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TOWARDS SECURING FISHERFOLK SETTLEMENT LESSONS FROM ZAMBALES

TOWARDS SECURING FISHERFOLK SETTLEMENT: LESSONS FROM ZAMBALES


Researcher-Writer: Abby Mercado Sentro para sa Ikauunlad ng Katutubong Agham at Teknolohiya, Inc. (SIKAT, Inc.) Copyright 2011 SIKAT, Inc. All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, including photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. SIKAT, Inc. is a non-government organization committed to organizing interdependent communities and peoples organizations, and facilitating community-based coastal resource management; promoting appropriate fishing technologies; advocating for community-based natural resource management, gender fairness, sustainable livelihoods, good governance and genuine fishery policy reforms by direct lobbying or federation building; and, developing a physical and human Resource Center for Natural Resource Management accessible to, and in partnership with, community organizations. Cover and Book Design: Marco Ruben T. Malto II Published by Sentro para sa Ikauunlad ng Katutubong Agham at Teknolohiya, Inc. Unit 340 Eagle Court Condominium 26 Matalino St., Brgy. Central, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines Telefax: (+632) 927-2325 Website: www.sikatphil.org Email: sikat.sikat@gmail.com This book was made possible through the project funding assistance from Oxfam Hong Kong.

CONTENTS
FOREWORD: RESPONSIBLE WELLBEING IN DEVELOPMENT INTRODUCTION CASE STORIES: MYRNA REMY MARLYN SALLY SIKATS CONTRIBUTION TO RESPONSIBLE WELLBEING MAKING IT HAPPEN APPENDIX 1: DEMYSTIFYING MISCONCEPTIONS APPENDIX 2: LIST OF ACRONYMS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 7 15 25 31 41 45 47 49 1 3

FOREWORD
RESPONSIBLE WELLBEING IN DEVELOPMENT
With the challenging attempts to define wellbeing in the context of international development come even more struggling efforts to measure the wellbeing impact of development work. Referring to Oxfam Hong Kongs (OHK) framework of responsible wellbeing, which places changes within individual wellbeing as the highest level of change, Towards Securing Oxfam Hong Kong believes that the responsible wellbeing of people, especially the poor, is the ultimate goal of its development and humanitarian work.OHK defines responsible wellbeing as a sense of personal and collective fulfillment, balance and integration. It is seen to have four critical dimensions, as: Self- sustenance (i.e. sustainable livelihoods with dignity in labor, some material comfort and leisure); Self-esteem (i.e. a sense of self-worth and respect from others, ability to appreciate and live out positive values); Self-determination (i.e. the ability to make individual and collectives choices and enjoy individual and collective freedoms); and Social responsibility (i.e. social and personal solidarity and

Fisherfolk Settlement: Lessons from Zambales is one exciting attempt to


feature the extent of contribution of SIKATs Fisherfolk Settlement Advocacy and Model-Building Project to the wellbeing of its individual stakeholders, through the unique stories of four women from Zambales.

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responsibility, peace and security, and a capacity for empathy and caring, linked to awareness of interconnectedness and the impact of their lives on others). The stories of Myrna, Remy, Marlyn and Sally have shown Positive evidences of change in their well- being as a result of their involvement in the work of SIKAT, particularly concerning fisherfolk settlement issues. These four women represent the situation of many fisherfolk families in the country, and their contributions to the advocacy exemplify the dedication of other women, as well as men, doing their share in addressing the escalating issue of fisherfolk settlement in the Philippines. By focusing on the plight of four women, SIKAT also hopes to highlight

how the settlement issue tends to be perceived as a womens issue in most coastal communities since they are often left to tend to their homes and children, while their fisher-husbands are out in the sea to provide food on the table. That more of these Filipino women are taking on social roles, and are not only fulfilling reproductive functions, is worth recognizing, and should be further encouraged through adequate support. Filipino mothers are also called ilaw ng tahanan (meaning light of the home) for their great responsibility of looking after all the household needs of their families. In this book, these four women, also mothers, showcase how they are going beyond their traditional roles and start fighting for a place to live not only for their own families, but also for the rest of the coastal communities in the country.

INTRODUCTION
Fishing is, understandably, a vital industry in an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands. But why are the fisherfolks one of the poorest sectors in the Philippines that they cannot even afford to secure one of mans basic needs shelter? To date, the lack of tenurial security threatens the lives and livelihoods of the majority of the countrys more than two million municipal fisherfolks. Coastal and marine environment degradation, commercialization, urbanization and tourism are a few of the many other factors contributing to the increasing vulnerability of the fisherfolks. A resulting and growing issue in a rising number of coastal communities in Zambales is fisherfolk tenurial security. Some fisherfolk families are forced to sell their

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lands to investors due to poor catch and declining income, while others are evicted from their lands due to the presence of other Claimants whether legal or illegal. On the one hand, SIKATs efforts in Zambales have been mainly focused on poverty alleviation in the coastal areas through resource management, for the past 20 years. Its project initiative on fisherfolk settlement, on the other hand, targets the underlying issues that lead to the displacement of many fisherfolk families, leaving them homeless and without their fishing livelihoods. The majority of the fishers in the area do not possess the necessary documents to prove their settlement rights to the land. Many simply rely on their tax declaration or tax receipts, which are not even

a sufficient or strong proof of land ownership. Community-based coastal resource management provides the communities the rights, as well as the responsibilities, to use, protect and manage coastal resources at a specific management unit, be it the establishment of a fish sanctuary, demarcated area, mangrove reforestation, seagrass reservation, and municipal waters delineation. A management unit has two major elements the coastal/marine resources and the communities, and these two elements are interconnected. The communitys capacity and capability to assert their right to manage is essential in this process. When fisherfolks are resettled in another area, the protection and management of a fish sanctuary

and other coastal resources is inevitably affected. Relocating fishers far from their sources of livelihoods results in anxieties over the safety of their fishing boats and

fishing gears. Having to walk long distances to get to the sea also has huge consequences on the fishers daily catch.

