Zamboanga fisherfolk leader earns prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for 2021

MANILA, Philippines — After skipping last year’s ceremonies due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation is set to resume this year on November 28, following official announcement last August 31 via Facebook Live.

The foundation raises awareness for this year’s awardees working to advocate for important causes that make the societies they serve “better, kinder and more equitable for everyone, especially the marginalized.”

Among this year’s accomplished laureates is Filipino fisherfolk leader Roberto Ballon or “Ka Dodoy” as he’s better known.

Ballon, 53, is recognized for his continuing work among the Zamboanga Sibugay fisherfolk, particularly the restoration of mangrove forests and marine aquatic resources.

As a native of Zamboanga Sibugay himself, he saw in his youth the destruction of these mangrove forests due to widespread conversion to fishponds.  The deterioration of the mangroves has led to dwindling harvests for fishermen. In 1986, Ballon took action and was among those who established the Kapunungan sa Gamay ng Mangingisda sa Concepcion (KGMC).

Today, his efforts have helped give way to a sustainable marine environment in the community that allows the fishing industry to thrive, maintaining a source of livelihood among his fellow fishermen. From just a few members, KGMC is now 320 households strong and the association’s initiatives are now an example being replicated in several nearby towns to benefit the generations to come.

No stranger to accolades, Ka Dodoy was National Gawad Saka Awardee for three consecutive years from 2003 to 2005. He also received recognition from the Ateneo de Zamboanga, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corporation (QUEDANCOR).

Ka Dodoy is joined by four other laureates for this year’s awards ceremony:

• Dr. Steven Muncy for his humanitarian work, especially among displaced refugees from 48 countries including those in Southeast Asia;
• Bangladeshi scientist Dr. Firdausi Qadri, champion for women in science, for her pioneering contributions in immunology research and vaccine development to benefit low-income countries;
• Pakistani philanthropist Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib for his social work and expertise in finance contributing to poverty alleviation, offering loan packages to the poor amounting to $900 million; and
• Indonesian production house WatchdoC led by Dandhy Laksono and his colleagues, for their fearless investigative journalism and prolific documentary filmmaking for bringing the vision of the people to the screen.

The winners will each receive a certificate, a medal and cash prize. The formal Presentation Ceremonies will commence on November 28 at the Ramon Magsaysay Center in Manila.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, established in 1957, is a premier award-giving institution in Asia that gives the highest recognition for individuals or organizations exemplifying outstanding contributions in governance, public service and transformative influence in multiple fields.

The first Ramon Magsaysay Awards were given on August 31, 1958, to five outstanding individuals working in India, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, and SriLanka and a Philippine-based organization.