The Municipality of E. B. Magalona is vying for a third major consecutive win at the 2023 Abanse Negrense Good Environmental Governance Award (ANGEGA) and become a Hall of Fame awardee this year.

The 2023 E. B. Magalona finalists, led by MENRO-designate Jojo Vargas, present their best practices for their respective categories during an evaluation by a team of validators from PEMO, led by Technical Support Services Division head Ma. Elena San Jose, at the Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail in Barangay Tomongtong Thursday [Oct. 12].

The Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) will hold the 3rd ANGEGA Awarding Ceremony on December 5 in Bacolod City.

Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer (MENRO)- designate Jojo Vargas said the Municipal Government of E. B. Magalona had won the Sustainability Levels 1 and 2 awards of ANGEGA in 2021 and 2022.

Also, the E. B. Magalona Blue Crab and Bird Sanctuaries and Mangrove Reserve- Local Conservation Area (EBM- LCA) is again vying for the Negros Occidental Governor's Conservationist Achievement Award (NOGCAA) - Local Conservation Area Category this year. Last year, it was adjudged 2nd Best-Managed LCA in the NOGCAA category.

Aside from the local government unit (LGU), the E. B. Magalona National High School- Main Campus is also vying for the NOGCAA - School Category this year. Last year, Rosario Dinaga, a Master Teacher II of E. B. Magalona Elementary School, was one of the recipients of the NOGCAA- Individual Category for her work as adviser of their school’s Nature’s Keepers Club.

Nelida Dajay of Barangay Pasil Fisherfolks Association is vying for this year's Abanse Babaye Para sa Dunang Manggad Award (ABPDMA). Last year, Glecenda Sacun, president of the Tomongtong Women Workers' Association, was one of the recipients of the ABPDMA.

The 2023 E. B. Magalona finalists presented their best practices for their respective categories during an evaluation by a team of validators from PEMO, led by Technical Support Services Division head Ma. Elena San Jose, at the Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail in Barangay Tomongtong Thursday [Oct. 12].

FULL SUPPORT

In a statement, Mayor Marvin Malacon said his administration is fully supportive of all efforts to protect the environment and conserve the natural resources of the municipality.

“Our beloved Municipality of E. B. Magalona is blessed with abundant marine and coastal resources, including unique-tasting and fresh seafoods. The world-famous blue swimming crabs are most abundant in our municipality, thus E. B. Magalona is widely considered ‘Home to the Blue Crabs’ and ‘The Blue Crab Capital of Negros Occidental,’” Malacon said.

“Of our 23 barangays, nine are situated along the coast— Tomongtong, Latasan, Tuburan, Gahit, Madalag, Batea, Manta-angan, Pasil, and Alicante (Sitio Buyog). As such, the major source of livelihood of Saraviahanon is fishing. Therefore, it is imperative that the programs and policies of our Municipal Government put priority to the preservation and conservation of our valuable marine resources,” the mayor added.

In 2019, under Malacon’s administration, the LGU passed Municipal Ordinance No. 29, entitled the “E. B. Magalona Blue Crab and Bird Sanctuaries, and Mangrove Reserve - Local Conservation Area.”

This ordinance states that the Municipality of E. B. Magalona shall ensure the equitable and wise use of the coastal resources, reserve preferential use of these resources for its fisherfolks, and promote their active participation in its management.*

E. B. MAGALONA PIO