Revista de Gestão Costeira Integrada
Volume 25, Issue 1, June 2025, Pages 57-69
DOI: 10.5894/rgci-n655
*
Submission: 6 MAY 2025; Peer review: 13 JUN 2025; Revised: 20 OCT 2025; Accepted: 20 OCT
2025; Available on-line: 29 OCT 2025
Sustainable Livelihoods and Coastal Resilience: Lessons from Fisherfolk Communities in
Dumaran and Araceli
Leo N. Plasus 1 , Jupeth T. Pentang 2 , Maria Cristina C. Rosero
3 , Elleonor P. Abatay 4 , Mary Divina A. Nicolas 5 ,
Vincent F. Gacer 3 , Maria Mojena G. Plasus 6 @
@ Corresponding author: mojenagonzales@yahoo.com
1 Native Catfish Breeding Project, Western Philippines University-Puerto
Princesa Campus, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines. ORCID
0009-0000-9758-680X
2 Faculty, College of Education, Central Luzon State University, Nueva
Ecija, Philippines. ORCID 0000-0001-7264-0320.
3 HATCH-TBI Project., Western Philippines University-Puerto Princesa Campus,
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines. VF Gacer: ORCID 0000-0001-7264-0320
4 WPU-ATBI, Western Philippines University-Puerto Princesa Campus, Puerto
Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines.
5 Graduate School, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo,
Japan.
6 Faculty, College of Fisheries and Natural Sciences, Western Philippines
University-Puerto Princesa Campus, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines. ORCID
0000-0003-4556-4056.
ABSTRACT
Alternative livelihood programs have been promoted to reduce fishing pressure and improve
coastal community resilience. In Palawan, Philippines, fisherfolk from Dumaran and Araceli
participated in training programs supported by WPU-ATBI and PBCAI, covering aquaculture,
processing, and enterprise management. This study assessed training outcomes using a survey
adapted from USAID and analyzed responses with descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results showed that men and lower-income households (≤ ₱10,000) perceived training as more
effective, while no significant differences were observed by household size, education, or
policy participation. Women represented a majority (53.70%), reflecting their cultural
assignment to post-harvest and marketing roles, as well as their growing participation in
fisheries value chains.
Program outcomes revealed mixed results: 63.89% of participants continued their projects,
yet nearly half of initiatives faced discontinuation due to financial and management
challenges. Aquaculture and processing were the most frequently adopted livelihoods, showing
alignment with local skills and resources. Financial literacy and business management
training helped some participants sustain enterprises, but limited time, market access, and
contextual gaps constrained broader success. Income improvements were reported by 70.67% of
households, though gains in housing and education were modest.
The findings underscore that one-time training is insufficient; sustained support, access to
finance, and stronger market linkages are crucial. Tailoring training to local contexts,
fostering collective organization, and building long-term support systems can enhance the
sustainability of alternative livelihoods. By addressing financial and operational barriers
while leveraging women’s active roles, livelihood programs can strengthen both household
resilience and resource sustainability in coastal communities.
Keywords: Alternative Livelihoods, Fisherfolk, Training Effectiveness, Sustainable
Development, Welch’s ANOVA.
RESUMO
Os programas de meios de subsistência alternativos têm sido promovidos com o objetivo de
reduzir a pressão sobre a pesca e reforçar a resiliência das comunidades costeiras. Em
Palawan, nas Filipinas, pescadores de Dumaran e Araceli participaram em ações de formação
apoiadas pela WPU-ATBI e pela PBCAI, abrangendo áreas como a aquacultura, o processamento e
a gestão de empresas. Este estudo avaliou os resultados das formações através de um
inquérito adaptado da USAID e analisou as respostas com recurso a estatísticas descritivas e
inferenciais. Os resultados mostraram que os homens e os agregados familiares de menor
rendimento (≤ ₱10 000) consideraram a formação mais eficaz, não se tendo verificado
diferenças significativas em função da dimensão do agregado, do nível de escolaridade ou da
participação em políticas públicas. As mulheres representaram a maioria (53,70%), refletindo
a sua tradicional associação às atividades pós-colheita e de comercialização, bem como a sua
crescente participação nas cadeias de valor das pescas.
Os resultados do programa revelaram um impacto misto: 63,89% dos participantes continuaram
com os seus projetos, embora quase metade das iniciativas tenham sido interrompidas devido a
dificuldades financeiras e de gestão. A aquacultura e o processamento foram as atividades
alternativas mais frequentemente adotadas, demonstrando coerência com as competências e
recursos locais. A formação em literacia financeira e gestão empresarial ajudou alguns
participantes a manter as suas iniciativas, mas o tempo limitado, o difícil acesso aos
mercados e as lacunas contextuais limitaram o sucesso mais amplo. Verificou-se uma melhoria
nos rendimentos em 70,67% dos agregados familiares, embora os progressos ao nível da
habitação e da educação tenham sido modestos. As conclusões sublinham que uma formação
pontual é insuficiente; são essenciais um apoio continuado, o acesso a financiamento e
ligações mais fortes aos mercados. A adaptação das formações aos contextos locais, a
promoção da organização coletiva e a criação de sistemas de apoio a longo prazo podem
reforçar a sustentabilidade dos meios de subsistência alternativos. Ao ultrapassar barreiras
financeiras e operacionais e ao valorizar o papel ativo das mulheres, estes programas podem
fortalecer simultaneamente a resiliência das famílias e a sustentabilidade dos recursos nas
comunidades costeiras.
Palavras-chave: Meios de Subsistência Alternativos, Pescadores, Eficácia da
Formação, Desenvolvimento Sustentável, ANOVA de Welch.
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