Rural women in fisheries can be supported through monitoring of commercial fishing and ensuring that aquatic areas where small fisherfolks fish are preserved and protected against aggressive fishing and industrial pollution. In general, it is important to empower rural women by providing them livelihood opportunities and building their capacities through education, information and technology. 3. Conduct and institutionalize data collection focused on the situation and specific needs of rural women. Understanding the situation and specific needs of rural women can help aid policy makers create or reform laws and policies that can help address such needs and protect their rights. Currently, there is lack of data on rural women in the population statistics. This is the same in the labor force statistics where many of them work without any wage and an employment contract. It is recommended that the Philippine Statistics Office include rural women in their regular data collection and to institutionalize this process. Other commissioned studies can also be conducted and academic papers encouraged to better understand rural women’s situation in various geographical locations and industries. Their different cultural and religious background should also be looked at as they also have different customs and beliefs. All of these and other demographic data can be used by policy makers and program planners in developing policies and programs that can address specific needs of rural women, protect their rights and help attain a better quality of life for them. 4. Build awareness on rural women’s rights. The fact that only 27% of women in the Philippines are land title holders (NSO 2006) is proof that there is much to achieve in closing the gap of inequality in the rights enjoyed by men and women in the country. Rural women generally receive less amount of pay for the same hard work as with men. Many times, they help in the farms and rice fields without wage or compensation. Cultural norms largely account for this. Efforts to build an awareness of rural women’s rights should be planned and implemented. The local government should integrate rural women’s rights advocacy in their community projects. Community leaders can be tapped to build awareness on rural women’s rights within their own communities. Business owners and other parties transacting with rural women should also be targeted for advocating rural women’s rights. 5. Corporations and various enterprises should operate with conscious effort to respect rural women’s rights. Corporations and businesses should ensure that they provide proper compensation and good working conditions for rural women. They should adopt business practices that protect the health of rural women, their families and their community. During the forum, the participants recommended as an example that aerial spraying of pesticides in plantations and general use of harmful chemicals be stopped. They also suggested that businesses implement proper waste disposal as good health and environmental practice. Businesses should also monitor their employees’ treatment of rural women ensuring that they are not abused, maltreated or exploited. An equal opportunity for rural women to be promoted and take managerial positions should also be provided. 13