The municipality of EB Magalona continues its winning streak in environment competitions by winning three more major awards during the second awarding ceremony of the Provincial Environment Management Office at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City Nov. 24.
The town was adjudged 2nd Best Managed Local Conservation Area (LCA), a major category of the Negros Occidental Governor’s Conservation Achievement Award (NOGCAA), and took home P30,000 in cash prize and a plaque.
This is in recognition of the municipality’s “exemplary contribution in environmental conservation, protection, and rehabilitation” of the EB Magalona Blue Crab and Bird Sanctuaries and Mangrove Reserve.
This LCA of 209 hectares of protected area has 20 hectares of Strict Protection Zone (SPZ), or No-Take-Zone, and include the Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail, an eco-tourism site in the coastal barangay of Tomongtong, a press release from the town said Thursday.
The municipal government is also one of the six LGU-recipients of the Abanse Negrense Good Environmental Governance Award (ANGEGA) Sustainability Level 2, and received P25,000 in cash prize and a plaque.
It likewise took home the 2022 Best Localized Environmental Thematic Events Celebration commendation, in recognition of its events and activities in line with environmental protection and sustainability.
Mayor Marvin Malacon was represented at the awarding ceremony by Municipal Environment and Natural Resources officer-designate Jojo Vargas. He was accompanied by MENRO Solid Waste Management Program focal person Archie Derick Diel and MENRO staff Don Salvador Salcedo.
The awards were presented by Board Member Andrew Montelibano, Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II, PEMO head Atty. Julie Ann Bedrio, and executive assistant to the governor Marie June Pavillar Castro.
On Nov. 22, two residents of EB Magalona also won environment awards from PEMO.
Glecenda Sacun, president of the Tomongtong Women Workers’ Association in Barangay Tomongtong, was one of the recipients of the Abanse Babaye sa Dunang Manggad Award.
Rosario Dinaga, a Master Teacher II of EB Magalona Elementary School, meanwhile, received the NOGCAA Individual Category award. She is the adviser of the school’s Nature’s Keepers Club. ||