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SIKATs preliminary involvement in fisherfolk settlement issues started in the late 90s, but the three-year funding support from Oxfam Hong Kong has enabled SIKAT to address the issue using a more strategic and localized approach. The SIKAT Fisherfolk Settlement Advocacy and ModelBuilding Project aims to integrate fisherfolk settlement in government policies and development framework, and come up with working models on securing fisherfolk tenurial rights at the local level. SIKAT hopes to achieve this through: Increased awareness of peoples organizations, NGOs, networks and government institutions on the issue of fisherfolk settlement, settlement-related laws, and legal and metalegal

tenurial rights, options and strategies; Advocacy on appropriate national and local policies that recognize the need to secure settlement areas for the fishing communities; Development of local models using tenurial tools and metalegal practices to fisherfolk settlement rights; and Development of an institutional strategic direction that will ensure continuity of fisherfolk settlement advocacy and community-based support after the OHK support ends. Through the use of case stories, the research for this book provided the opportunity to feature some of the efforts of the SIKAT fisherfolk settlement project on the ground. More specifically, the case stories in this book hope to show

how the project contributes to the wellbeing of its stakeholders, in particular, and to community development, in general. In doing so, this publication will also serve as a resource in order to: Monitor and evaluate the SIKAT Fisherfolk Settlement Advocacy and Model-Building Project in Zambales; Distil learnings and reflect on the projects good practices; and Document and promote/ replicate good practices in other areas.

Myrna
Myrna Rodriguez was suffering from sleepless nights following the discovery that the land where she was born 55 years ago belongs to people who have never even set foot in their area. Feeling hopeless and sick with worry most of the time, she had to stop selling fish, hindering her from supporting her husbands freelance photography job in order to earn sufficient income for the family. All my four children were still in school at the time both my parents and all my relatives have lived here all their lives, and I had no idea where we could stay if we had lost our homes. Myrna and her family had no other place to go, and nor did the rest of more than 200 families now residing in Barangay Felmida-Diaz of Cabangan, Zambales. Only three families were staying in the area when Myrnas ancestors decided to settle in the idle land of Barangay Felmida-Diaz three generations ago. Task force for the fishers, by the fishers We were not taking action as an organized group back in 1996 when we found ourselves confronted with the possibility of being displaced. Without adequate knowledge and capacity to deal with the legal implications of our settlement problem, we did not even know where to start. Myrna talks about feeling helpless about their situation, a sentiment shared by all other residents in their area who do not possess the necessary documents to uphold their rights to the land.

Myrna Rodriguez says it is easier to mobilize members of her barangay, having earned their respect.

Model 1: Reversion of Land Titles Reversion of titles is defined as the process of cancellation of the title by the court filed by the Solicitor General based on the DENR recommendation, which is founded on the formal protest filed by the affected people or community. This model could be used by the fisherfolks when the titled land or the process of its titling is found to be irregular or illegal, when there are already residents occupying the land before the titling or when there is a threat of displacement of the current occupants, and there is valid evidence that the land claimant has never resided in the claimed property. Waiver of rights involves the land owner waiving his rights to the land; this is possible particularly when the community is confident of their rights to the property in question, such as when the titling procedures over the property are found to be irregular or illegal. Land donation is possible when the land owner agrees to donate the entire or parcel of land to the community, particularly the lot areas which are already being occupied.

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Eventually, we decided to approach SIKAT for support since it has been assisting us with our other community problems for years. While Barangay Felmida-Diaz is already part of SIKATs existing programs in Zambales, fisherfolk settlement was not always one of them. How can we promote the concept of sustainable use and management of coastal resources if the fisherfolk families, our key resource and stakeholder, cannot continue living in their own homes and are at risk of losing access to their main source of livelihood for good? Chito Dugan, SIKAT Executive Director, explains why they were prompted to expand their work in the area to include efforts to

address fisherfolk settlement issues. SIKAT started with what they do bestorganize the people. The Task Force Settlement (TFS) was formed in 1998 as part of SIKATs initial activities in tackling the tenurial issue together with the members of the community. With support from SIKAT, the TFS members mobilize communities, conduct researches including inventory of public lands, lobby for local ordinances with the concerned authorities and local government units (LGUs), process the necessary documents and file appropriate actions regarding their cause, as well as network with relevant agencies and sectors. Upon learning of the magnitude of the settlement problem, the TFS grew

into a bigger group at the provincial level to include the TFS local units of other coastal communities in Zambales, with 10 barangays forming its own fisherfolk settlement advocacy group. Members of the provincial TFS meet on a regular basis to share updates and more importantly, lessons. The TFS is composed of 25 men and women who volunteered to be members,

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but SIKAT has observed that the women tend to be more active. This encouraged SIKAT to be more proactive in getting more men involved to reduce the burden of securing tenurial rights on the women. Cristina Reyes, SIKAT Program Manager, shares that although the Oxfam Hong Kongs official support to the project ends in 2011, she is confident that the Task Force Settlement will be able to continue the work they have started. The OHK funding has allowed us to conduct series of relevant trainings through the years in order to build the capacity of the Task Force Settlement members. Nevertheless, SIKAT will continue to provide mentoring activities for the group, as appropriate.

A continuing struggle Findings of the research led by the Task Force Settlement-Cabangan revealed that all of the 11 hectares of Barangay Felmida-Diaz were illegally acquired by five owners mainly because proper procedures in issuing land titles were not observed. Myrna, an active member of the task force, narrates that such crucial findings enabled them to pursue appropriate actions as mandated by government policies, particularly by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Land Management Bureau (LMB). As SIKAT and the task force continue to explore the law, along with various tenurial tools and practices in securing fisherfolk settlement rights, several models have been established to act upon the different circumstances surrounding each

concerned fisherfolk barangay. In the case of Barangay FelmidaDiaz, the SIKAT model on securing fisherfolk tenurial rights involving the Reversion of Land Titles, Waiver of Rights by Land Owner and Land Donation has already yielded positive results for some families. With legal, logistical and training assistance from SIKAT, Myrna, together with other members of TFS-Cabangan, is able to process the necessary documents and deal with the authorities to facilitate the awarding of the Deed of donation to the entitled families of their barangay. To date, deeds of donation have been signed and awarded to 24 families of Barangay Felmida-Diaz.

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This process of negotiation with the land owner is being done simultaneously with the use of reversion of land titles. The reversion case is still being pursued on the ground of fraud and misrepresentation on the acquisition of the land title through free patent. Once the reversion of land title is achieved, the current occupants can then be the legitimate applicants for the free patent. A different, better Myrna Myrna shares that she used to have an easy-going lifestyle with more time to chat with her neighbors once she had sold all her fish. The settlement problem had changed all this. Being directly affected by the issue, she had no choice but to take part in the community actions. Her active involvement in the community efforts concerning the

settlement problem later led to her further participation in addressing other community issues having been elected by her barangay as a Kagawad; a barangay is the smallest political unit in the Philippines, headed by a barangay captain and composed of several councilors or kagawad, and has both executive and legislative powers. Myrna is also elected Chair of Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (MFARMC) in her area, and secretary of its provincial unit, due to her involvement in coastal resource management through SIKAT. Apart from enabling her to help other members of her own and other barangays, these positions have also provided Myrna with various opportunities for learning and personal growth, as well as incentives for her family including a

livelihood grant for a fishpond. Although she now leads a busier life with her increasing community involvements, Myrna proudly discloses why she has every reason to feel happier. I gained the courage to deal with our settlement problem after undergoing a series of paralegal training organized by SIKAT because I know more about the issue, our rights and what we can do as a community. Myrna says it is also easier for her to mobilize other members of her barangay, having earned their respect given her Task Force Settlement involvement.

