Fisherfolk Participation and Local Fisheries Co-Management: Institutional Development and Governance Challenges of MFARMCs in Romblon, Philippines

Luisito Mordido Manes

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i05.87262

Fisherfolk Participation and Local Fisheries Co-Management: Institutional Development and Governance Challenges of MFARMCs in Romblon, Philippines

Author(s)	Dr. Luisito Mordido Manes
Country	Philippines
Abstract	Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (MFARMCs) are intended to institutionalize fisherfolk participation in local fisheries governance in the Philippines. This study assessed the socio-demographic profile, perceived socio-economic contributions, institutional development, participation, sustainability, and implementation challenges of MFARMCs across all 17 coastal municipalities of Romblon Province. An explanatory sequential mixed-method design combined a survey of 170 FARMC officers and members (10 per municipality) with interviews and focus-group discussions. A researcher-developed instrument covered organization, 15 mandated performance activities, and sustainability using a five-point participation scale; expert validation yielded a mean rating of 4.60 and pilot testing produced a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.81. Most respondents were male (71.76%), married (64.71%), had reached tertiary education (51.18%), and depended primarily on fishing (79.41%). Institutional development varied markedly: Looc attained Level 5, Romblon Level 4, Ferrol and San Andres Level 2, while the remaining 13 municipalities were Level 1. Participation was strongest in Looc, Odiongan, and Romblon and weakest in several less-developed councils. Qualitative accounts associated FARMC activity with fisherfolk voice in ordinance formulation, organized coastal protection, fish sanctuaries, mangrove activities, and, in Looc, ecotourism-derived benefits. Persistent constraints included inadequate financial and technical support, uneven member knowledge, political intervention, illegal fishing, and mangrove degradation. The findings indicate that formal organization alone does not ensure effective co-management; sustained local government support, distributed capacity building, financing, monitoring, and enforcement partnerships are critical to functional and durable fisherfolk participation.
Keywords	fisheries co-management; fisherfolk participation; MFARMC; local governance; small-scale fisheries; coastal resource management; Philippines
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 5, September-October 2026
Published On	2026-09-08
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i05.87262

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Fisherfolk Participation and Local Fisheries Co-Management: Institutional Development and Governance Challenges of MFARMCs in Romblon, Philippines

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