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Cheryl Joy Fernandez-Abila

Research Fellow - Accounts Specialist

Cheryl works with governments and partners across Southeast Asia and the Pacific to strengthen ocean accounts and blue economy initiatives, helping integrate ecosystem data into decision-making.

Faculty of Law / Faculty of Science
Global and Public Law / Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences
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Cheryl is a Research Fellow at ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼǒs Centre for Sustainable Development Reform, specialising in ocean and natural capital accounting. She works with governments and partners across Southeast Asia and the Pacific to strengthen ocean accounts and blue economy initiatives, helping integrate ecosystem data into decision-making. Her research informs policy on environmental valuation, biodiversity conservation, ocean governance, and climate adaptation.

Before joining ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ, Cheryl was an Associate Professor at the University of the Philippines, where she led research and capacity-building programs with local communities on marine protected areas, fisheries governance, and endangered species conservation. She has also worked on reef resilience project in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and conducted impact evaluations for development agencies supporting vulnerable populations.

Cheryl holds a PhD in Economics from James Cook University, a Master’s and Postgraduate Diploma in Economics from Massey University, New Zealand, and a BSc in Economics (cum laude) from the University of the Philippines. She continues to collaborate with ocean-minded experts, fostering co-learning that drives sustainable development outcomes in the region.

Publications
    1. Fernandez-Abila, C.J., Monteclaro, H., Ricopeurto, J., Albaña, M.T. (In Print). Factor-cluster Analysis of Resident Perceptions on the Environmental Impacts of Tourism in Selected Philippine Small Islands. Philippine Journal of Science.
    2. Fernandez, E. G., Fernandez-Abila, C.J., & Subade, R. (2024). Identifying Priority Development Areas Using Index of Dissatisfaction: A Case Study of a Coastal Town in the Philippines. Asia-Pacific Journal of Rural Development, https://doi.org/10.1177/10185291241273719
    3. Fernandez-Abila, C.J., Tan, R., Dumpit, D. Z., Gelvezon, R. P., Arcala Hall, R., Lizada, J., Monteclaro, H., Ricopuerto, J., & Salvador-Amores, A. (2024). Characterizing the sustainable tourism development of small islands in the Visayas, Philippines. Land Use Policy. 137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106996
    4. Fernandez-Abila, C. J., Fernandez, E. G., & Subade, R. (2023). Public Perception of Ecosystem Services in the Marine Protected Areas of Northern Iloilo (Philippines). Journal of Coastal Research, 39(5), 907-920.
    5. Salmon, P. L., Amen, R., Aguilar J. P., Javellana, J. B., & Fernandez, C. J. (2020). Boracay Island destination image through travel blogs. Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development. 3 (1).
    6. Fernandez, C. J., Stoeckl, N., & Welters, R. (2019). The cost of doing nothing in the face of climate change: a case study, using the life satisfaction approach to value the tangible and intangible costs of flooding in the Philippines. Climate and Development, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2019.1579697
    7. Subong, R.J. & Fernandez, C.J. (2019). Co-managing risk: Disaster relief in agricultural and fishing communities in Central Philippines. In Johnson, J., De Young, C., Bahri, T., Soto, D. & Virapat, C., eds. 2019. Proceedings of FishAdapt: the Global Conference on Climate Change Adaptation for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Bangkok, 8–10 August, 2016. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Proceedings No. 61. Rome, FAO. 240 pp. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
    8. Fernandez, C. J., Raitzer, D., & Ginting, E. (2019). Potential Use of the Life Satisfaction Approach to Value Nonmarket Goods and Services. Asian Development Bank Economics Working Paper Series, (569). Retrieved from: https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/482736/ewp-569-life-satisfaction-approach-nonmarket-goods-services.pdf
    9. Fernandez, C.J., Subade, R., & Parreño, P. (2005). Will Mangrove Reforestation Provide Net Benefits: A Case in Sibunag, Guimaras. Science Diliman, 17(2), 21-38.
    • Regular Member of
    • Member of
    • Board of Trustees 2023-2024 of the National Network on Women in Fisheries in the Philippines, Inc. (WINFISH)
    1. Regional Dialogues on Ocean Data, Finance, and Governance for Sustainable Ocean Development (a monthly dialogue series organised by ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Centre for Sustainable Development Reform and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu)
    2.  | 1-5 July 2024 | Bali, Indonesia
    3.  | 3-4 March 2025 | Quang Ninh, Viet Nam
    4. National Workshops on National Data Systems for Fiji | September 2024 and October 2025 | Suva, Fiji