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 in fishing communities. One of these livelihood projects was the inter-island seaweed culture of Cawayan and Placer in Masbate. Descriptive research design and purposive sampling were used in the study. A structured survey questionnaire employed interviews and focus group discussions to collect information from the target respondents. Data revealed that most respondents live in a house with five members and have a monthly income of P10,252.00, which is not enough to finance household expenditures due to many 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 dis-empowerment is high at 51%. Seaweeds project in inter-island barangays does not significantly impact the lives of the beneficiaries because poverty 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 significant challenges along with these criteria. Putting suitable intervention on the target coastal communities with close coordination with concerned agencies and proper monitoring of the project should be considered by the implementing agency to address the findings in this study. Capability development of livelihood beneficiary association along with financial literacy, basic business management, and record-keeping shall be carried out.

Keywords: Impact Assessment, Inter-island Seaweeds, FishCORAL, Poverty, Women Empowerment