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Edgar Peregrino, a 60-year-old resident and fisher of Barangay Felmida-Diaz, echoes this confidence in Myrnas capacity to get things done as he shared his own settlement problems. Apart from feeling threatened by the issue, Edgar says that the activities involving their settlement problem in the past 15 years often took a lot of their fishing time, preventing them to make enough living for their families. When asked if he feels more secure about his land now, Edgar nods and explains, I know that Myrna is already in control of our situation. I only have to go to her for answers to my questions. Hence in an even prouder tone, Myrna shares that even the men in the community now approach her for information and advice on the issue; some asking her to lead them. She admits that such instances help

build her self-esteem as a woman, particularly since her husband recognizes and fully supports her involvement in the fisherfolk advocacy. Since her children have attained higher education than her secondary schooling, Myrna says she used to seek advice from them regarding the issue. Today, her children come to her for information and want to be involved in their mothers efforts to address their communitys settlement problem. Myrna acknowledges that their struggle is far from over, but armed with a deeper understanding of fisherfolk settlement issues and supported by the strength of a more-organized group of people

Edgar Peregrino is confident that Myrna is in control of their situation.

undergoing the same struggle, Myrna feels confident that they will win in the end and she will be able to sleep more soundly in her very own home in Barangay Felmida-Diaz, for years to come.

Remy
It is one thing to be forced by a group of armed men to leave your house and watch them destroy the home you built with your own hands; it is another thing to be the only family in a village of many to have to suffer while the rest are left to watch and learn a lesson from your misfortune. The demolition job may have happened in 2008 but Remy Loayon still breaks down in tears as she recounts her familys traumatic experience. They have recently returned and started building their home again due to their confidence in the negotiation that SIKAT has facilitated with the land owner. But Remy says they continue to fear going through the same horrific experience until they are able to legally secure rights to their land. We are aware that we do not have rights to the land, but we are also willing to do what it takes to make that happen. Our family suffered because we did not know at the time who was telling us the right information and therefore, who should be guiding us in the right direction through the legal procedures. Remy says that the demolition job was a result of a misguided action on the part of Remy and her husband, both not having any knowledge of the law. They ended up going to the wrong person for help someone who has great political influence rather than to the authorities on the matter. But while the demolition only happened to Remys family, her settlement problem is shared by 284 other families in their area, because they also do not possess any legal documentation to secure their land.

Remy Loayon discloses her feelings of self-pity due to their demolition experience, but it has taught her to be more questioning and resourceful.

Model 2: Community Mortgage Program (CMP) The Community Mortgage Program is a government housing program wherein an organized community can access a loan through the National Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC), and hence is another option for fisherfolks to access homeownership. The CMP offers the lowest interest in housing loans, or six percent per annum with 25 years to pay (maximum loan term). One crucial requirement in applying for a CMP, however, is the land owners willingness to sell the property to the community; the latter being represented by a duly-registered community association. The residents, minimum of 20 families/beneficiaries, should also be willing and capable to buy the said property. Four major stakeholders are needed for a CMP to take operation and each has own functions and responsibilities for the approval of the loan: 1) land owner; 2) homeowners association; 3) originator (accredited by the NHMFC, may be an NGO, LGU, national government agency or corporation); and 4) the Socialized Housing and Finance Corporation.

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Voters registration gone bad In 1986, Remy and her husband, together with their three children, moved to Zambales from Surigao del Norte in search of a more peaceful community and better work opportunities. The Subic Military Base in Zambales generated jobs for many, including Remys husband who still works to this day as a welder supervisor in a ship repair facility in the former military base area. Subic was also ideal for fishers due to the then availability of idle lands close to the sea, which attracted transient fisherfolks to build permanent settlements in the area. This resulted in the establishment of smaller villages including Sitio Cabangaan where Remy and her family reside, which is part of the larger Barangay Cawag. Back then, Remy recalls, they only had to secure permit from the leader

of the nearest barangay in order to build a house in Barangay Cawag. Remy says their part of the village used to be deserted and thickly covered with wild bushes. Today Barangay Cawag is home to 1,938 families including Remys seven children, with easy access to basic health and social services. Unfortunately, the permission to build a house from the barangay leader back in the 80s came with a priceRemy and her family can stay in the nearby village but they will be registered as his constituents so they can vote for him during elections. The problem with this unspoken agreement has finally emerged when the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) called for a barangay meeting in 2003 to validate its existing records of registered voters in the area.

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The COMELEC advised Remy and her village neighbors to get listed under the barangay where they are actually residing. Implications of this led to disputes concerning their villages proper political boundary, which affected their use of the more accessible health and social services. But later in the same year, the people of Sitio Cabangaan had to face a much bigger tenurial conflict when someone announced a rightful claim of the land where Remys house had stood for the past 17 years. Making informed decisions Along with the declaration of the supposed-owner came support from a foundation offering to act as the originator or guarantor for the residents of the land in question so they can opt for the Community Mortgage Program; this option will

enable them to claim rights to the land through a meager monthly mortgage, with assistance from the local government and other sector representatives. Through the Community Mortgage Program, residents will not be displaced, hence allowing them to stick to their livelihoods and enabling them to pay the required mortgage. Although many of the residents of Sitio Cabangaan are laborers of a ship repair facility in the area, most residents are still fishers.

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The foundation as the originator has the duty to provide the residents with proper orientation on the CMP. Some residents immediately applied for the CMP following the orientation. But the concept of paying mortgage or rent for a place that has served as home for years is a difficult compromise for many of the affected residents. Moreover, many residents were doubtful of the accuracy of the information given to them by the foundation and preferred to heed the advice of other influential people. These resulted in the formation of a break-away homeowners association, the Balon Homeowners Association (BHOA), which Remy and her husband ended up heading as adviser and president, respectively.

