanced protection mechanism for GBV and the establishment of sex disaggregated data of women fisherfolks including those most vulnerable: older women, indigenous women, and Moro women. Ensuring access to information, resources, and livelihood are also urgent aspects that can be addressed by concerned agencies.

On the part of CHR, we shall endeavor to ensure that the results of the FGD will be incorporated in key pending bills, which include the amendment of the BFAR law, the pending MCW in Informal Sectors, and the newly proposed SB 2100 proposing financial aid for fisherfolks. The Commission will also continue to conduct activities with women fisherfolks and collaborate with government agencies to ensure protection of their rights and dignity. ###