‘Sarihay Media Awards’ to cite best environmental journalists

THE FOUNDATION for the Philippine Environment (FPE), together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and its partner organizations Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation, Tangol Kalikasan, and the Miriam College Environmental Institute is launching the 2nd Sarihay Media Awards.

Representatives from these organizations will sit as the award’s Technical Review Committee tasked with overseeing the entire awarding process. To signify their support, the committee members signed a memorandum of understanding at the FPE office in Quezon City.

“We are honored and very excited to be a part of the second run of this premiere media recognition body. The Sarihay Media Awards is aligned with each representative organization’s mission of bringing urgent environmental issues to light in order to find solutions for change,” said the Foundation for the Philippine Environment Chair & CEO Dr. Paciencia Milan

The Sarihay Media Awards is the only awardgiving body recognizes outstanding environmental media practitioners who promote the preservation of mother earth and the protection of mankind through responsible and fearless news reporting on print, television, radio, and the internet.

The term Sarihay was coined from the Filipino phrase, “Samu’t saring buhay” which aptly describes the colorful diversity of life on earth.

The members of the Technical Review Committee members recognizes the important role the media plays in promoting awareness and a better understanding of environmental and sustainable development issues among policy makers, decision-makers, and the public.

“Through this awards initiative we hope to encourage more writers, reporters, and bloggers to continue bringing the often-overlooked environmental protection and biodiversity conservation issues to the attention of the government, decision-makers, and the public raising awareness and understanding on these concerns,” said Atty. Marina Rabe-Manuel, executive director of Tanggol Kalikasan.

All Filipino media practitioners and bloggers are invited to send in their published works on environmental issues. This year’s awards has 15 recognitions across print, TV, radio, and online channels. All entries should have been published or aired between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2015 to qualify for the competition. The Sarihay Awarding ceremony will be held in June.

“We encourage journalists to send in their stories and documentaries. This year, we are expecting more entries of truly inspiring and compelling materials. We envision the Sarihay to be the biggest showcase for environmental journalists and broadcasters,” said Godofredo T. Villapando, Jr., executive director of FPE.

A distinguished board of judges will review all entries to select the most outstanding based on a given criteria. Winners will receive the Sarihay plaque of appreciation, a cash prize, and an exposure trip to an FPE-supported project area.

FPE is a non-profit organization that works with the government, private sector, and civil society towards effective biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Through its grants and programs across the country, the foundation envisions communities caring responsibly and living fully in harmony with their environment.

For more information, contact the secretariat at 0916-3139794, 927-2186, 926-9629, or logon to fpe.ph.