The Municipality of Loon bagged the first place in the 2021 Regional Level for the Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK) Search for Outstanding Coastal Community program, according to an information released by the said town on Mar. 10,
2022.
The MMK program is under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR).
Reports say that Loon also took home a prize of P2 million for earning first place honors. The money will be used for the town’s fisheries livelihood projects.
The MMK program of the DA-BFAR seeks to give recognition to coastal municipalities throughout the country for their efforts in protecting and conserving marine resources and environments.
The main objective of the competition is “to recognize outstanding initiatives and contributions of coastal municipalities/cities to sustainable fisheries development.”
The regional 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive P1 million and P500,000 prize respectively and to be used in fisheries livelihood projects.
According to the BFAR, the competition has five general criteria, namely: absence of illegal fishing, observance of fishing closed season, establishment of protected marine sanctuaries, clean coastal waters without domestic and industrial wastes and, effective mangrove protection and rehabilitation program.
The news about the award was conveyed to Loon mayor Elvi Peter L. Relampagos by BFAR 7 Regional Director Allan L. Poquita, on Feb. 28, 2022, the report adds.
As a regional winner, Loon qualifies for the national MMK search as the entry of Central Visayas region, the report concludes.