(RA 9710), enacted in 2009, reiterates the protection of women and girls from all forms violence.
It also identified women fisherfolks as among the marginalized sectors. Under said law, women
fisherfolks are defined as women who are:
“directly or indirectly engaged in taking, culturing, or processing
fishery or aquatic resources. These include, but are not limited to
women engaged in fishing in municipal water, coastal and marine
areas, women workers in commercial fishing and aquaculture,
vendors and processors of fish and coastal products, and subsistence
producers such as shell-gatherers, managers, and producers of
mangrove resources, and other related produce.”.
As a Gender Ombud, they are mandated
to monitor compliance with the government in
terms of its obligations to women, especially to
those who are victims of violence. Then
Investigator Belen gave their office address as
well as their telephone numbers as the women
fisherfolks
were
Investigator
very
Belen
eager
to
informed
know.
all
the
participants, that the conduct of the proceedings
will
be
distributed
recorded.
to
all
Consent
the
forms
were
fisherfolks.
The
information reflected on the consent forms were
discussed thoroughly by Investigator Belen.
As mentioned by Investigator Belen to quote, “please do not turn the pages first. We will
answer all the necessary questions together. This consent form is in „Tagalog Language.‟ It is easy
to decipher the information. The CHR will only ask data according to the guidelines from the
central office. There are needs which the government cannot provide. If the central office can
7