1st ever Baybay Awards for Coastal Barangays launches in Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape!

As part of the celebrations for the 26th Founding Anniversary of Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (SBPS), the SBPS Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) launched their very first Baybay Awards: Search for the cleanest and best managed coastal Barangay among the 7 LGUs of SBPS.

Nine (9) Barangays shall be competing for the Baybay Awards' Small, Medium, and Large Categories. These contenders shall be judged on their capability to practice proper PA management, be it in 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 Awards also recognize the coastal Barangays which have the Best Mangrove Initiative, Best Seagrass Initiative and Best Coral Reef Initiative.

“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, which can be emulated by other Barangays” SBPS PASu Joy C. Ologuin said in an interview.
 
The Baybay Awards' entry submissions and onsite validation recently concluded on March 04, 2022. The winners shall be announced during the final awarding ceremony on March 08, 2022 at Greenleaf Hotel, General Santos City.

“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," DENR 12 RED and concurrent PAMB SBPS Chairperson Atty. Felix S. Alicer announced.

DENR PENRO Sarangani Maria Elvira V. Lumayag expressed her support to the PAMB's Baybay Awards, stating that “Recognizing our Barangays is one way of inspiring these coastal barangays to do their best for Sarangani Bay. We are encouraging them to be creative in initiating measures for the conservation of SBPS.”