Assessing the Effectiveness of Agriculture Intervention Programs on the Socio-Economic Status of Fisherfolk in Bauko, Mountain Province

Authors

  • Joveliza Galsi College of Graduate Studies, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University- Mid La Union Campus, City of San Fernando, La Union, Philippines
  • Cindy Ballo College of Graduate Studies, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University- Mid La Union Campus, City of San Fernando, La Union, Philippines
  • Sarni Pilala College of Graduate Studies, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University- Mid La Union Campus, City of San Fernando, La Union, Philippines
  • Agustino Amancio College of Graduate Studies, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University- Mid La Union Campus, City of San Fernando, La Union, Philippines
  • Oscar Ancheta Jr College of Graduate Studies, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University- Mid La Union Campus, City of San Fernando, La Union, Philippines

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61424/ijans.v4i1.748

Keywords:

Fisherfolk, effectiveness, socio-economic status, agricultural programs, agencies, explanatory sequential, ISDA, PVO, tilapia, fish farming

Abstract

This research explored the effectiveness of Agriculture Intervention Programs from different government agencies to interested residents of Bauko, Mt. Province. This study employed an Explanatory Sequential Mixed-method to determine the perceived effectiveness of the agricultural intervention programs to 230 fisherfolk. Such respondents were filtered by stratified sampling from 539 constituents from the 18 barangays of the municipality of Bauko, Mt. Province. Data was collected through a survey instrument, then analyzed for frequency, percentage, and mode. Then, ten respondents were selected by criterion sampling for further data gathering through interviews. After which, the data collected was subjected to thematic analysis. From the interviews conducted, it was found that the perceived impact of the intervention programs on the socio-economic status of the fisherfolk is positive, as shared by the respondents. It provided them additional income, served as an extra source of food, and fostered better social interactions within their community. The findings highlight the need for the Integrated and Sustainable Development for Aquaculture and other agencies to expand their assistance beyond fingerling distribution to sustain fisherfolk productivity and thereby stabilizing socio-economic status.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Aguinaldo, R. T., et al. (2023). Potential participation of fisherfolks in tourism activities in [Philippine coastal sites]: implications for livelihood diversification. Philippine Journal of Science. Philippine Journal of Science

Akbari, M., Eslami, H., & Nasiri, A. (2023). Institutional support and sustainable aquaculture development: The role of governance and technical capacity in local fisheries management. Journal of Environmental Management, 345, 118679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118679

Allison, E., Hellebrandt, D., & Roscher, M. B. (2022). Sustainable development outcomes of livelihood diversification in small-scale fisheries. Fish and Fisheries. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12662. Wiley Online Library

Baco, C. R. (2025). Challenges of small-scale fisherfolks in accessing technical support in San Sebastian, Samar. International Journal of Social Science and Human Research, 8(6), 3326-3333.

Balisco, R. M., Garcia, E. D., & Ocampo, J. P. (2023). Community-based aquaculture and social capital formation among fisherfolk in the Philippines. Philippine Journal of Social Development, 15(2), 55–72.

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. (2020). Philippine Fisheries Profile 2020. Department of Agriculture. https://www.bfar.da.gov.ph

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. (2023). Modern and Resilient Livelihood Investment (MARLIN) – FishCore. https://fishcore.bfar.da.gov.ph/index.php/marlin/

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. (2024, October 1). DA-BFAR launches five-year plan to advance PH aquaculture industry. https://www.bfar.da.gov.ph/2024/10/01/da-bfar-launches-five-year-plan-to-advance-ph-aquaculture-industry/

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. (2025). Fisheries Statistics. https://www.bfar.da.gov.ph/media-resources/publications/fisheries-statistics/

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 10. (2023). Food Production and Livelihood. https://r10.bfar.da.gov.ph/food-production-and-livelihood/

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). Thematic analysis: A practical guide. SAGE Publications.

Briones, R. M., Galang, I. J., & Israel, D. C. (2017). Fisheries sector: Background and issues (Discussion Paper Series No. 2017-48). Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidsdps1748.pdf

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – Cordillera Administrative Region. (2025). Annual report: Post-harvest and value-adding training for aquaculture communities. Department of Agriculture.

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2022). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Degorio, J. P., Estandarte, F. R., & Sienes, B. (2023). Fisherfolk at the crossroads: A socio-economic analysis of small-scale coastal communities. Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 1(2), 22-31.

Department of Agriculture. (2020). The Provincial Agricultural and Fisheries Extension System (PAFES): Bringing government services closer to farmers and fisherfolk. Department of Agriculture Official Portal. https://www.da.gov.ph

Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD). (2025). Annual accomplishment report. Department of Agriculture.