Before SIKATs involvement in the Sitio Cabangaan settlement problem, Remys group was acting upon the advice of a political figure and other hearsays that encouraged them to bring the case to court. After a series of court proceedings, their outcomes not only delayed the process and cost Remy and the other residents their hard-earned money and precious time, but they also resulted in court cases against them, labeling them as recalcitrant and unlawful detainers. In 2007, a federation of fisherfolk organizations in Subic, of which some members are also involved in the Task Force Settlement, decided to bring the tenurial problem of Sitio Cabangaan to SIKAT for assistance. By this time, there were already pending court cases against some of the residents, including Remy and her husband. Nonetheless,

SIKAT found ways to address the residents lack of proper information to guide them in their future actions. Orientation seminars were organized, including paralegal trainings, and planning sessions with the residents were held for a more strategic approach to the issue. Researches on the case and the settlement area were also conducted, along with negotiations with the legal owner. With the right information and paralegal assistance from SIKAT, the better-informed members of the Balon Homeowners Association have finally entered into an agreement to sign up for the Community Mortgage Program in 2009. This also resulted in the withdrawal by the legal owner of filed court cases against some of the residents.

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Hard-earned life lessons Those residents in Sitio Cabangaan are illiterate, that is why they have their own opinion! Remy painfully remembers what the land owner told the judge during one of the court proceedings. I wanted to shout back, Not everyone!. Remy shares that she graduated as Valedictorian in high school but she decided not to pursue college because she wanted to help her parents in supporting her other siblings. Because of our experience I wish I had persevered, and maybe even took up law! Remy laughs at her dream of continuing her education at 54. On a more serious note, she adds why, Many of my neighbors come to me for advice. Their arguments about the case seem right to me, but because I did not finish my education and I do not know the law, I cannot to do

anything to help them. Remy discloses that her feelings of self-pity are due to their experience, but says it has taught her to be more questioning and resourceful when it comes to dealing with their problems, rather than simply depending on others for instant solutions. As adviser and president of the BHOA, Remy and her husband spend a lot of time facilitating the processing of their documents and of their fellow residents in order to apply for the CMP. Remys 22-year-old daughter Giesha shares that she and her other siblings used to complain that their parents are out most of the time attending to their neighbors needs. But when she attended one of their meetings, Giesha realized

the value of her parents role in the association. We all have the same problem but if my parents will not do their share then we will all end up living on the streets, homeless. This realization encouraged Giesha to assist her parents by posting flyers in their area to announce the upcoming BHOA meetings. Giesha says she never thought that a document can be so important and could bring them so much suffering, but admits she feels more confident now about their situation because they are better equipped with the right information.

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Going beyond the household Twenty-five-year-old Sherlyn Tadeo, a mother of three and close neighbor of Remy, counts on her husband to deal with their tenurial problem because she has to attend to her children. Still she recalls that among their earlier mistakes is paying a monthly mortgage to the wrong people because they were misguided. These days, they trust the information they acquire through Remy. Unlike Sherlyn, however, Remy believes that as a wife, she can do more than just attend to her household duties. She says she can earn a livelihood for her family, too, through vegetable garden and herbal medicine, and she wants other women to feel the same.

Apart from acting as the adviser to the BHOA, Remy has been volunteering as a barangay health worker most of her life attending to the health education and nutrition information needs of her community. Although she did not win as a Kagawad in the last election, she was satisfied with the support of her own community due to her landslide victory in her area; she lost to 17 votes from the neighboring village. Losing the election has not discouraged Remy from continuing her community involvements. My barangay assignments make me happy because they make me forget my own problems. Remy shares she prefers to be of service to people in need and be able to do something for others, rather than stay at home and dwell on her own problems, and become unable to do anything of worth.

Sherlyn Tadeo recalls paying to the wrong people for their monthly mortgage.

Marlyn
Even though it took them 10 years, Marlyn Calderon still feels they had it easy when it came to acquiring legal rights to their land in comparison with the other barangays in Zambales still struggling with their settlement cases. This is mainly because their area turned out to be a land owned by the government, rather than by a private claimant. Their more fortunate case, however, did not stop Marlyn from taking part in the Task Force Settlement and seeking more knowledge about the issue, enabling her to participate in the ongoing fisherfolk advocacy and to share her understanding of the issue with those who need it more. Handog Titulo Talks about the land title status of Sitio Agoho, a fishing village in Barangay San Isidro of Cabangan, Zambales, first emerged as early as the 1980s. SIKAT was not even around at the time, and the residents, unaware of the strength of collective efforts, were acting on the basis of different information and advice from almost anyone. With SIKATs entry in the community in the mid-1990s came the organization of the Katipunan ng mga Mangingisda ng SIKAT (KMS), a federation of fisherfolk organizations in the area. SIKATs initial assistance in their pilot area involved micro-finance, livelihood and resource management through the peoples organization. In 2008, Marlyn and 20 other families settling in Sitio Agoho have been awarded with the free patent titles to their lands through Handog Titulo (meaning Awarding of Title), a continuing program of the

Marlyn Calderon shares that a house is important in keeping a family together.

Model 3: Miscellaneous Sales Patent (MSPA) and Free Patent Application (FPA) This tenurial security strategy using the MSPA and FPA is implemented through applications for the alienable and disposable land owned by the government: the MSPA is mainly for the purpose of residential use, and with corresponding reasonable payment; the FPA is for agricultural use, but for residential as well, based on Batas Pambansa No. 223 or An Act to hasten titling of residential lands of the public domain by authorizing the grant of free patent under certain conditions and providing for expeditious cadastral and other judicial proceeding with respect thereto and for other purposes. The common issues in applying for MSPA and FPA involve: a) the financial capacity of the fisherfolk to pay the land survey fee and buy the land under the MSPA (as a government program, the land is priced at the lowest assessed value); b) applicants knowledge on title application; and, c) other claimants of the land in question.

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government to promote social justice and help poor Filipinos uplift their living conditions. With support from SIKAT, it took the Sitio Agoho residents 10 years of coordination with the local government unit and government agencies to acquire a free patent title, by exploring the Miscellaneous Sales Patent and Free Patent tenurial security tools. Their success story also involved series of community activities, such as lot surveys, preparation and submission of affidavit of occupancy (of more than 10 years), joint affidavits of adjacent houses per resident, barangay certificates attesting each residents occupancy in the survey lot/s, among many other tedious procedures. With the ongoing campaign to secure fisherfolk settlements, residents of Sitio Agoho continue to

share their experience with others, hoping to replicate their success in other fishing villages. Partnership is key Marlyn shares that the Office of the Mayor played a key role in the residents application for free patent titles given that their settlement stands on a public land. While fisherfolk settlement is provided for in the Republic Act 8550 or The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, it remains to be put in practice due to lack of implementing guidelines. Even without the implementing guidelines in the Republic Act 8550, LGUs can already start taking action on these issues as mandated by the Local Government Code of the Philippines. According to MFARMCSubic Chair Laureano Artagami, LGU officials can act on the fisherfolk settlement issue given

other existing local government directives. In all of its program initiatives, SIKAT works in partnership with the different sectors. The only way to engage and make the different sectors own any of our community-based programs is to build partnerships with them. This way we can ensure the sustainability of our initiatives long before we have gone to other areas to replicate the process. Executive Director Chito Dugan reveals one of SIKATs work principles. For the fisherfolk settlement advocacy, one of the SIKAT projects objectives is to educate the different sectors, including the local government officials, on the issues in tenurial security and the corresponding tools or instruments (e.g. policies, ordinances, etc)

