September 12, 2022

BFAR Recognizes WWF-Philippines for Sustainable Fisheries Efforts

Gawad Pagkilala awardees join representatives from the DA-BFAR and from the national government for a photo opportunity. WWF-Philippines works with the Philippine government toward the better management of the countries’ fisheries resources. Photograph © WWF-Philippines / Alo Lantin
DA-BFAR Secretary Nestor Domenden, DA Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and Regulations Mercedita Sombilla and DA Undersecretary for Agri-Industrialization Rodolfo Vicerra conferred the Gawad Pagkilala award upon WWF-Philippines STP 2 Program Manager Joann Binondo. Photograph © WWF-Philippines / Alo Lantin
Philippine Alliance of Tuna Processors, Inc. (PATPI) Chair Sam Garcia received the Gawad Pagkilala award on behalf of the PTHP. Photograph © WWF-Philippines / Alo Lantin
Philippine Alliance of Tuna Processors, Inc. (PATPI) Chair Sam Garcia received the Gawad Pagkilala award on behalf of the PTHP. Photograph © WWF-Philippines / Alo Lantin

On the 12th of September, 2022, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) recognized the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-Philippines) as a Gawad Pagkilala awardee at the BFAR headquarters in Quezon City.

The award ceremony was held on the morning of the first day of the 59th Fish Conservation Week, which is to be held from the 12th to the 16th of September.

BFAR MIMAROPA nominated WWF-Philippines for the award for their support toward the fisheries sector and for forwarding sustainable fishery management practices. The conservation organization last received the Gawad Pagkilala award in 2020, after being nominated by BFAR Bicol Region.

WWF-Philippines has pushed for sustainable fisheries since 2011. WWF-Philippines’ Sustainable Tuna Partnership 2 (STP 2) program works with small-scale handline tuna fishers in the Lagonoy Gulf and Mindoro Strait toward the better management of the countries’ yellowfin fisheries.

The Philippine Tuna Handline Partnership (PTHP) was also recognized as a Gawad Pagkilala awardee. The PTHP is the first group of small-scale fishers in the Philippines to have earned Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.

The STP program helped in the organization and establishment of the PTHP, which was formally founded in March of 2020.

“The DA-BFAR, on this occasion, formally expresses its appreciation to its partners through the Gawad Pagkilala and the Gawad Pagsasalamat awards. Our FishCon celebration would not be complete without honoring individuals and groups who have contributed greatly to fisheries governance,” shared DA-BFAR Director Nestor Domenden.

WWF-Philippines has worked closely with the DA-BFAR over the past decade. The STP program has supported the national agencies’ fishery management efforts in its respective project sites.

“It is a great honor for us to be recipients of this award. Our work over the years is a testament to our commitment to sustainable fisheries and to our partner fisherfolk, who have grown to become true champions of environmental sustainability,” shared WWF-Philippines Sustainable Tuna Partnership 2 (STP 2 ) Program Manager Joann Binondo.

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For more information, please contact:

Ms. Joann Binondo
Overall Project Manager
Sustainable Tuna Partnership (STP)
jbinondo@wwf.org.ph
Ms. Chezka Guevarra
Assistant Manager | External Communications and Ambassador Programs
cguevarra@wwf.org.ph

About WWF

WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

WWF-Philippines has been successfully implementing various conservation projects to help protect some of the most biologically-significant ecosystems in Asia since its establishment as the 26th national organization of the WWF network in 1997.

About Sustainable Tuna Partnership

Sustainable Tuna Project 2, more commonly known as STP 2, is a WWF project that succeeds the efforts of STP 1 and the Partnership Program Toward Sustainable Tuna.

Its efforts are aimed to promote tuna sustainability by empowering small-scale yellowfin tuna fishers and improving tuna fisheries management in Bicol and Occidental Mindoro. Learn more about the key outcomes of STP 2 here.