Department of Agriculture - Special Area for Agricultural Development. (2025). SAAD at a glance: Goals

Dey, M. M., Bueno, P., & Little, D. C. (2021). National Aquaculture Development and Management Plan (ADMP) 2025–2030: Enhancing sustainable aquaculture for food security in the Philippines. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Dey, M. M., et al. (2021). Aquaculture development in Asia: Constraints, challenges and opportunities in an increasingly uncertain world. Reviews in Aquaculture, 13(2), 1109–1132.

Enema, E. R., Ponce, D. C., & Santos, F. L. (2024). Livelihood diversification through aquaculture: Economic resilience among small-scale fishers in Southeast Asia. Aquaculture Reports, 30, 101739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2024.101739

FAO. (2023). The impact of disasters on agriculture and food security 2023. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2020). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020: Sustainability in action. FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/ca9229en

Impact Assessment of the Capture Fisheries Development. (2025). International Journal of Finance, Management and Research (IJFMR). (2025). [Report noting education distribution—majority high-school level, low college degree share]. IJFMR

Israel, D. C. (2019). Review of literature on fisheries poverty in the Philippines. Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph

Joyce, D. (2022). An analysis of livelihood projects and programs for fishing communities in the Philippines. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316115384

Local Government of the Republic of the Philippines. (1991). Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160). Manila, Philippines: Author.

Macusi, E. D., Nallos, I. M., Saceda, M. M., & Santos, M. D. (2021). Perceived vulnerability and climate change impacts on small-scale fisheries in Davao Gulf, Philippines. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 597385.

Macusi, E. D., Deocampo, J. F., Jontila, J. B. F., Requieron, E. A., & Suyo, J. G. C. (2025). The potential impacts of climate change on freshwater fish, fish culture and fishing communities. AACL Bioflux, 8(3), 444–454. (Note: The core findings and context of this paper remain relevant and are frequently cited in post-2020 literature on climate impacts in the Philippines.)

Manila Standard. (2024, April 5). Poverty incidence remains high among fisherfolk, PSA reports. Manila Standard. https://manilastandard.net

Manila Standard. (2024, May 3). IPs, fisherfolks among poorest sectors in 2023. Manila Standard. https://manilastandard.net/business/314575150/ips-fisher-folks-among-poorest-sectors-in-2023.html

Manlosa, A. O., Schlüter, A., & Hinkel, J. (2023). Social capital and collective action in small-scale aquaculture: Insights from fish farmers’ associations in the Philippines. World Development, 162, 106073. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2023.106073

Marfil, H. E., Dabalos, C. P., & Ramos, R. B. (2025). Assessment of the challenges encountered by aquaculture business in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. International Journal of Environmental & Rural Development, 15(1), 1–10.

Mula, P. R., Torres, L. G., & Dizon, M. C. (2024). Assessing the impacts of agricultural and fishery livelihood programs on rural household income and productivity under the SAAD initiative. Philippine Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development, 34(1), 22–38.

Muallil, R. N., Nabas, B., & Aliño, P. M. (2021). Small-scale fisheries in the Philippines: Current trends and challenges for sustainability. In E. M. L. F. P. A. B. C. C. M. L. P. B. P. N. K. J. P. E. O. K. V. P. M. A. W. (Ed.), Current status and sustainability of small-scale fisheries in Southeast Asia (pp. 59–85). Springer.

Muallil, R. N., Cababaro, J. T., & Aliño, P. M. (2021). Livelihood strategies and income stability among small-scale fishing and farming households in coastal Philippines. Ocean & Coastal Management, 210, 105699. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2021.105699

Mills, D. J., Tilley, A., Pereira, M., Hellebrandt, D., Pant, J., & Teoh, S. J. (2024). The role of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture in sustainable food systems. WorldFish. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12348/5552

Palinkas, L. A., & Soydan, H. (2020). The explanatory sequential mixed methods design in health and social work research. Qualitative Social Work, 19(3), 444–454. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325019888916

Pascual-Fernández, J. J., Vilar, J. A., Laria, A. L., & Antelo, M. T. (2021). Socioeconomic characteristics of the Spanish marine fishing fleet: A stratified sampling approach. Marine Policy, 126, 104445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104445

Parrao, C. J., Nguyen, L. H., & Dizon, R. T. (2021). Aquaculture interventions and rural development: Effects on income, nutrition, and empowerment in coastal communities. Aquaculture Economics & Management, 25(3), 231–249. https://doi.org/10.1080/13657305.2021.1884127

Philippine News Agency. (2023, July 10). Poverty incidence among fisherfolk still among the highest. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1247183

Philippine News Agency. (2023, June 12). PSA: Fisherfolk among poorest sectors in 2023. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph

Philippine Statistics Authority. (2023, August 15). Poverty statistics among the basic sectors, 2023. PSA. https://psa.gov.ph

Philippine Statistics Authority. (2022). 2022 Cordillera Fisheries Situationer.

