The Impact of Urbanization on Fishing Communities in the Philippines

Abstract

The Philippines has an urbanization level of 51.2 percent, but its geographic realities make communities dependent on natural resource for sustenance and livelihood. Given the climate risk and sectoral vulnerabilities, urbanization ushers in compounding impacts across spatial and temporal scales however, distinct consequences between periurban and island fishing communities have been rarely examined. The former has been noted to have higher population, area, density, and urbanization level while the latter exhibited higher means for boat ownership, landing facilities and bulungan. Common for both are male dominance in the sector; elementary as highest educational attainment; and an aging fisher population. Multiple linear regression analysis identifies educational level and age as best estimators for production volume and value with varying correlation results. An increase in the two variables infers improvement in human and social capital for island areas, and industry exit due to pull migration for periurban ones. Given these observations, a systemic reinforcement of capacities may be adequate for island communities whereas livelihood diversification has a better fit for periurban. The study is intended to help shape interventions for fishing communities as they encounter the urbanization process.