The Philippines’ location at the Pacific Rim of Fire and Typhoon Belt led to along history of the country’s experience of strong typhoons, extreme flooding, and destructive earthquakes and landslides. The frequency and intensity of such disasters have increased in the recent years, usually attributed to climate change. Climate change is expected to affect multiple aspects and sectors, including aquaculture. For a municipality which depends heavily on fisheries and sees aquaculture as the future of fish production, climate change can be a big threat to the economy in Mgaallanes, Sorsogon. Flooding, one of the most common climate change impacts in Sorsogon, is chosen as the focus hazard of this research.
To effectively cope with and adapt to the detrimental effects of climate change, particularly flooding, it is therefore important to conduct an assessment survey at the local level. This case study employs a combination of both primary and secondary data collection methodologies which include review of planning documents, field observation, survey, mapping, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews.
This research is centered on six of the nine barangays in Magallanes, Sorsogon where brackish water fishponds are located. The three barangays not covered in the research have unstable security conditions, hence these were excluded from the study.
This study is aimed at determining the factors that influence the social vurnerability factors among the aquaculture farmers in Magallanes, Sorsogon. By doing so, these socio-economic factors can be better managed in order to increase their coping capacity to flooding.