Philippine Statistics Authority. (2021). Municipal fisheries production, first quarter 2021. PSA. https://psa.gov.ph

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). (2021). Municipal fishery production: Top species report, early 2021. Quezon City, Philippines: PSA.

Philippine Statistics Authority. (2022). Comprehensive Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Program (CPAFEP): Mountain Province. PSA. https://psa.gov.ph

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). (2022). 2022 Census of Agriculture and Fisheries Capture Fishing Operation. Retrieved from https://psa.gov.ph.

Philippine Statistics Authority. (2023a). Poverty incidence among basic sectors. PSA. https://psa.gov.ph

Philippine Statistics Authority. (2023b, June 12). Fisherfolk remain among the poorest sectors in 2023. GMA News Online. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). (2022). 2022 Census of Agriculture and Fisheries Capture Fishing Operation. Retrieved from https://psa.gov.ph/content/2022-census-agriculture-and-fisheries-capture-fishing-operation

Pomeroy, R. S., Ratner, B. D., Hall, S. J., Pimoljinda, J., & Vivekanandan, V. (2012). Coping with disaster: Rehabilitating coastal livelihoods and communities. Marine Policy, 36(2), 389–396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2011.07.002

Pomeroy, R. S., et al. (2012). Assessing the effectiveness of fisheries co-management programs in the Philippines. Marine Policy, 36(5), 1018-1025.

Pramanik, S. K. (1993). Fisheries and fisherfolk: Socioeconomic dimensions. Mittal Publications.

Pramanik, S. K. (1993). Fishermen community of coastal villages in West Bengal: Fishermen community of Hara and Sultan village in 24-Parganas district of West Bengal. Rawat Publications

Republic Act No. 10601. (2013). Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization (AFMech) Law of 2013. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph

Salayo, N. D., Castel, R. J. G., Montinola, Q. S., Diamante, R. A., & Kodama, M. (2022). Evaluation of community-based livelihood development initiatives: The sustainable livelihood approach. In A. J. G. Ferrer (Ed.), Proceedings of Joint International Conference of the Sixth International Conference on Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (ICFAS 6) and Asian Fisheries Social Science Research Network Forum One (AFSSRN F1), 24–26 November 2021, via Zoom, Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines (pp. 473–480). University of the Philippines Visayas.

Salkind, N. J. (2020). Statistics for people who (think they) hate statistics (7th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions. (2024, February 29). Big impacts of small-scale fisheries. Stanford University. https://sustainability.stanford.edu/news/big-impacts-small-scale-fisheries

Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions. (2024). Small-scale fisheries: At the heart of ocean sustainability. Stanford University. https://oceansolutions.stanford.edu

Tolentino, L. L., Lando, L. A. D., Garces, L. R., Perez, M. L., Binondo, C. B., & Apgar, J. M. (2015). Addressing small-scale fisheries management through participatory action research (PAR): An experience from the Philippines. International Journal of Agriculture System, 3(1), 103–120. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278469178

Valcobero, R. (2020, September 12). BFAR distributes tilapia fingerlings to support rice-fish farming in Mountain Province. Philippine Information Agency. https://pia.gov.ph

Valcobero, A. (2023). Evaluation of fingerling distribution and aquaculture support in Bauko and nearby municipalities.

Valcobero, R. (2023, April 8). Tilapia culture in tanks and ponds boosted in Bauko through BFAR–SAAD. Philippine Information Agency. https://pia.gov.ph

Valcobero, A. (2020). Tilapia fingerling distribution for rice–fish, pond, and tank culture: Implementation in Bauko and neighboring towns.

White, S. B. (2024). Assessing diversification behavior of small-scale commercial fishers. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 81(3), 480–490. OUP Academic

WorldFish. (2024). The importance of small-scale fisheries in achieving SDGs. WorldFish. https://worldfishcenter.org

WorldFish. (2024, April 15). Small-scale fisheries: Big importance, bigger challenges. WorldFish. https://worldfishcenter.org

Downloads

Published

2026-03-17

How to Cite

Galsi, J., Ballo, C., Pilala, S., Amancio, A., & Ancheta Jr, O. (2026). Assessing the Effectiveness of Agriculture Intervention Programs on the Socio-Economic Status of Fisherfolk in Bauko, Mountain Province. International Journal of Applied and Natural Sciences, 4(1), 90–102. https://doi.org/10.61424/ijans.v4i1.748