Sources of Living: A Community Needs Assessment for Livelihood of Panaytayan Community in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro

Abstract

This Community Needs Assessment (CNA) explores the livelihood dynamics of the Panaytayan Community in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro. Home to over 11,500 indigenous Hanunuo Mangyan people (Municipal Community Development Office, 2024), Panaytayan is endowed with picturesque landscapes but faces persistent livelihood insecurities. The study employed a qualitative approach, utilizing interviews from Mansalay Community Development Office assigned personnel and community members from four selected sitios within the community, and observations through actual community immersion. Results revealed the various livelihood sources of the community, including kaingin, ramit weaving, handicraft production, and high-value crop cultivation such as kaong, cacao, and coffee. Some households also raise native chickens and pigs, and goats as an additional source of income, along with carabao for transportation and farm work. Despite these diverse activities, the community needs support for the different challenges they are facing, such as the lack of organized weaving communities, productivity limitations of older artisans, and the absence of standardized tools affecting product quality. Moreover, financial management and inclusivity issues add to the mentioned challenges, alongside broader concerns of inadequate infrastructure, limited education, and health services, which are all interrelated barriers to having sufficient income.
On the other hand, the Panaytayan community exhibits a robust willingness to engage in collaborative livelihood projects, tapping into a pool of artisans and utilizing the rich local raw materials available in the area. The study underscored the need for structured interventions, including organizing weaving communities, enhancing skills in handicraft production, networking, creating market platforms, implementing financial education programs, and advocating for infrastructure development. These recommendations aim to empower the Panaytayan community, fostering sustainable livelihoods that interlink economic, environmental, and cultural sustainability.