As early as October of 1999, the dream of evolving into a network for women in fisheries was conceived and shared among a multidisciplinary group of individuals with various experiences with women in fisheries in the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific Region. In March 2000 a conference-workshop held at Four Season Hotel in Iloilo City on the theme Unfolding Women Lives in the Fisheries World brought together men and women who addressed women’s contribution to fisheries and the constraints they experiences in sector participation. Their initiative gave birth to the National Network for Women in Fisheries in the Philippines.
Officers were elected, the network was registered with SEC and more conferences were organized and participated by representatives from different sectors involved in fisheries-related activities nationwide.
Support from PCAMRD, BFAR DA, DENR, UPV and SEAFDEC indicated initial and overwhelming success and inspiration. Awareness on the situation of women in the fisheries world was enhanced through paper and video presentations, testimonials and keynote speeches.
Clusters in Luzon and Eastern Visayas have now been organized. and more women have shared indigenous and technical knowledge in fisheries and development.
The dream of advancing the empowerment of women in partnership with men be it in coastal and fish farming communities or the factories and offices is made a little closer to reality.
Vision:
A gender-fair society and a gender-responsive fisheries sector
Mission:
Recognize, utilize and enhance women’s potentials and capabilities in the fisheries sector for sustainable and equitable development
Goals:
Recognition and appreciation of the role of women in nation-building through their participation in fisheries-related activities
Organized women in the fisheries sector for advocacy and networking activities
More focused direction for fisheries-related activities of women in partnership with men
Objectives
To increase awareness of women’s role in fisheries
To enhance gender sensitivity among fisheries-involved individual and institution especially in government
To generate information exchange among members and interested individuals and institutions
To initiate and conduct gender-related activities through individual and collaborative approaches
To improve women’s quality of life especially in the fisheries involved communities through advocacy and networking
2018 | The National Network on Women in Fisheries in the Philippines, inc.