Impacts of a ‘Double Disaster’ on Small-Scale Grouper Farmers in the Bicol Region, Philippines

Abstract

The series of devastating typhoons during the COVID-19 pandemic was a remarkable event in the Philippines’ history of natural disasters. This case study documented the impacts of the two overlapping shock events on the livelihood of small-scale grouper farmers in the towns of Ragay and Del Gallego, Camarines Sur, Philippines, while reflecting on their coping strategies and social support. The findings revealed that the typhoons induced additional pressure on the well-being of the farmers while they were still dealing with the negative impacts of the pandemic. The contributing aspects to their livelihood vulnerability were attributed to their limited adaptive capacity to withstand various shocks and the susceptibility of their farm sites to repeated natural hazards. The study also identified different coping strategies the farmers undertook, including the roles of social support, in dealing with the impacts of these shocks. Establishing anticipatory action protocols is necessary to manage the long-term impact of repeated shocks to strengthen their livelihood and household resilience.

Livelihood assets and poverty among fishing households in Bicol Region, Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Fisherfolks, in particular, are notoriously marginalized in national statistics (PSA 2020b). Despite being recognized as the frontline in food security (DA Communication Group 2020), many fishing households live in poverty (Labayo and Preña 2021;Palanca-Tan and Bongat-Bayog 2021) and lack productive assets (WorldFish Center 2007), making them vulnerable to extreme shocks and stressors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, recurrent typhoons, and the recent recession (Preña and Labayo 2022). Needless to say, they lack the capital and resources to cope with these sudden shocks since they are often reliant on fisheries resources for food and income.…”

“…Fishing households can initially be above the poverty line. However, because of their vulnerable condition, they face the risk of instantly falling below the poverty threshold when shocks arise (Preña and Labayo 2022). The outbreak of COVID-19 has upended efforts to reduce poverty worldwide.…”

“…In the Philippines, fisherfolks lament limited financial assistance and logistical constraints. According to the personal experiences shared by fisherfolks, the quarantine measures prevented them from going out and fishing which compromised their livelihoods and income (Preña and Labayo 2022).…”