Opol, Misamis Oriental Focus Group Discussio on Gender Based Violence Referral Mechanism October 28, 2020 providers in the city in cases of gender-based violence and particularly GBV cases affecting women fisherfolks: - ▪ Get their perspective on the situation of women fisherfolks within the City of El Salvador; Share Policies and Programs of the City LGU that responds to the needs of the women fisherfolks; Give a glimpse on hoe COVID-19 affected the implementation of the City’s Programs and/ or Projects with specific focus on those that includes the women fisherfolks ;and, Give recommendations to empower the sector, specifically to address invisibility, undervaluation, and underrepresentation of women fisherfolks as well as measures to enhance agency response to the women fisherfolk sector. On Policies and Programs on Gender Equality of the City of El Salvador The Fishing Industry and the Fisherfolks in El Salvador City Mr. Nolly Adrian Gabale, the City Agriculture Officer gave a general situation of the fishing industry in the city. According to him since El Salvador is a city situated along the coastal areas of Misamis Oriental, the City LGU headed by the Mayor Edgar S. Lignes have prioritized the protection and promotion of this industry. Ordinances are in effect banning shell gathering and illegal fishing to protect the marine sanctuary ecosystem and there are programs to support the fisherfolks such as the provision of necessary and appropriate fishing gears, the establishment of the marine sanctuary as well as the construction of designated market areas for selling marine products. Annually they have allocated P250,000.00 for procurement of fishing gears distributed to the fisherfolk, through the Fisherfolks Associations in different fishing villages in the city, to ensure that they will not use prohibited fishing materials such as small eyed fishing nets. These associations also undergo series of information, education and campaign activities to further enhance the skills and knowledge of the fisherfolks and help boost the industry conducted by the City Agriculture Office with assistance from the Bureau of Fisheries. Members of these Fisherfolks Associations includes women and men. Illegal fishing and use of illegal fishing gears are the primary and recurring challenges that the City Government is still facing that is why the Bantay Dagat was organized to lead in ensuring that no illegal fishing activities will happen within the city/municipal waters of El Salvador. There are 30 Members of the Bantay Dagat as of this moment who receives 4,500 honoraria for a 10 days per month shift, all of them are men. Page 7 of 13