EVALUATION

FGD data showed that 3.6 to 17 percent of the participants perceived an increase in fish catch
for VIP, DR and SN MKBAs (see Annex VI for detailed FGD results). This perceived positive
change in fish catch could be attributed to the increasing level of community awareness on the
policies implemented by LGUs, and the decreasing use of destructive methods and gears as
expressed by 48.3 to 67.9 percent and 39.1 to 82.1 percent, respectively, of the participants.
Some discrepancies were observed in reported fish catch rates, and the presence and absence
of monitored fishing gears (e.g. DR MKBA). These discrepancies could have originated from the
differences in the date/season between the conduct of baseline assessment and the subsequent
monitoring event. Interview with the ECOFISH Project team confirmed that the monitoring
event for Year 3 was done in advance to ensure that the MPE could be provided with
information. With known seasonality of fishing gears used in the country, such differences in
monitoring dates could lead to measurement bias. Thus, the MPE team strongly suggests for
scheduling of final monitoring (Year 5 in 2017) to coincide with the 2013 data collection to
allow comparison of data sets.
Key Result B: A 10% increase in the number of people gaining employment or better
employment from sustainable fisheries management from a baseline established at the
start of the project. The project collected data for eight MKBAs from the survey of 5,000
households conducted in 2013 and 2015, but only data for CIG and SN MKBAs were made
available to the MPE team for this Key Result. Data for other MKBAs at midterm have yet to be
analyzed by the project to be ready for comparison with baseline data. Budget and time
constraints, however, prevented the team to conduct an independent household survey. To
assess the achievement on this Key Result, the team reviewed data for proxy indicators being
monitored by the project to measure the improvement in employment of fishing households in
CIG and SN MKBAs and FGD results to find out participants’ views on how their lives have
changed with the project interventions.
FGD results revealed that participants have varying degrees of perception when asked on
whether their economic status/quality of life have changed with the project interventions
(Table 5). About 48, 36, 13 and 3 percent of participants in DR, SN, VISP and CIG MKBAs,
respectively, reported positive change in economic status/quality of life (Annex VI), which
could be attributed to the improved law enforcement and partnership building for the
development of enterprises or alternative livelihoods. For them, “better quality of life” meant
being able to send children to school, and provide for daily needs of family members. Some also
mentioned the ability to buy basic home appliances, such as, electric fan, radio and/or
television. However, the project reported that enterprise development has just begun, mainly in
social and capacity building for people’s organizations (POs) identified to operate the
enterprises (e.g., fiberglass boat making).
Two types of partnerships were established by the project to create employment and support
livelihood, such as: (1) three (3) national and four (4) MKBA-specific strategic partnerships, and
(2) 82 community partnerships. Examples of these partnerships are: (i) Cash for Work (i.e.,
coastal clean-up and waste management) program with the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) in VIP MKBA, generating employment for 1,511 affected fish workers in
four municipalities (i.e., Balayan, Calaca, Calatagan and Lemery) for 21 days of closed season of
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