Sustainable development of Philippine coastal resources: Subsidiarity in ethnoecology through inclusive participatory education

The country's marine fisheries are characterized by a decline in biodiversity and abundance, resulting in a large sector of impoverished fisherfolk with limited education. Coastal adult education and lifelong learning have become a national priority in the Philippines. The country's fisherfolk community is a complex and diverse group, with a rich cultural heritage and a strong sense of self-determination. Historically, educational development in the Philippines has been complicated by a heritage of isolated communities and three centuries of colonialism. This has led to a need for participatory strategies that take into account the local context and the needs of the fisherfolk community. The concept of subsidiarity, which aims to ensure that decisions are taken at the most local level possible, is central to this article. The authors argue that the subsidiarity principle can be used to promote sustainability and development in the Philippines by linking ecological and social systems. This approach is based on the idea that local communities have a deep understanding of their environment and can make decisions that are tailored to their specific needs. The authors conducted a pilot study to test the effectiveness of a structured ethnoecological research design combined with Siningbayan, a form of social artistry that evolved through the Philippine history of organic networking and participation. The study involved a well-established fisherfolk organization and applied cultural consensus theory to identify potential input strategies for education development on marine science concepts. The results of the study confirmed that a structured ethnoecological research design combined with Siningbayan is effective for identifying education and curriculum specifics for the fisherfolk sector of Filipino society and for professional marine science. The study also highlighted the importance of subsidiarity in transferring information to individual fisherfolk and their communities, and in exploring their scaled-up role in leadership, organizational, and professional development. The authors emphasize the need for participatory strategies that take into account the local context and the needs of the fisherfolk community. They argue that the subsidiarity principle can be used to promote sustainability and development in the Philippines by linking ecological and social systems. The study's findings have implications for the development of education and curriculum specifics for the fisherfolk sector of Filipino society and for professional marine science. The Philippines' marine bioregions are divided into six regions, each with its unique characteristics and challenges. The country's fisherfolk community is spread across thousands of islands, speaking over 100 indigenous and local languages. The local government code of Republic Act 7160 emphasizes the importance of protecting self-determination and governance through local government. The study's findings have implications for the development of education and curriculum specifics for the fisherfolk sector of Filipino society and for professional marine science. The authors argue that the subsidiarity principle can be used to promote sustainability and development in the Philippines by linking ecological and social systems. The study's results confirm that a structured ethnoecological research design combined with Siningbayan is effective for identifying education and curriculum specifics for the fisherfolk sector of Filipino society and for professional marine science.