As part of the Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FISHCORE) project, the Department of Agriculture – National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI) conducted a Climate Risk Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) in Batangas on June 3-5, 2025, evaluating the climate resilience of nine key fisheries commodities in the province.

The assessment, held through a focus group discussion (FGD), brought together local government representatives from Nasugbu and Lian, along with fisherfolk and aquaculture stakeholders.

Fisheries assessed included aquaculture species (bangus and mangrove crab), and capture species (lapu-lapu, talakitok, big-eyed scad, mackerel scad, oyster, seaweed, and tulingan).

Municipal officials from the Agriculture, Disaster Risk Reduction, Environment, and Planning and Development offices participated in the three-day session, contributing local knowledge and data to strengthen community-based adaptation planning.

Dr. Mudjekeewis Santos, CRVA project leader and Scientist V at DA-NFRDI, emphasized the urgency of understanding climate-related risks and the necessity for proactive adaptation strategies in fisheries management. Meanwhile, CRVA project team members, Vanessa Mae Escaño and Emmanuel Sanchez, guided participants through the tool’s framework and methodology for data gathering and analysis, emphasizing science-based planning and stakeholder participation.

Fisherfolk leader Zeny Condada of Lian expressed appreciation, “Maraming salamat po sa NFRDI. Andami ko pong natutunan dito sa activity at kami pong mga mangingisda ay patuloy na susuporta sa project.”

The CRVA is a subcomponent of the FISHCORE project, which aims to build resilient and adaptive fisheries and coastal communities in the face of climate change. ### (Vanessa Mae Escaño)