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that can address these. The political will of LGU officials and a strong collaboration with the sector are important factors in securing tenurial rights for the fisherfolks. Marlyn and SIKAT through the years Marlyns daughter was only five years old when Marlyn got initially involved with the work of SIKAT in their community. This daughter is now 24 years old and Marlyn still continues to be an agent of change in Barangay San Isidro. Her four children are also involved in her community activities, hence she gets their full support, including that of her fisher-husband, in doing what she loves. At 55, Marlyn says she has been involved with SIKATs work since the organization first came in their area 20 years

ago. She manages a community center which used to be SIKATs field office before it was turned over to their organization in 2000. Now the president of the Katipunan ng mga Mangingisda ng SIKAT, Marlyn reveals she would not be the person that she is now if not for SIKAT. As a wife of a fisherman and a fish vendor, the recognition she gets from her community makes it very easy for Marlyn to sell all her fish and products in a flash. But according to Marlyn, this livelihood advantage is nothing compared to the acknowledgment she gets from people of various profiles outside her own village. I am often asked to speak to a group of people to talk about how we, as a community, are taking on

our social problems, including the fisherfolk settlement issue. Universities and other organizations based in Manila, the countrys capital, often come to Marlyn, as fisherfolk and community representative, for their socio-civic programs. Marlyn is often amazed at the type of people she has come to meet and deal with over the years. Imagine someone like me, who only got to finish grade six in school, talking to these people? Marlyn shares she is often a host parent to students from prestigious universities in Manila for their community immersion activities. One summer, one of my children turned out to be the nephew of the Philippine president!

TOWARDS SECURING FISHERFOLK SETTLEMENT: LESSONS FROM ZAMBALES | Marlyn | 30

Marlyn admits to taking pride in being addressed as the president of her long-time organization, the KMS. She is often urged to run for office in her barangay but Marlyn says she does not need to be in politics in order to serve her community. Nonetheless, Marlyns involvement with SIKATs work has led to her membership in many other peoples organizations in the area, and has linked her to relevant government agencies. Whereas she used to shy away from people before, today, Marlyn often acts as consultant and adviser to other residents on their various problems. Marlyn shares she often finds herself reprimanding some men in their village who she finds guilty of domestic violence. Since the men are well-aware of her connections with the Department of Social

Welfare and Services, they take heed of Marlyns warning of reporting them to the authorities. Her active involvement in the Task Force Settlement, on the other hand, has certainly enhanced her paralegal skills. She talks about a woman in her village who came to her feeling threatened because someone else is claiming rights to her land. Marlyn assured her terrified neighbor that for as long as the land title is under her name, then she has nothing to worry about. Before she got the free patent title to their land, Marlyn says she felt constantly alarmed of the possibility of losing their home. Today, she no longer fears for their tenurial security. A house is important in keeping the family together, is Marlyns simple explanation why she continues to be a member of the Task Force

Settlement years after her own settlement problem has been resolved.

Sally
Sixty-one-year-old Sally Franco Ruiz is the legal owner of the land where her house stands and does not have tenurial rights problem as do many families in her area. This, however, has not deterred Sally from getting involved in the struggle of most coastal communities and advocating for fisherfolk settlement, not only in the local level, but also in national policymaking forums. The complex case of Bague It all started with Sitio Bague. During the National Conference on Fisherfolk Settlement held in February 2010, organized by SIKAT in cooperation with the Philippine Locally-Managed Marine Area Network, Sally presented the fisherfolk settlement case of Sitio Bague to more than 50 conference participants representing different fisherfolk organizations all over the country. Sally said that through the years, Sitio Bague has resorted to various tenurial security strategies given the constant change in legal ownership of the land, and the Poor financial capacity of the Bague residents. SIKATs involvement in the issue has commenced in 2001. A local unit of Task Force Settlement was formed, and the communitys fisherfolk organization has become actively involved in the task forces advocacy activities. Through series and continuous consultations, orientations, dialogues, organizing and networking activities, tenurial Security options for the Bague residents include engaging in a Community Mortgage Program or to push for the integration of Bague in

Sally Franco Ruiz shares that she is now identifying and training a new batch of leaders to take on her tasks and continue what she has started.

Model 4: Integration of Fisherfolk Settlement in Local Government Policies This model involves use of different strategies pending on the local development context of the area in question (e.g. settlement near a mangrove area, within the foreshore land or in a small island, etc). Each approach also has its own procedures, as well as advantages and constraints.

Comprehensive Land, Water and Forest Use Plan (CLWFUP)


CLWFUP aims to identify specific zones for fisherfolk settlement to limit other coastal zone use. By integrating CLWFUP in local policies, fishers will be protected against possible land use conversion and possible displacement. This strategy involves educating the local government unit (LGU) on the status of fisherfolk settlement in the municipality.

Comprehensive Municipal Fisheries Ordinance (CMFO)


CMFO provides a comprehensive assessment of coastal zone and their management unit including both marine and land areas. The CMFO has a legal basis in Article 16, Section 78 or Fisherfolk Settlement of Republic Act 8550. This policy will assist the LGU in formulating a fisherfolk settlement program, resulting in a change of perception among LGU officials and start recognizing the fisherfolk as a sector of their municipality.

Fisherfolk Settlement Ordinance (FSO)


FSO provides the fisherfolks an avenue to secure settlement through the designation of a specific area for fisherfolks.

Inventory of Public Land


The inventory of public lands is crucial in the implementation of the CLWFUP, CMFO or the FSO. The inventory is the fundamental source of data in identifying lands that can be tapped as fisherfolk settlements. Most of the time, the actual status or information concerning the fisherfolks current settlement is unclear and misleading, hence the need for a more reliable data. The two primary procedures in doing an inventory are: 1) choosing or identifying possible areas for new fisherfolk settlement based on the real status of their current settlement; and 2) ensuring the status of the fisherfolks current tenurial area and the identified resettlement area.

