ILOILO City – In celebration of the 60th National Fish Conservation (FishCon) Week and in recognition of the efforts of local stakeholders in maintaining clean and thriving fisheries in their respective communities, winners of the Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK) Awards were feted.
The local government unit (LGU) of Ajuy, Iloilo secured the top spot in the MMK Awards, a recognition conferred by the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) Region 6.
Notably, the Ajuy LGU also secured a place among the Top 3 MMK winners at the national level, with an awarding ceremony scheduled at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Sept. 22
At the regional level, Ibajay town in Aklan earned the second position, while the municipality of Pontevedra in Negros Occidental was honored with the third spot.
The assessment criteria for the MMK awards conferred by BFAR on LGUs included:
* absence of illegal fishing in the area
* adherence to off-fishing seasons
* establishment of marine protected areas
* maintenance of clean coastal waters without pollution or industrial effluents flowing into the sea
* effective mangrove protection and rehabilitation programs
Additionally, Reynilda Partida of Samahan ng Mangingisdang Matatag at Responsible sa Tarong, received recognition as Outstanding Woman in Fisheries.
The Panay Aqua Farmers Consumers Cooperative of Capiz and Sibunag Aquafarmers Fisherfolk Cooperative of Guimaras were both honored as partners in fisheries development.
Furthermore, the Iloilo Provincial Government – Provincial Engineer’’s Office, BFAR-USAID “Fish Right” Program, and the Federation Iloilo Volunteer Fire Brigade, Inc., were acknowledged as partners in conservation.
Gov. Arthur R. Defensor Jr. of Iloilo province emphasized that conservation involves not only restricting fishing activities but also providing alternative livelihood opportunities.
“How can we allow our seas to recover? We need to explore livelihood options, and tourism is one of them,” he said.
The BFAR awards, bestowed upon outstanding individuals and municipalities, serve to underscore the importance of sustainable fisheries and aquatic resource management while promoting engagement among stakeholders for the protection and conservation of fisheries resources across the country. (PIA 6 with reports from DA-BFAR 6)/PN
