Abstract

The study focused on utilizing the four-step model to understand the achieved capabilities and functionings of residents of Ginatilan through the municipality’s environmental poverty alleviation programs. Specifically, it examined the sustainability of Ginatilan’s usage of natural resources and also utilized the views on the tragedy of the commons, as well as environmental and relational peace as frameworks. This article provided strategic recommendations for managing rural communities in the future. A case study was conducted in Barangay Anao and Mangaco, where household surveys, interviews, and document analyses were done through qualitative content analysis (QCA). Results show that the Municipality of Ginatilan’s utilization of its natural resources through its environmental poverty alleviation programs is economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable. This research also has seen a positive relationship between sustainability and peace, and both domains require consideration of social, environmental, economic, and political dimensions to attain overall sustainability of natural resources.