Governance Capacity Gaps among Fisherfolk Communities: A Training Needs Assessment for Public Administration in Sagay City, Philippines

Abstract

This study examines the governance capacity gaps among fisherfolk communities in Sagay City, Philippines, with particular focus on their public administration and governance training needs within a decentralized governance context. Drawing on a quantitative descriptive design, data were collected from 488 members of fisherfolk associations using a validated survey instrument. The findings reveal a consistently high demand for capacity-building across key domains, including fiscal administration, legal literacy, participatory decision-making, and institutional linkages. Notably, no statistically significant differences were observed across demographic variables, indicating that governance-related capacity gaps are systemic and widely shared rather than group-specific.

The results further highlight a critical disconnect between policy awareness and compliance, suggesting that economic constraints and limited livelihood alternatives shape governance behavior more than knowledge deficits alone. Grounded in participatory governance and public service capacity perspectives, the study argues that effective interventions must move beyond knowledge transfer toward integrated, community-wide strategies that combine governance training with livelihood support.

By providing empirical evidence from a resource-dependent coastal setting, this study contributes to the growing discourse on inclusive governance by demonstrating that capacity-building efforts in marginalized communities are most effective when designed as collective, context-sensitive, and institutionally supported interventions. The findings offer practical insights for policymakers and local government units in developing adaptive extension programs that strengthen both governance participation and socio-economic resilience.