Blue Economy Institutional Support in Philippine Muslim Communities
Blue Economy Institutional Support in Philippine Muslim Communities

Summary/Abstract: This study examined how institutional support shapes the implementation and sustainability of blue economy initiatives in post-conflict coastal settings, using the Fisheries, Coastal Resources and Livelihood (FishCORAL) Project (2016-2022) in Basilan, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Philippines, as a case. Anchored in a theory-of-change framework, it employed document analysis of secondary data from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform, International Fund for Agricultural Development, Food and Agriculture Organization and related policy reports. The study assesses roles of Local Government Units (LGUs) in terms of participatory coastal governance, integration of coastal resource management into local plans and budgets, and facilitation of fisheries value chains and livelihoods. Findings show that Local Government Units (LGUs) acted as co-financiers, planners, and livelihood enablers. However, their effectiveness was constrained by coordination gaps, limited financing, design-context misalignment, and post-conflict institutional capacity challenges. The study argues that sustainable blue economy outcomes depend primarily on strong local institutions and proposed capacity-building, diversified financing, and climate-resilient coastal planning to advance inclusive and resilient blue economy governance.

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