A series of focus group discussions (FGDs) and cost-benefit analysis (CBA) surveys were conducted by the Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) Team of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute in Magsingal, and in Currimao and Pasuquin on March 3–6 and March 23–27, 2026.

“Through the CRVA, we aim to generate science-based data and insights that will guide our interventions, helping our fisherfolk adapt, build resilience, and secure their future in the face of a changing climate,” said Maria Theresa Mutia in her recorded opening remarks.

During the FGDs, participants identified and assessed key commodities for both aquaculture and capture fisheries across the three municipalities. For aquaculture, milkfish and tilapia consistently emerged as priority commodities. Other locally important species included rabbitfish (malaga) and whiteleg shrimp in Pasuquin, as well as rabbitfish, oyster, and whiteleg shrimp in Currimao.

For capture fisheries, tuna, scad, and rabbitfish were identified as common priority commodities across sites. Additional commodities were also highlighted: in Magsingal, participants noted needlefish (layalay), anchovies (monamon), and silver biddy (ikuran); in Pasuquin, dolphinfish (mahi-mahi) and clam (unnok); and in Currimao, dolphinfish (mahi-mahi) and threadfin bream (bisugo).

Following commodity identification, stakeholders engaged in discussions on sensitivity and adaptive capacity of fisheries resources, communities, and municipalities. These primary data were integrated with hazard information from local and international databases to help determine and rank fisheries vulnerabilities, supporting the identification of priority interventions for climate adaptation.

After the FGDs, CBA surveys were conducted through direct interviews with fisherfolk engaged in the identified key fisheries in coastal barangays. The CBA process will help assess the potential costs and benefits of proposed interventions, ensuring more efficient and evidence-based policy recommendations for fisheries development and resilience planning.

Vanessa Mae Escaño presented the CRVA framework and methodology, emphasizing its role in generating science-based measures to reduce fisherfolk vulnerability to climate change.

Emmanuel Sanchez and Rod Kyle Raro discussed data collection methods and underscored the importance of stakeholder participation in ensuring data quality and integrity. They also presented initial CRVA mapping outputs based on the collected data. Meanwhile, Janabless Tejada explained the CBA process and survey protocols used in the field implementation.

The FGDs brought together representatives from the Fisheries Management Area Coordinating Unit (FMA-CU), Provincial Fisheries Office (PFO), Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO), Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMC), and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), along with fisherfolk associations, aquaculture operators, and members of the academe.

The CRVA forms part of the Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FISHCORE) Project of the Department of Agriculture–National Fisheries Research and Development Institute. The initiative aims to strengthen climate resilience in the fisheries sector by identifying and prioritizing interventions for key fisheries commodities using multi-source data and stakeholder inputs. These interventions are further evaluated through cost-benefit analysis to ensure efficient, science-based strategies for vulnerable fisheries communities in Fisheries Management Areas (FMAs) 6 and 9. ### (Emmanuel Sanchez)

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