VIA GRAPHIC PLUS | (22-24 JULY 2026) — The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF), through the Ramon Magsaysay Transformative Leadership Institute (RMTLI), officially launched Mangrove FIESTA (Fisherfolk Initiative for Environmental Sustainability of Tinigban Community Associations) on July 22, marking the second phase of the Magsaysay Laureates Community Initiative (MLCI).
Through RMTLI, which advances the transformative work of Ramon Magsaysay Awardees by connecting their proven solutions with communities across Asia, the year-long initiative brings the community-led coastal conservation model of 2021 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Roberto “Ka Dodoy” Ballon to Barangay Tinigban, Carles, Iloilo.
Recognized with the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2021 for leading his fellow fisherfolk in restoring marine ecosystems through community-led conservation, Ka Dodoy will mentor the Fisherfolks Association of Tinigban (FAT), together with the Kapunungan sa Gagmay’ng Mangingisda sa Concepcion (KGMC) and select 4K Project alumni, in environmental stewardship, organizational leadership, and sustainable livelihoods.
The launch brought together members of FAT, local government officials, community leaders, and partner organizations in a shared commitment to strengthen coastal ecosystems and build a more resilient fishing community.
Addressing the community, Ka Dodoy stressed that the initiative’s success depends on local ownership, “This is your initiative—not RMAF’s, not KGMC’s, not LDS Charities’. This is Barangay Tinigban’s.”
“Yung mga taong hindi naniniwala… kaibiganin mo lang. Tuloy tuloy lang yung edukasyon… sa kanila at…patuloy din yung…pagtatanim ng mangroves…hanggang sa maramdaman nila na kinilala at may halaga ito.” [“Befriend the doubters. Just continue on with your education campaign and your mangrove planting until they see the effort is recognized and feel its importance.”]
RMAF President Susan B. Afan echoed this call, emphasizing that lasting transformation begins with communities taking ownership of their own future, “Real transformation begins when communities take ownership of their own future. Mangrove FIESTA is not a project brought to Barangay Tinigban. It is a future that the people of Tinigban are building together.”
The launch also featured a symbolic exchange of community gifts. Ka Dodoy presented mangrove propagules and oysters from Zamboanga Sibugay, while FAT shared handcrafted seashell plaques from Tinigban, marking the start of a partnership rooted in shared learning and mutual responsibility. FAT members also completed baseline surveys that will guide project implementation throughout the year.
For FAT President Leo “Ka Toting” Logronio, the initiative validates years of community effort at restoring the marine ecosystems. “Dati kami rin yung nag-iillegal dito, kami rin yung sumira.. ang ginagawa namin ngayon, it’s payback time na kami naman ang magrerestore.” [“Before, we were the ones breaking the law, we were the ones causing destruction…what we’re doing now, it’s payback time and we’re the ones now restoring [the marine ecosystems].”]
Carles Mayor Arnold Betita II reminded participants that the launch “is only the beginning” of a longer journey toward sustainable community development.
The launch also opened opportunities for broader collaboration. RMAF met with the University of the Philippines Visayas Institute of Fisheries and Development Studies to explore research and technical partnerships, and with Iloilo Vice Governor Nathalie Debuque to discuss institutional support for Mangrove FIESTA. Both expressed their commitment to partnering with RMAF, KGMC, and FAT as the initiative moves forward.
Selected FAT members will travel to Zamboanga Sibugay this August for an immersion with KGMC, where they will learn directly from Ka Dodoy’s decades of experience in community-based coastal resource management.
Anchored on Ka Dodoy’s principles of Environmental Sustainability, Economic Access, and Community Empowerment, Mangrove FIESTA aims to restore mangrove ecosystems while strengthening local leadership, sustainable livelihoods, and community resilience. Through RMTLI, the Magsaysay Laureates Community Initiative continues to translate the proven solutions of Ramon Magsaysay Awardees into community-led action, enabling communities to learn from one another and build lasting change together.
, through the Ramon Magsaysay Transformative Leadership Institute (RMTLI), officially launched Mangrove FIESTA (Fisherfolk Initiative for Environmental Sustainability of Tinigban Community Associations) on July 22, marking the second phase of the Magsaysay Laureates Community Initiative (MLCI).){kind=link}