5.
Trafficking and Gender-Based Violence
Trafficking and Gender-based violence in the area are poor to nonexistent according to the
respondents. However, one of the respondents allegedly witness some “Bisaya women” akyat
barko while others say they heard some stories in their community but there are no proof and
evidence whether it is factual or it is just gossip. “There’s no one in ours”, that is the answer of an
interviewee when asked if she knows about the abuses among women in their community before
the pandemic. The rest of the respondents confirmed that they have not known or witness any form
of abuse against women because their community is peaceful.
When the respondents asked about the root causes of violence, two of the interviewees
answered that it is happening because the usual perpetrators are under the influence of illegal
drugs. One of them shared that maybe one of the reasons is “kapit sa patalim” just for them to
survive and be able to feed themselves. Two (2) of them said that maybe some were beaten
because of financial difficulties/constraints and who are struggling to find means of survival. The
rest of the respondents said that women are beaten by their husbands or partners because women
might have done something wrong. Also, the respondents opined that violence happens because
the people are struggling to find goods because of the constraints brought by the CoVid-19
pandemic.
When there are issues in the community, the respondents said that they consult their Tribal
Leader first to solve it. If the issue is not yet resolved, they call for help from their neighborhood
watchmen or policemen. There, both parties will be asked for the details. During the lockdown, the
community did not experience any form of violence but they heard stories of violence from their
neighboring community where one was shot while the other one was beaten up.
6.
General Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic
When the pandemic started, fishermen’s income was greatly affected. According to the
respondents, their husbands cannot go fishing often anymore because of the additional documents
they need to comply with to allow them to catch fish in the sea. They also cannot move freely; they
need to comply with the documents needed so they can sell at the market or peddle in their
neighborhood since the authorities are always observing. Their income is lesser now compared to
their income before because the number of customers decreased. They also expressed how hard
they are living now since the pandemic started because aside from doing the household chores,
they also think of other ways to help their husbands in earning money due to slumped sales of fish.
Most of the respondents said that assistance from the government is enough for some time
only. Although they only received once, they are still grateful that the government was able to help
them.
The respondents’ families overcame the problems caused by the pandemic by helping each
other by finding alternative ways to earn money. They also pray to God for their families’ safety and
health. Moreover, their community also helped them by lending them money or give them food so
they can have something to eat for the day. Their neighbors also let them borrow their boats and
fishing materials whenever they need it.
7.
Recommendations
According to the interviewees, if given a chance to ask the government to improve the
situation of fisherfolks, it would be giving poor fishermen boats and machines so they will be able to
own one and stop borrowing boats from others. They added that the government should safeguard