An undergraduate research study by students from the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) received the Best Paper Award in the Oral Speed Presentation Competition, Undergraduate Category, during the Third Philippine Small-Scale Fisheries National Symposium (PSSFNS 3), held on October 21–23, 2026, at Batangas State University – Pablo Borbon Campus, Batangas City.
The paper, titled “Making the Invisible Visible: Economic Valuation of Unpaid Work in Small-Scale Fishing (SSF) Households in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo,” was conducted by Colyn Kate C. Malaga and Ysmael P. Tirol, from the Bachelor of Science in Economics program, under the guidance of their thesis adviser, Dr. Gay Defiesta.
The study highlights the often-unrecognized economic contributions of unpaid care and domestic work in small-scale fishing households, particularly the labor performed by women. By examining and assigning economic value to this invisible work, the research underscores the importance of recognizing women’s contributions to household welfare, local economies, and the sustainability of small-scale fisheries.
Its findings contribute to broader discussions on gender equality, the recognition and redistribution of unpaid care work, and the need for more inclusive and gender-responsive policies in the small-scale fisheries sector.
Organized by Too Big To Ignore (TBTI) Philippines, PSSFNS 3 carried the theme “From Action to Replication: Scaling Up and Deepening the Impact of Small-Scale Fisheries,” bringing together researchers and stakeholders to advance knowledge and action toward sustainable and equitable small-scale fisheries.
Written by Colyn Kate C. Malaga and Ysmael P. Tirol