TOWARDS SECURING FISHERFOLK SETTLEMENT: LESSONS FROM ZAMBALES | Sally | 33

a local government policy and have Bague declared as a fisherfolk settlement under the Comprehensive Land, Water and Forest Use Plan. As the elected chair of her localitys Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council, and secretary of its provincial unit, Sally oversees the fishing and aquatic resources concerns of 16 barangays in Zambales (all of which are coastal communities, many are confronted with distinctive issues of tenurial security), including Sitio Bague. She recounts her countless participation in dialogues with members of different barangays, local government officials and land owners to facilitate the still ongoing procedures, which have started way back in 2000. Bague is not a simple case

because the community is divided in choosing options but I am hopeful that a consensus will soon be achieved. Sally says that her involvement in the case of Sitio Bague marked the beginning of her continuing fight for fisherfolk settlement. From the community to national In 2005, the Municipal Fisheries Ordinance No. 23-A of 2003 or The New Candelaria Fisheries Development and Management Ordinance of 2003, drafted by SIKAT, was approved for implementation by the local government after years of lobbying. The local ordinance has already resulted in the establishment of marine protected areas and it supports our volunteer patrolling efforts against illegal fishing

activities. Sally takes pride in this achievement as a member of the SIKAT Technical Working Group, which was the key proponent of the ordinance. She says her love for the ocean, and its vast resources, is more than enough reason for her to want to protect it. But Sallys lobbying efforts are not limited to the municipal, or even provincial, level. She is able to raise awareness on fisherfolk settlement issues at the national level as Fisherfolk Director of Region III, representing her local fisherfolk organization. In a national conference, organized by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Sally realized that the case of Sitio Bague and other fishing barangays in Zambales is shared by most coastal communities all over the Philippines, and yet very little

TOWARDS SECURING FISHERFOLK SETTLEMENT: LESSONS FROM ZAMBALES | Sally | 35

attention is being given to fisherfolk settlement issues. Also an active member of Task Force Settlement, Sally has a good grasp of the tenurial issues on the ground to share with larger audiences. As Sally found allies in other regional representatives in the conference, she shares becoming one of the proponents for the establishment of the Committee on Fisherfolk Settlement and Climate Change, under the Philippines National Anti-Poverty Commission. The politics of advocating for policies While Sally is successful in bringing her fisherfolk advocacy with her as she finds her way into national committees, SIKAT goes back to local channels for more-immediate enactment of equally significant fishing ordinances.

SIKAT has been advocating for fisherfolk tenurial security for years in response to the growing trend of fishers displacement in the coastal areas brought about by changing land use pattern, due to increasing market value of land in coastal zones among other development factors. The project funding support from Oxfam Hong Kong has allowed SIKAT to conduct researches on land and housing-related laws, produce case studies and other information materials on fisherfolk

settlement, and popularize legal and metalegal tenurial tools. Coastal resource management practitioners, including fisherfolk communities, have gained knowledge and understanding of fisherfolk settlement issues in the Philippines along with the corresponding strategies to secure tenurial rights, through the capacity building activities organized by SIKAT. But advocating for policies also entails constituency-building and networking to establish a broad sectoral-and mass-based support. In pushing for national policy reforms, SIKAT collaborates with the National Fisheries Reform, as well as other national coalitions and networks advocating for fisherfolk settlement. Accomplishments in this area include the development of proposed policy papers,

exploration of tenurial instruments, influencing and putting pressure to the government to address the issue, and drafting of recommendations for the implementing rules and regulations of already existing relevant laws. SIKATs coordination with government agencies, such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Land Management Bureau, and House and Land Administration Bureau, is vital in these lobbying efforts. Unfortunately, the turbulent dynamics of politics in the country and other seemingly more pressing cases against controversial government officials greatly influence the legislature priorities and proceedings, pushing aside SIKATs national advocacy for fisherfolk settlement. Hence, SIKAT has decided to

redirect its lobbying to the local level through the integration of fisherfolk settlement concern in local government policies, specifically in the Comprehensive Land, Water and Forest Use Plan, the Comprehensive Municipal Fisheries Ordinance and the Fisherfolk Settlement Ordinance. SIKATs localization of fisherfolk settlement campaign Further includes Inventory of Public Land, which enables the identification of possible settlement sites for the fishers, and is necessary for the implementation of the CLWFUP, CMFO and FSO. These local approaches to advocacy are already being employed by SIKAT in different coastal communities pending on the local development context of the areas.

TOWARDS SECURING FISHERFOLK SETTLEMENT: LESSONS FROM ZAMBALES | Sally | 37

Affected vs. Not affected Sally says that one need not be a wife of a fisherman (Sallys husband is a retired municipal employee), or a fish vendor (Sallys fishpond is strictly for family consumption)

to be concerned about issues surrounding the fishing sector. The Task Force Settlement is composed of members who are directly affected by the fisherfolk

settlement issue, as well as those who are not directly affected, like Sally. In a recent SIKAT workshop, among the reasons for joining the task force of those who are not directly affected are: to offer help to the fishers and to the community; to acquire knowledge on tenurial security since members of the community come to them for advice and information; to gain personal knowledge on the issue; and, to be of service to others rather than doing nothing worthwhile at home. Due to their involvement in the task force, the same members disclosed that some of them have become resource persons for affected members of their communities, causing them stress at times because this competes with their personal time for families.

TOWARDS SECURING FISHERFOLK SETTLEMENT: LESSONS FROM ZAMBALES| Sally | 38

Some started to feel the weight of the communitys problem on their shoulders. Still, others felt proud to be approached for information, and the rest felt good to be able to help despite the additional work on their part. Meanwhile, the TFS members who are directly affected by the settlement problem had more obvious reasons for joining, such as to know how to acquire legal rights to their land. But there are others who said that they also want to help their fellow residents struggling with the same problem. Despite their time-consuming activities in the task force, both the affected and not affected TFS members shared having reaped the same benefits of being part of the task force, and of the advocacy. These involve: acquiring more

knowledge; feeling more confident due to increased knowledge; becoming community leader or better leader; being more recognized/ popular in the community; learning to research/ be resourceful/ be more cautious before taking any action; and, wanting to be of help to others more/ being unable to resist helping others. Simply Sally Some people now address me as madame but I tell them to still call me Sally. Yet on hindsight, this recent change tells me how I am now regarded by members of the communities, and it does make me feel good to realize what I have become to others. Sally shyly confesses as she is prompted to share some of the personal benefits of her community involvements. I think they address me as such

out of respect because they can feel my sincere concern for them. She adds that she also gained more friends through her advocacy work. Full-time-housewife-turnedfisherfolk-settlement-lobbyist Sally strongly believes that her husbands recent venture in politics as Barangay Kagawad has been greatly inspired by her own membership in several peoples organizations and committees at different levels.

