The Baybay Awards: Search for the Cleanest and Best- Managed Coastal Barangay initially began on February 10 with the submission of barangay portfolios, site inspection and validation, and eventually culminated to its awarding ceremony held at Greenleaf Hotel, General Santos City on March 8.

 

PENR Officer of Sarangani Maria Elvira V. Lumayag expressed in her opening remarks that the Baybay Awards is their way of encouraging and recognizing the efforts of the barangays in contributing to the seascape's management.

 

The winners were awarded with project funding provided by the SBPS Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) which shall be used for initiatives that will support SBPS.

 

𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲:

 

CHAMPION : Brgy. Kalaong, Maitum, Sarangani Province

1st Runner-up : Brgy. Baluan, General Santos City

2nd Runner-up : Brgy. Kling, Kiamba, Sarangani Province

 

𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲:

CHAMPION : Brgy. Suli, Kiamba, Sarangani Province

1st Runner-up : Brgy. Kamanga, Maasim, Sarangani Province

 

𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲:

CHAMPION : Brgy. Poblacion, Malapatan, Sarangani Province

1st Runner-up : Brgy. Ladol, Alabel, Sarangani Province

2nd Runner-up : Brgy. Bula, General Santos City

 

The Baybay Awards also recognized the barangays whose coastal habitats were well-managed, wherein Brgy. Kamanga won the Best Coral Reef Initiative, Barangay Baluan for the Best Mangrove Forest Initiative, and Barangay Gumasa in Glan, Sarangani Province bagged the Best Seagrass Beds Initiative.

 

DENR-12 Regional Executive Director and concurrent SBPS-PAMB chair Atty. Felix S. Alicer commend the PAMB and coastal barangays for organizing the Baybay Awards and hoped to expand the next Awards to offer bigger prizes and incentives for participating barangays." | With report and photos from PAMO-SBPS

Land Management Officer III Mary Grace Ybañez said that the primary goal of the activity is to bring one of DENR’s frontline services closer to the public.

 

Prior to the mass application, a "pulong-pulong" with the barangay officials of Brgy. Sulit already took place at the barangay gymnasium. It can be recalled that the Townsite Survey of the barangay was approved last year, which paved a way for this initiative.

 

As part of the orientation program, personnel from CENRO Land Administration and Management Unit (LAMU) discussed the requirements and process on public land applications.

 

Through this initiative, residents and officials of Brgy. Sulit shall be equipped with the necessary knowledge about land applications, including addressing their queries concerning land matters.

 

Meanwhile, OIC-CENR Officer-GenSan Elmer Mercado hopes that through these activities, they will be able to expedite the process of land applications and further strengthen partnership with LGU Polomolok |(MJAZULITA-UGARTE -CENROGSC)

KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO – The Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (SBPS) Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) will award the cleanest and best managed coastal barangays in the protected seascape for its first Baybay Awards.

 

DENR-12 Regional Executive Director (RED) and the concurrent chair of PAMB-SBPS Atty. Felix S. Alicer said that the Baybay Awards is part of the celebration of the 26th Founding Anniversary of the SBPS wherein some coastal barangays among the seven (7) local government units (LGUs) of the SBPS will be awarded.

 

“We are offering major prizes for this competition in the form of project funding. Our grand prize shall be PHP 200,000.00 for the winning barangay. This prize funding, however, can only be utilized for projects, programs, and activities that shall benefit SBPS," RED Alicer said.

 

Joy C. Ologuin, protected area superintendent (PASu) of the SBPS, said that “This year, we are recognizing the efforts of our barangays as our partners in conserving SBPS. They have their own environmental initiatives and best practices that are worth recognizing and can be emulated by other barangays.”

 

Under the Baybay Awards, nine (9) barangays shall be competing for the small, medium, and large categories.

 

The contenders shall be judged on their capability to practice proper PA management on enforcement efforts, local legislation of marine protected areas, solid waste management, water quality & coastal sanitation, ecosystem rehabilitation, fund outsourcing, information campaigns, and observance of the seascape's easement zone.

 

The Baybay Awards will also recognize the coastal barangays with Best Mangrove Initiative, Best Seagrass Initiative, and Best Coral Reef Initiative.

 

The entry submissions and onsite validation of the Baybay Awards were recently concluded on Friday. The winners shall be announced during the final awarding ceremony on March 8, 2022 at Greenleaf Hotel, General Santos City.

 

DENR Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer of Sarangani Maria Elvira V. Lumayag expressed her support to the PAMB's Baybay Awards, stating that “Recognizing our barangays is one way of inspiring them to do their best for Sarangani Bay. We are encouraging them to be creative in initiating measures for the conservation of SBPS.” | With report and photos from PAMO-SBPS

A Tree Planting was muddily-enjoyed by the participants on February 04, 2022, at the panoramic view of Strawberry-Guyabano Farm (SG Farm) located at Sitio Glandang, Brgy. Kablon, Tupi South Cotabato.

