GENDER PARTICIPATION AND ACCESS TO FISHERY VALUE CHAINS IN PARTIDO AREA, PHILIPPINES
Keywords:
gender participation, fishery value chains, women in fisheries, household decision-making, resource access, Partido Area, PhilippinesAbstract
The fisheries sector is central to the livelihoods, food security, and economic development of coastal communities, yet gender dynamics within fishery value chains remain inadequately documented. This study examined gender-specific participation, economic contributions, decision-making roles, and barriers to resource access within fishery value chains in the Partido Area, Camarines Sur, Philippines. Using a cross-sectional survey design, the study gathered data from 210 respondents (107 female, 103 male) engaged in fishing, processing, and vending across thirteen coastal barangays. Researchers selected respondents through convenience sampling, and they completed a structured questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, economic participation, household decision-making, resource access, and perceived challenges. Descriptive statistics analyzed participation patterns, income distribution, and gender-differentiated experiences. Results revealed a nearly balanced gender distribution (51% female, 49% male) and a predominance of joint household decision-making (51% at the individual level), alongside widespread economic vulnerability, with 77% of households earning less than PHP 10,000 monthly. Selling (52%) was the most common economic activity, followed by catching (43%) and processing (7%), suggesting substantial participation in post-harvest, value-adding roles. While fishing equipment was the most accessible resource (54%), access to training (3%) and financial services (15%) was markedly limited. Notably, 87% of respondents did not perceive gender as a barrier to resource access, even though structural patterns in the data suggest otherwise. These findings indicate that interventions in the Partido Area should prioritize addressing systemic resource constraints — particularly access to credit, training, and markets — while continuing to monitor for normalized gender inequities. The study contributes empirical evidence to inform gender-responsive fisheries policies and community-based development strategies in the Philippines.
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