Impact Assessment of Seaweeds Culture of the Inter-island Seaweeds Association in Cawayan-placer, Masbate

Abstract

Part of the FishCORAL project is the roll out of the livelihood projects which would respond to the objective of reducing poverty incidence of fishing communities. One of these livelihood projects was inter-island seaweeds culture of Cawayan and Placer in Masbate. Descriptive research design and purposive sampling were used in the study. Structured survey-questionnaire was utilized and employed interview and focus group discussion as means of collecting information from the target respondents. Data revealed that the majority of the respondents’ dwell in a single house with five members and have a monthly income of P10,252.00 which is not enough to finance household expenditures due to a large number of dependents. They don’t have possession of the lot where their houses are situated. Many are challenged for sources of safe and affordable drinking water. Women empowerment in the area is fair, although disempowerment is high at 51%.  Seaweeds project in inter-island barangays does not have significant impacts on the lives of the beneficiaries because poverty incidence is higher than the set poverty threshold. Its effectiveness and efficiency could not be fully assessed although there are glaring pieces of evidence of the major challenges along with these criteria. Putting suitable intervention on the target coastal communities with close coordination on concerned agencies and proper monitoring of the project should be considered by the implementing agency to address the findings in this study. Insurance coverage is  recommended to alleviate impacts to the livelihood during inclement weather conditions. Capability development of livelihood beneficiary association along with financial literacy, basic business management, and record keeping shall be carried out.