 

Said environmental activity called “Punong Puno Program” was effectively pushed in partnership with Protected Area Management Office-Mt. Matutum Protected Landscape (PAMO-MMPL), SG Farm and Officers of Koronadal National Comprehensive High School (KNCHS) Supreme Student Government (SSG) in support to the Executive Order No. 192 otherwise known as“Expanded National Greening Program” (ENGP), one of the priority programs of DENR in conserving and protecting the environment.

 

Tree planting with a twist was perceived by PAMO-MMPL. Planters inscribed their hopes and dreams in a piece of wood called stake. The stakes were placed beside the planted seedling.

 

A total of five hundred (500) “Tuai/Nabol” and “Kasakstan” were engrained by over 60 individuals on the site.

 

Among the dreams inscribed were; “Grow well and robust” - Shalimar Disomangcop, PENR Officer, PENRO South Cotabato; “I want to be a Forester” - Mia Zafra, Grade 10 Rep KNCHS; “Let’s grow happily ever after” Darelene Prado, MMPL; “Live free and grow wild” -Kristian Suetos, Biologist, MMPL; “Sabay tayong tatanda hanggang sa dulo ng Mt. Matutum” Ada Hibaler, MMPL.

 

Participants endured trail path, bone-chilling weather, slippery soils, rough slipways and muddy hands during the planting activity.

 

In her welcome address, Hannah Mamon, SG Farm Proprietor, confessed that the now tourist spot was a product of her depression due to the pandemic. Together with her husband, Aldrin Mamon, visiting their farm for the first time last 2019 moved her heart and made her realized, “why not create a business that will also be of big help in the environment,” she uttered.

 

Efren Hibaler, Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) discussed the assemblage of MMPL, giving emphasis to its ecological profile and the implementation of R.A 11038 known as Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS).

 

On the other hand, Shalimar Disomangcop, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) of South Cotabato manifested his environmental passion as he inspired and challenged the planters on the value of planting trees and making sure that the seedling must endure and grow after a couple of months and years. He suggested visiting the planting site next year to check the progress of the planted seedlings.

 

Proper steps of planting a seedling were explained by Ruben Halop, NGP In-Charge, and stressed the dos and don’ts of planting.

 

Meantime, SSG Officers overwhelmingly accepted the “Certificate of Participation”. Assistant PASu Mary Ann Tenorio headed the distribution of the certificates.

 

Students were congratulated by PENRO Shalimar Disomangcop, PASu Efren Hibaler, and SG Farm Owners Aldrin and Hannah Mamon.

 

Also, the Chairman of KNCHS Division Youth Formation, Mr. Junevar E. Bautista extended gratitude to all the partners of the worthwhile program.

 

Dr. Nelson M. Pampolina, UP Los Baños Professor, complimented and congratulated the success of the activity and emphasized to the participants “You are here not by chance but of purpose.” He foresees more partnership in conserving and saving the environment in the future. (With report and photos from Mary Ann C. Tenorio, PENRO South Cotabato IO Designate)

 

A male olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), which was trapped on January 29 inside a fishing net at Sitio San Vicente, Barangay Silway, General Santos City, was recently released by the Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) of Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (SBPS) and City Environment and Natural Resources Office of General Santos after five (5) days of recuperation.

 

According to a report, Victoriano Picar, the responding bantay dagat in the area, noticed a nylon string hanging from the turtle's mouth and suspected ingestion of fishing hook.

 

Dr. Roy Mejorada, SBPS-PAMO in-house veterinarian, performed a basic surgery to remove the fishing hooks lodged in the turtle's esophagus.

 

“We needed to perform basic surgery for the marine turtle. The hook may disrupt its feeding, causing starvation and eventual death," Mejorada said.

 

SBPS Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) Joy C. Ologuin said that marine turtles are indicative of a healthy bay. They signify the abundance of prey such as jellyfish, small fishes, crabs, shrimps, algae, and sea urchins within the seascape.

 

"To date, this is the fourth marine turtle stranding we recorded for 2022. Two of the stranded turtles were successfully released back to the sea, while the other two were already dead when they stranded," PASu Ologuin added.

 

Sarangani PENR Officer Elvira Lumayag urged the fisher folks to refrain from fishing in areas with presence of marine turtles.

 

"If you come upon a stranded Pawikan (marine turtle), you can report it to your barangay captain, local ENRO, or the closest DENR Office, and we will respond," PENRO Lumayag added. | with report and photos from PAMO-SBPS