CERD is a non-governmental development organization established to address the needs of fisherfolks to effectively manage the marine and coastal resources on which they depend for livelihood.

Why “Gendered”?

Women are already vulnerable as a result of unequal gender relations, and this vulnerability is heightened by climate change. Therefore in doing climate vulnerability and needs assessments, it is important to identify where the women are and what is their situation. It must be able to point out how women and men’s lives and livelihoods are differently affected by climate change impacts and climate-related disasters.

However, women are not just victims of climate change; they are also capable of contributing to solutions. Thus, their voices should be heard and they should be involved in the decision making processes. Information about them as well as their insights and recommendations should be generated if we want climate change adaptation and risk reduction policies, plans and strategies to be gender sensitive and effectively address needs and concerns of women. For example, a regional study undertaken in four Pacific island countries by the South Pacific Disaster Risk Program in 2002 found that men and women in Fiji, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and Kiribati play distinct roles in preparing for disasters. In all four countries, women were more likely to be responsible for the practical preparation of households, including informing family members, storing food and water, and protecting family belongings, while men were found to be responsible for liaising with government administrators, preparing the outside of buildings,  making decisions about evacuation sites and timing, managing water sources, distributing emergency relief, and receiving and disseminating early warnings to the wider community. (SPDRP 2002)

1. I. Preface ( Brief History)

Way back in 2001, the governance project was implemented through the FIRMED program where the focus was the recovery and enhancement of the coastal and marine resources in the municipality of Mondragon. Part of the program strategies was the resource management, monitoring of resource status in the Municipality of Mondragon and provision of livelihood to the fisher folks in the locality (four barangays).

Through BDP-PRA (Barangay Development Planning - Participatory Rural Appraisal) and REA (Resource Ecological Assessment), primary problems and concerns of the fisherfolk were identified. The organized fisherfolk also realized they need sources of income while patrolling the seas. With the help of Helvetas, a partner donor of CERD, funds were loaned to the fisherfolk for their livelihood projects. The local government of Mondragon also provided counterpart funds. The first socio-economic livelihood projects implemented was the credit system, payao (fish aggregating device), piggery, fishing gear dispersal, sari-sari stores, etc. However until the governance project ended in 2004 payment of loans by the fisherfolk was very irregular.

Mid month of 2002-2005, the SCLF (Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund) granted fund support for FIRMED program. The program focused on resource management and linkage with LGU and partner organizations. This time the focus was more on capacity building of fisherfolk organizations rather than livelihood development.

In spite of this, the program continued its effort in identifying possible livelihood alternative and technology that are not risky and expensive for Mondragon. This was done so that the fisherfolk can cope with lost income during amihan period.

During the last year-cycle I of the program implementation with SCLF, the program came up with a plan to test the water salinity of  the shore in front of Barangay Dona Lucia. Based on the result, the water is high on salinity. The program team presented the result to the fisherfolk organization and it was decided that piloting and demonstration of solar salt project through co-management scheme by the organization and CERD would be undertaken.

This was the time that the Organization particularly the Barangay Donya Lucia Fisher folks Association ( BDLFA),a fisher folks organization organized by the program and registered under DOLE Registration # RO800-03-08-RWA-698,  committed to take the responsibility in piloting and co-managed demo project of solar salt in the area.