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She and her husband now share useful information and collaborate for various community projects concerning fisherfolks and others. A mother of seven, Sally shares that she gets text messages from her 31-year-old daughter telling her how proud she is of her mothers achievements. Of her many contributions to the fishers cause, Sally reveals that the implementation of a municipal fisheries ordinance of which she is part-proponent, through SIKAT, makes her the proudest. It gave me the voice to talk about fisherfolk issues in our local communities. Meantime, she adds that acquiring paralegal trainings on tenurial security from SIKAT has given her the confidence to discuss the matter in higher-level forums. SIKATs gender mainstreaming initiatives

across its programs, including the fisherfolk settlement project, have also increased Sallys understanding of the legal issues involved in violence against women. This has encouraged Sally to talk about the issue with women, as well with men. I think men should even be more informed on this campaign, explains Sally why she wants more men to be involved in her other advocacy. Now that Sally is well-aware of her basic human rights, she wants others to feel empowered, too.

own money to make copies of the municipal fisheries ordinance in order to disseminate the information in her area. Yet Sally says all her efforts for others have also led to personal benefits, including opportunities to participate in various trainings (locally and nationally, allowing her to travel around while building her own capacity), and a livelihood grant from BFAR for her familys fishpond and livestock.

Because my various roles in the communities have made me a happier and better person, I want Through more SIKAT trainings, others to experience the same Sally has become equipped with planning and proposal making skills fulfillment. Sally shares that she is now identifying and training a new expertise she never acquired from batch of leaders to take on her tasks her vocational course on bookand, hopefully, continue what she keeping enabling her to secure has started. regular government funding for her community activities. Sally remembers having to spend her

SIKATS CONTRIBUTION TO RESPONSIBLE WELLBEING


Wellbeing, in the words of SIKAT staff and stakeholders, is when a person has inner peace, is able to meet basic needs, is able to participate in community activities, and is residing in a peaceful environment. In the context of the SIKAT fisherfolk settlement project, wellbeing is being able to live in peace in ones own home for as long as it takes, and secure in the fact that no one else has the right to claim ownership over ones property. In the featured case stories, Myrna shared how she could not sleep at night, or work during the day, because she was worried all the time of the possibility of being homeless; Remy could still not keep herself from crying when she was reminded of the trauma of their demolition experience, and disclosed her feelings of self pity; Marlyn explained her immense confidence in a document that provides protection and allows one to live peacefully in ones home; and, Sally demonstrated how one persons involvement in fisherfolk settlement can benefit thousands of affected residents. Just like Myrna, Remy, Marlyn and Sally, the lack of tenurial security continues to affect the wellbeing of fisherfolk families all over the coastal communities of the Philippines. Lack of knowledge and understanding [(-) self-esteem] of the legal issues surrounding fisherfolk settlement tops the key reasons why many of the affected residents feel disempowered [(-) self-esteem] to deal with their community problem. Other factors that constantly daunt the fisherfolks are lack of confidence to deal with the land owners and the authorities [(-) self-esteem], lack of money to pursue the necessary legal procedures [(-) self-sustenance], and lack of collective efforts to deal with a communitys common problem [(-) social responsibility]. Along with these missing wellbeing attributes are the residents acquired, if not strengthened, feelings of vulnerability of losing their homes and livelihoods or access to resources [(-) selfsustenance], lack of peace and security [(-) social responsibility], lack of solidarity [(-) social responsibility], lack of social justice [(-) self-determination], and many other characteristics that impact negatively on peoples wellbeing. Therefore, has the SIKATs Fisherfolk Settlement Advocacy and Model-Building Project contributed

to these peoples wellbeing? Indeed, the cases of Myrna, Remy, Marlyn and Sally showed evidences of change that support the affirmative. The Task Force Settlement embodies the varying efforts and support of SIKAT in the fisherfolk settlement project. Its members, whose capacity have been developed to take on the tasks, have been equipped with the necessary information, training, as well as the appropriate tenurial security tools through the different models developed by SIKAT. While the formation of the Task Force Settlement, led by SIKAT, has resulted in many positive outcomes in the cases of the fishing villages faced with settlement problems, the strengthening of the task force members capacity, through the paralegal trainings organized by SIKAT, has produced positive impacts on the featured womens wellbeing.

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Equipped with the right information and greater understanding of the issue [(+) self-esteem], the four womenall being active members of the Task Force Settlementhave attested to acquiring confidence in their capacities [(+) self-esteem] to take on lead roles in the fisherfolk settlement advocacy in their respective communities, and beyond. Their involvements in SIKATs work, in general, and in the fisherfolk settlement advocacy, in particular, have earned them the respect of their families and members of the communities [(+) self-esteem], and have also led to their further participation in other community and coastal resource management issues [(+) social responsibility], enabling them to be of help to many others [(+) social responsibility]. In a still male-dominated Philippine society and fishing industry, these women

have earned the respect, confidence and support of their husbands, and other men in their com-

munities [(+) self-esteem, selfdetermination]. Feelings of inner peace [(+) self-esteem], having security of land and livelihoods [(+) self-sustenance], being of service to others [(+) social responsibility], and happiness [(+) selfesteem] have encouraged these women to continue their active

involvement in the fisherfolk settlement advocacy [(+) social responsibility], and to find the next line of leaders for them to achieve the same positive feelings they have gained through their advocacy and community work [(+) social responsibility]. Most importantly, while gaining personal benefits, including livelihood support for their families, the work of these women have positively influenced the wellbeing of many other affected fisherfolks. Such were the cases of the interviewed fisherman (Edgar), neighbor (Sherlyn) or daughter (Giesha), who all seemed to feel at peace and less vulnerable [(+selfesteem, self-sustenance], knowing that their women leaders, or mothers, are in control of their tenurial situations.

The illustrated interplay of different attributes of the four dimensions of responsible wellbeing (i.e. selfsustenance, self-esteem, self-determination and social responsibility), as presented in the above analysis, has reinforced Oxfam Hong Kongs adopted framework of responsible wellbeing. One finding of interest, however, based on interviews with the featured women, which was further validated by a survey conducted among task force members, is how the peoples involvement in the fisherfolk settlement advocacy have led to reduced time for their personal relaxation [(-) selfsustenance], and sometimes, even for family obligations. And yet, the task force members seem to find the value of their work for a larger number of beneficiaries, apart from their own families, a more satisfactory compensation for their lost time

forleisure. This could be due to the support that the women and other task force members are getting from their own families, and the recognition of their efforts by the rest of the communities [(+) self-esteem, social responsibility]. Finally, the stories of Myrna, Remy, Marlyn and Sally, along with the presented analysis, have demonstrated how SIKATs efforts in fisherfolk settlement, particularly through the formation and strengthening of the Task Force Settlement, have significantly and positively contributed to the responsible wellbeing of its stakeholders in Zambales. And when SIKATs Fisherfolk Settlement Advocacy and Model Building Project in Zambales officially ends in 2011, members of the Task Force Settlement will still be around to continue the tasks at hand.

