Barangay Poloyagan, Pagadian City, has been popularly known as one of the

largest coastal barangays within the jurisdiction of Pagadian whose population mainly
depends on fishing as livelihood. Along with fishing, other indirect methods and related
industries such as fish trading, fish net mending, motorized banka making, among others,
are being practiced by them for them to afford basic needs.

It is important to note that like any other livelihood, local fishing has been affected
by the invasive modernization which greatly affects the efficiency of such livelihood to
compete with other occupations and employment. Through the years, the number of local
fisherfolks who engage in such occupation has been drastically decreasing, as a result of
the greater demands and increased prices of basic commodities, wherein they seem to
realize that such livelihood is not enough for subsistence. Thus, most of the younger
generation of fisherfolks, and even the older ones, have given up their livelihood and have
opted to be employed in construction works outside their locality.

This study aims to magnify the external factors which affects the local fishing
industry of Poloyagan, as well as how it affects their culture as a fishing community. In
addition, this study uses theories and methods of ethno-history in order to understand the
social behavior of the fisherfolks and what are their perceptions towards their community
and the local administration.

Aside from modernization, The fishing culture in Poloyagan has also been greatly
affected by environmental factors. Lack of education and knowledge relating to coastal
shore sanitation, local marine ecosystem preservation, among others, are just few of the
environmental challenges that are yet to be focused and enhanced. This study aims to
explore the culture of fishing in Barangay Poloyagan, as additional knowledge for
indigenous culture of Filipinos. This study also emphasizes the direct interaction of
fishermen with the sea. It attempts to expose the close relationship between the
fishermen with their environment.

Immersing with marginalized sectors will surely pave the way for deeper
understanding of the culture local fishing industry in the Barangay, which can be very
useful as reference on how the local administrative bodies can productively and
effectively address their problems.