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Sarihay in Focus: “Saving Danjugan Island” by Jonathan Mayuga

Posted on September 7, 2016

(Fourth in a thirteen-part series on the 2nd Sarihay Media Awards winners)

Jonathan Mayuga reports on the critical state of Negros Occidental’s Danjugan Island Sanctuary, home to at least 72 bird species, including a pair of White-breasted Sea Eagles (heliatus leucogaster), at least 17 species of mangroves, 572 fish species belonging to 139 genera, 244 species of hard corals, eight species of seagrasses and 74 species of macroalgae have been recorded on the island and its surrounding waters (Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc.) in "Saving Danjugan Island."

“Once threatened by activities like hunting wildlife and illegal fishing, the island and its surrounding waters is now protected by a local law, the Cauayan Municipal Ordinance 99-52 of 2000, which created the Danjugan Island Marine Reserve and Sanctuaries with three Special Management Areas or No-take Zones. However, Leo Albao, PRRCFI manager, said Danjugan remains under constant threat because of destructive human activities. He said through activities involving various stakeholders, including LGUs, communities in Cauayan’s coastal barangays, POs, NGOs and like-minded individuals, they are able to keep the island safe and hope to make it a model for biodiversity conservation."

We want to teach the people, especially the children, the importance of protecting the marine environment,” Albao said. PRFCI’s two major programs focus on marine ecosystem education, information and communications.”

FPE, in its work towards sustainable fisheries and marine protection and conservation, echoes Mayuga’s call for multi-stakeholder participation in conservation—involving government, private sector, and peoples’ organizations in education and alternative livelihood programs towards biodiversity conservation.

Read the full article here.

Published in the Business Mirror last August 22, 2015, the piece bagged the Best Feature Story award in the 2^nd Sarihay Media Awards last August 26, 2016.

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The Sarihay Media Awards recognizes the role of the media in promoting awareness and deeper understanding of environmental and sustainable development issues among policymakers, decision makers, and the public. The campaign honors media practitioners who delivered outstanding and responsible reportage of environmental news in the past year. The term "Sarihay" comes from the Filipino phrase, "Samu't Saring Buhay", which aptly describes the “diversity of life,” or biodiversity.

The 3rd Sarihay Media Awards will be open for submissions in early 2017.

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