MAKING IT HAPPEN
SIKAT works with 13 communities in Zambales on issues concerning fisherfolk tenurial security. Its experience through the years has proven the following actions to be vital to achieving progress and success in addressing fisherfolk settlement issues: Advocacy from local to national policymaking bodies. Policy advocacy can take many forms, and happen through various forums. From pushing for local municipal fisheries ordinances, to establishing a national committee on fisherfolk settlement, influencing policies is important to strengthen the call for fisherfolk tenurial security and access appropriate support for the fisherfolks, not only in selected municipalities but for all the fisherfolk communities nationwide.

Awareness-raising activities. The key to making fisherfolks understand their settlement situation, in order to mobilize them, is to provide them with the essential information. Apart from

demystifying their common misconceptions about tenurial security, appropriate actions and possible options must also be provided and explained to them.

TOWARDS SECURING FISHERFOLK SETTLEMENT: LESSONS FROM ZAMBALES | Making It Happen | 46

Community organizing and capacity building. The formation and strengthening of the Task Force Settlement have presented clear, positive manifestations of how organizing the people into an able body and building the capacity of its members to perform the necessary tasks in resolving their community problem can bring success. Coordination/partnership with LGUs and relevant agencies. Establishing good relations with relevant government officials and authorities not only hastens the involved proceedings for securing land titles or tenurial rights for fishers, but more importantly, results in greater support for the fisherfolk settlement advocacy.

Dialogues, consultations, negotiations. Series of meetings with key stakeholders are necessary to discuss, clarify and ultimately, resolve pending issues surrounding fisherfolk settlement. These activities must also involve land owners in order to gain their understanding, and even possibly their support, on the issues at hand. Participatory planning. Planning activities involving the fisherfolk communities and other representatives of key sectors yield a more united decision and a more strategic course of action in addressing the various challenges that come with fisherfolk tenurial security.

Research. This involves gathering of necessary information on the relevant laws for policy advocacy and model-building, as well as exploring of legal/metalegal and other tenurial tools on how to secure fisherfolk settlement. Research also includes inventory of public lands in order to: identify the status of fisherfolk settlement in selected areas; identify public lands; develop lobbying strategies; and, hone the researching skills of fisherfolks. Technical and legal support. Considering the legal implications of tenurial security, law experts and authorities on the matter are consulted for proper advice and information, in order to guide SIKAT and the fisherfolks in the right direction.

Appendix 1
DEMYSTIFYING MISCONCEPTIONS
We have been staying here for a long time so we cannot be evicted from this land. A land can be titled to residents even if they are not occupying the area; it can also be sold or transferred to the land owners relatives. Based on a research conducted by SIKAT, 75% of the public lands are titled, 20% are claimed, and the remaining 5 % are adjacent to titled lands. We do not have to pay for this land because we have been living here for a long time. The issue of paying for or buying a property, which has been considered home for years, is a very difficult compromise for the fisherfolks. However, the law only recognizes claimants or owners

possessing land title/s as those with legal rights over a property. Tax receipts do not serve as proof of ownership and are only needed to verify the duration of the occupants stay in the property.

We are the owners of this land since we are paying for the tax. In reality, the local government can accept or receive tax payment from almost anybody.

TOWARDS SECURING FISHERFOLK SETTLEMENT: LESSONS FROM ZAMBALES | Appendix 1: Demystifying Misconceptions | 48

We used to have an agreement with the owner that we can stay here for as long as we want. Agreements should be made in writing to legitimize claims or agreements with the owner. Heirs, children or other relatives of the current land owner may not recognize merely spoken or verbal agreements. The new owner has the right to notify current settlers to vacate the property once intended for other purposes. The land owner is hard to talk to. We will just have to fight over this land. Based on experience, there are land owners who are willing and open to negotiations with the settlers; On the other hand, there are occupants who tend to be confrontational and are not willing to engage in dialogues with the owner.

Processing of papers or land titles is very costly and tedious. It is more expensive and timeconsuming when there are disputes over a property, which are not settled through negotiations. We are content here, besides no one is telling us to leave the property. Users of foreshore land and the value of land continue to increase, hence, interest in such properties will also continue to grow. This land is ours since we developed and cultivated it. Even though the settlers have made improvements on a property, the law still gives priority to the land owner adjacent to the property, who has the riparian rights.

This land we occupy is owned by the government, hence, we will not be evicted from this land. The government or the land owners adjacent to the property still have access to such land for future use. There are still vacant lots in the foreshore area so we can just move to other idle lands when we are told to vacate this land. In reality, most of the lands in the foreshore area are either privately owned or with already, existing claimants.

Appendix 2
LIST OF ACRONYMS
BFAR Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Balon Homeowners Association DENR Department of Environment and Natural Resources Free Patent Application Fisherfolk Settlement Ordinance Katipunan ng mga Mangingisda ng SIKAT Local Government Unit Land Management Bureau MSPA NGO BHOA FPA FSO CBCRM Community-Based Coastal Resource Management KMS CLWFUP Comprehensive Land, Water and Forest Use Plan LGU CMFO Comprehensive Municipal Fisheries Ordinance Community Mortgage Program LMB Miscellaneous Sales Patent Non-Government Organization

NHMFC National Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation OHK Oxfam Hong Kong

SIKAT Sentro para sa Ikauunlad ng Katutubong Agham at Teknolohiya TFS Task Force Settlement

CMP

MFARMC Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council

COMELEC Commission on Elections

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My sincerest thanks for the time, support and inspiration in completing this publication to: Myrna Rodriguez, Remy Loayon, Marlyn Calderon and Sally Franco Ruiz, along with the other members of the Task Force Settlement. Special thanks are also due to all the other interviewees (Edgar Peregrino, Giesha Loayon, Sherlyn Tadeo) and participants of the SIKAT Wellbeing Research, which is the basis of this publication. Finally, my deepest gratitude to the SIKAT team led by Chito Dugan (Executive Director, National Office) and Cristina Reyes (Program Manager, Zambales Field Office) for their valuable support and for facilitating the logistics for this research.

Abby Mercado Researcher-Writer

Front Cover: SIKAT/Marco Ruben T. Malto II; Page 1/2/3/4/7/9/12/13/14/15/17/18/20/22/23/24/25/28/30/35/37/40/43/45: SIKAT/Marco Ruben T. Malto II; Page 6/31/34/36/38/42/44/47: SIKAT/Gerry Merriman

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