Filipino Women Share Untold Stories and Maritime Agenda

For more than thirty years, Beth Sarmiento has dedicated herself as a bantay dagat, or sea patrol volunteer. She’s the first woman from Masinloc, Zambales, to take on this role. Her tireless work involves safeguarding the Marine Protected Area in Zambales, a critical sanctuary for coral spawning and marine biodiversity in the Philippines.

“I’m committed to protecting and preserving our natural resources,” Sarmiento said, adding that she also serves as the chairperson of the local biodiversity association. “We actively join environmental initiatives organized by the municipal government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. … I take pride in being a woman who stands for the protection of our environment,” she added.

Conversations about the sea often focus on industries like shipping, fisheries, and security—areas typically dominated by men. Yet women also play crucial roles in archipelagic affairs, contributing in ways often overlooked and unrecognized in Philippine society.

Like Sarmiento, Princess Aldovino from Batangas has spent 15 years as a bantay dagat volunteer, protecting the Verde Island Passage, a globally recognized marine passage considered by scientists as the “center of the center” of the world’s marine shore fish biodiversity. This island passage not only supports abundant marine life but also sustains the livelihoods and food security of more than two million people. It also serves as an essential site for marine scientific research, highlighting its global significance in conservation and development efforts.

Though often unseen, their stories are important to understanding the lay of the land—and of the sea.

On March 21, in celebration of International Women’s Month, women leaders and community representatives from across the country gathered for a national convening supported by the Australian Government and The Asia Foundation through the Waypoints Project. The event served as a platform to launch the Agenda of the Archipelagic Women of the Philippines, a policy and advocacy document developed by women from coastal and island communities. The agenda calls for inclusive governance that recognizes and supports the leadership of archipelagic women.

The stories shared by the Archipelagic Women of the Philippines are a testament to their contributions and struggles. The stories encompass their agenda—inclusive and accessible education, environmental protection, and improved livelihoods, governance, and leadership.

“Women are partners in leadership, governance, and the advancement of their families, communities, and environment,” Professor Caridad Jimenez of the University of the Philippines Visayas said at the event. “Strengthening spaces that enable women to be partners in leading and managing maritime and marine affairs is essential. Recognition and documentation of women’s contributions are at the core of community development and nation-building.”

Despite the critical work of the women volunteers, these stories often go unheard.

Filipino women face systemic barriers such as exclusion from decision-making, limited access to resources, and policies that overlook their needs and continue to hold them back despite their essential role in coastal protection and community leadership.

“Women should be accorded equal and fair opportunities for their advancement,” said Jimenez, referring to shared principles of the event’s agenda. “Fairness, transparency, and accountability are central to expanding spaces for women’s meaningful participation and involvement in governance and decision-making.”

Janice Manigbas is from Batangas, and her experiences epitomize the gap between principle and practice in the maritime sector.

Born into a family of fisherfolk, she inherited their way of life and became an active member of the local fisherfolk association. Her leadership and dedication earned the respect of her peers, leading to her nomination as a fisherfolk representative in the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council—a body responsible for assisting in fisheries management, development planning, policymaking, and law enforcement within municipal waters.

Despite her experience and knowledge, she was ultimately denied the position.

“I was removed because I am a woman,” Manigbas shared during the forum, highlighting the systemic barriers that continue to exclude women from leadership roles in the fisheries sector. She is one of many women who have been denied opportunities, with countless others experiencing the same but never given a chance to be heard and seen.

One of the shared principles of the agenda, “The elimination of any form of discrimination and exploitation is essential and necessary to uplift the dignity and rights of women,” is meant to address the fact that discrimination and exploitation of women remain rampant across all sectors.

Sister Jo-Anne Lorrilla, executive director of the nonprofit organization OND HESED in General Santos City, discussed the organization’s efforts in advancing social protection for women and promoting the human rights of women and girls. OND HESED has provided crucial support to women who have been victimized and trafficked at sea, particularly those working on fishing vessels in General Santos. Many of these women lacked documentation, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, harassment, and abuse.

Lorrilla emphasized the urgent need for stronger protections to uphold women’s dignity and rights, stating: “When we protect the women, we protect the children; we also protect their partners and the community.”

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E. HK Yu, said: “Elevating our support for gender equality issues in the maritime sector and beyond requires much more than just investments in civil maritime governance and marine environment protection. It requires complementary and targeted investments in other key sectors, including women’s health, rights and safety, gender equitable climate action, locally led approaches to women’s leadership, and women’s economic equality.”

Going forward, the goal is to ensure that women are no longer invisible when people think of archipelagic affairs. The launch of the agenda is not the final step. When the women read their agenda, it was not just a presentation but a declaration of a movement taking shape. They each brought stories and struggles from their communities, and now they return carrying a shared voice strengthened by collective action.  

Waypoints will continue to support these women in opening spaces for dialogue, influencing policies for their welfare, and strengthening platforms that keep them—the archipelagic women—at the center of maritime governance.