38 With the continuing imposition of community quarantines or granular lockdowns for almost two (2) years now, majority of the participants agree that it has been a challenging time for them, particularly with respect to their income. The average range of income they received before the pandemic was around 600 PHP to 1,000 PHP daily, depending on the amount of catch. During the pandemic, the participants reported that this was down to half or even less. They also experienced days where they had no income since they were not allowed to fish. 288 Furthermore, the capital and expense needed to fund their fishing operation (i.e gasoline, bait, ice to store the catch, etc.) have risen during the pandemic, 289 which means that they often operate at a loss during this period. Participants were also asked if they had other income sources besides fishing during the lockdown periods. Farming (e.g rice, vegetables, copra, coconuts) was the most common answer, particularly with participants from Luzon and Visayas, where the DA was giving out seeds for farming. 290 Aquaculture was another fallback for participants coming from Mindanao and Visayas. While this was available, they had to sell their products at a lower price to compete with larger operations or only sell in their community due to imposed quarantine restrictions. 291 Fish processing (i.e. drying fish) was another source of income for the participants, but they found it hard to sell their goods due to mobility restrictions. A participant shared that she tried to sell her goods online but could only deliver directly within her community. 292 The participants who had no other sources of income had to take out loans from microfinance institutions or informal loan facilities with exorbitant interests like “lending” or “5-6” just to make ends meet. 293 They would cook rice into porridge and mix fish or dried noodles for taste, or they would skip meals altogether to stretch what little income or provisions they could muster.294 With regard to government support received during the pandemic (e.g SAP, relief goods) the participants had varying experiences. Some participants were not able to get the emergency cash subsidy at all. 295 Some have lamented that it took a long time for them to receive it and that it was not enough to compensate for their subsistence. 296 Others have detailed how some of the members of their organization were not able to get SAP so they had to share the subsidies that they received among all of their members.297 On the other hand, some participants detailed that they got their SAP in two (2) tranches, 298 and they also got a “Christmas package” worth 3,000 PHP and 2,000 PHP worth of groceries from BFAR.299 A participant from Mindanao explained that since the community organization had a very strong advocacy and support, they were able to facilitate and organize the services and support of the government in their area. All of the participants said they received relief goods and food packs from the national government and their LGU, at some point during the pandemic. There were also efforts like “Kusina de Barangay” 300 in Orion, Bataan, which provided cooked food in their community for indigent families. 288 Consultations with Fisherfolks, supra note 148 289 Ibid. 290 Ibid. 291 Ibid. 292 Ibid. 293 Ibid. 294 Ibid. 295 Ibid. 296 Ibid. 297 Ibid. 298 Ibid. Some participants report receiving 6,500 PHP, while some say 8,000 PHP 299 Ibid. 300 Ibid. Barangay Kitchen

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