Calapan, Oriental Mindoro—Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) conservation-partner sites in Oriental Mindoro won the top prizes at the 2024 Sustaining MPAs through Awards and Recognitions (STAR) awards yesterday evening.

The STAR Awards are held biennially by the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro to recognize top-performing community-managed marine protected areas (MPAs).  Among the MFI-partner sites that won the top awards are:

1.  1st PLACE: Punta Ilag Fish Sanctuary, San Teodoro (MFI partner site since 2014)

2.   2nd PLACE: Sta. Theresa Fish Sanctuary, Gloria (MFI partner site since 2014)

3.   3rd PLACE: Song of the Sea Fish Sanctuary, Pola (MFI partner site since 2016)

Honored as SUSTAINED MPAs are MFI's other partner sites in Oriental Mindoro that have won at the national level in recent years (thus exempt from the biennial provincial awards), are:

  1. Agsalin Fish Sanctuary, 1st place 2017 National Para El Mar Awards (MFI partner site since 2013)
  2. Ranzo Fish Sanctuary, 2nd place 2023 National Para El Mar Awards (MFI partner site since 2013)
  3. St. John the Baptist MPA, 5th place 2021 National Para El Mar Awards (MFI partner site since 2013)
  4. Maasin MPA, 6th place 2023 National Para El Mar Awards (MFI partner site since 2015)