After the activity, Atty. Estrella Baltazar, introduced the CHR’s mandate as Gender Ombud and discussed the importance of focusing on a marginalized sector like women fisherfolks. The participants were able to ask some questions and grasp relevant information. It was also presented that the CHR is an independent constitutional office created under the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines. It has the primary role in investigating all forms of human rights in our country. It was also emphasized that the commission has the authority for free legal assistance about crimes and violence that abuses people’s rights most specially the poor ones who cannot afford to pay legal advises. During the introduction of the CHR, participants actively share responses on their observations and experiences during the Pandemic. They were able to relate on example situations given by Atty. Baltazar. The next part of the activity is the Focus Group Discussion and Key Informant Interview on the Situation of Women Fisherfolks and Women and Girls at Risk of Gender-based Violence and Trafficking during COVID-19 Pandemic and New Normal. On the screen, questions were presented as followed in the Annex A Key Informant Interview Guide for Women Fisherfolks. The following are the data gathered from the interview. (Personal Interview. 11 September 2020) 1. Roles Naujan Lake is the nearest body of water in Victoria. Shrimp, Tilapia, Biya, Ayungin, Dalag (mudfish) and Hito (catfish) are the primary kinds of fish caught for selling and earning money for everyday finances. As a typical housewife in the fishing community the usual day for them (women fisherfolks) is to do house chores like cooking and cleaning the house and attending to the needs of their children especially the young ones. Mostly, male members of the family are the ones to do the fishing activities as a source of income and food resources. In their estimation, they earn around P 300 to P 500 daily. It was a good catch for them if they have earned P500 in a day. In a monthly basis, other All of them named themselves as women fisherfolks. They do activities related to fishing and their way of earning is through the fishing industry as well. For these reasons, they were identified by the community as people who earned through fishing. In the time of pandemic, many have said that nothing has change, they still need to earn money whether they like it or not to be able to have food and earn money. They continued their work as fisherfolks despite the pandemic but with proper coordination through the Barangay and Municipal office.

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