ILOILO — The Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMC) of Ajuy, Iloilo has earned national recognition as the Outstanding Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council in the Philippines, bringing home a P450,000 cash prize and a trophy during the 51st Gawad Saka Awards held on June 29 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
The prestigious recognition highlighted Ajuy’s success in promoting participatory fisheries governance, empowering fisherfolk to take an active role in policy-making, planning, and the implementation of fisheries and coastal resource management programs.
Ajuy’s Mayor Loida J. Espinosa personally received the award together with Department of Agriculture (DA) – Western Visayas regional executive director Dennis Arpia, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional director Remia Aparri, and Ajuy MFARMC president Joni Valladarez, representing the council. They accepted the P450,000 cash prize and trophy from the Department of Agriculture Central Office.
Recognized as a Level 5 Model of Excellence, the council was cited for strengthening participatory and accountable governance by ensuring the active involvement of fisherfolk in crafting local fisheries policies and implementing programs that promote sustainable resource management.
The council also gained national recognition for its innovative initiatives, including the LAYAG Project, which enhanced fisheries resource management through science-based and community-driven interventions while addressing key challenges confronting the local fishing sector.
The latest achievement further cements Ajuy MFARMC’s standing as one of the country’s leading fisheries management councils. Last year, it was also named among the Top Three National Finalists in the 2025 Gawad Saka Search./PN
