PADRE BURGOS, Southern Leyte (PIA) -- This municipality has received P2 million as its prize for winning the Search for Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK) regional competition and, if luck or destiny permits, a P30 million pot money is waiting if it makes good at the national level.

The news blasted last month yet, but its ripple effects continued to be felt like strong aftershocks: the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources announced that the 2021 MMK winner in the regional search for Outstanding Coastal Communities was Padre Burgos.

And with the distinct honor comes the next challenge, that of representing Region 8 for the national search against four (4) other contending LGUs.

The other four (4) LGU regional MMK winners that will slug it out with Padre Burgos for the national search are Balanga, Bataan in Region 3;  Sagnay, Camarines Sur, in Region 5;  Caluya, Antique in Region 6;  and Cantillan, Surigao del Sur in Region 13, according to a social media post of the municipal agriculture office of Padre Burgos.

Several years back, Macrohon town also got the coveted top MMK prize of the national search, while Hiunangan recently was a runner-up, a trend now emerging that indicated LGUs, all located in coastal communities, do care for a sustainable upkeep of its shorelines and territorial seawaters.

In the case of Padre Burgos, a validation team is expected to come by the end of the month and stay on by the first week of September to conduct the required assessment, said Cesar Tinambacan, municipal agriculturist, in a report by Dahlia Abiera Orit of Radio Pilipinas-Sogod.

Tinambacan said they made it clear that fishers do not fish during off-fishing season, a continued watch to implement a local ordinance on illegal fishing, especially on established marine protected areas, and a regular coastal clean-up with other government agencies and the private sector. (LDL/MMMP/PIA Southern Leyte)