Socio-Economic Conditions and Perceptions on the Conservation of Tubbataha Reefs and Vicinity: A Households Survey in Cagayancillo, Palawan

This paper presents the results of a socio-economic monitoring survey of 110 sampled respondents/households across the 12 barangays of Cagayancillo, using a survey instrument through personal interviews. Findings show that on the average, the respondent was 48 years old, with 7 years of formal education, has lived in Cagayancillo for 31 years and belonged to a family/household with 6 members. Cagayanens had shifted to farming as the main source of their livelihood and income, while fishing was only second. Based on their income data, Cagayanens are living below poverty threshold level of income. Poverty incidence ranged from 67-79% of the Cagayanen households. The income data for 1999 and 2004 when compared, plus the respondents' perception that present aquatic resources are not in good condition, somehow allude to the possibility that the Cagayanens may just easily fall on the vicious cycle of poverty and environmental degradation. The good news can be the increasing involvement of people in coastal resource management and conservation. By including the people in the main Cagayancillo islands as beneficiaries of and participants in the conservation efforts and projects, WWF-Philippines/ KKP has perhaps initiated a good momentum for a democratized and more sustainable stakeholders management of coastal resources in Cagayancillo. In order to sustain this momentum for continuous people's participation in coastal resource management and conservation, and eventually the alleviation of poverty in Cagayancillo, concerned policy makers and other entities need to consider some options, one of which is the continuation of conservation efforts started by WWF-Philippines for another 2-3 years