To assess usability and effectiveness in fishing communities of ISDApp – a community-based application that provides localized weather information – the Department of Agriculture-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI) conducted a focus group discussion (FGD) in Sariaya, Quezon.
With the assistance of the Sariaya Municipal Agriculture Office, 15 ISDApp-registered fishers were recruited to participate in the activity. The collected information from the undertaking will be used to identify improvements in the various aspects of the technology in response to the demand of the fisheries community. The results from the study will also be consolidated with the empirical data gathered during the FGD in Dingalan, Aurora held last year.
Launched in January 2020 in Sariaya, Quezon, ISDApp aims to communicate weather information to fisherfolk who do not have access to smartphones or internet connection. It was designed to improve fishermen’s understanding of the environment they work in by converting collected localized weather data into simplified weather forecasts. These information are sent to the registered mobile numbers of fisherfolk.
To date there are 300 fisherfolk-beneficiaries in Sariaya, Quezon and 140 fisherfolk-beneficiaries in Dingalan, Aurora (ICruz)
Norvida Gatdula, chief of NFRDI Education Section, delivers her message prior to FGD program proper. 
Ms. Nelia Oribe, chief of Sariaya MAO gives a word before the FGD proper. 
A fisher-beneficiary from Sariaya, Quezon shares his experience in using ISDApp. 
Fishers read and answer ISDApp questionnaires. 
Ira Cruz, ISDApp project staff, converses with Estela Atienza, BFAR extension officer to gather additional data regarding fishing communities in Sariaya. 
Participants of the focus group discussion.