Coastal Vulnerability Assessment of Fishing Communities in the City of Carcar and the Municipality of Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines

This study assessed the coastal vulnerability of fishing communities in the City of Carcar and the Municipality of Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines, to provide scientific bases for climate adaptation and coastal resource management. Using the ICSEA-C-Change framework, the research combined participatory approaches with quantitative statistical analysis, including chi-square testing, to compare levels of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity among coastal barangays. Results revealed that both LGUs exhibited moderate overall vulnerability, influenced by coral reef degradation, coastal population density, and limited institutional mechanisms. Key environmental indicators such as sea surface temperature, sea level rise, wave energy, and rainfall trends highlighted increased exposure to climate hazards. Sensitivity was driven by declining fish catch rates and dependence on passive fishing gears, whereas adaptive capacity reflected the heterogeneous condition of coral, seagrass, and mangrove ecosystems. Strengthening community-based resource management, enhancing early warning systems, and improving local adaptive governance are essential for sustaining fisheries and coastal livelihoods under changing climate conditions. This study provides a replicable framework for integrating community-based data with statistical analysis to inform local climate adaptation planning in Philippine coastal zones.