Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan

28/08/2026

𝗞𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗮 𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗴 𝘀𝗮 𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝗼 𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗴𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗸𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮?

Following recent floods, particularly in Central Luzon, the issue of flood control projects has resurfaced in public discourse; especially given that many of these initiatives have failed or were intentionally nonexistent in areas where they are needed most.

One of the most prominent and prolific scientists who has repeatedly dedicated his expertise and commitment to solving the Philippines’ recurring disaster challenges is the renowned geologist and peoples' scientist, Dr. Kelvin Rodolfo. Since first publishing his findings on using geological data to explain the failure of the lahar flow infrastructures built after the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption, Dr. Rodolfo has consistently criticized projects across Luzon that disregard sustainability, sound environmental adaptation, and community-centered solutions.

In recognition of his dedication, he received the Individual Category Award at the 7th Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan in 2022.

As always, Dr. Rodolfo maintains that infrastructure projects should be built with the natural environment in mind, working in harmony with how surroundings behave rather than against them.




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The Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan, co-organized by the Center for Environmental Concerns - Philippines, the IBON Foundation, and this year's cooperating organizations, are proud to bring to you the 9th Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan awards, paying tribute to those who refuse to surrender to inaction and continue to valiantly stand with the peoples' struggles for a healthy ecology.

27/08/2026

TINGNAN: Matagumpay na isinagawa ng Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG) ang community journalism training sa mga kabataang magsasaka at staff ng network, noong Agosto 22-23, 2026.

Isinagawa ang training upang bigyang kakayahan ang mga kabataan sa pagkuha ng mga litrato, pagsusulat ng caption, at paggawa ng mga maikling bidyo. Sa pamamagitan ng training na ito, nabigyang pagkakataon ang mga kabataan upang matuto at makalikha ng alternative media na magsisilbi para ilathala ang mga kwento ng kanilang mga komunidad.

Ang aktibidad na ito ay bahagi ng gawaing pangkabataan ng MASIPAG at pakikiisa sa Green Action Week (GAW) Campaign.

27/08/2026

'𝙒𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙜𝙤 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙉𝙋𝘼𝙨!'

Both grief and persistence fueled Bai Bibiaon's voice as she remained steadfast against Nancy Catamco's lies in this 2015 video from the Kilab Multimedia.

Victims of the intensified "counter-insurgency" militarization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Mindanao, further worsened by state-backed paramilitary groups such as the Alamara, Abiok 'Bai Bibiaon' Ligkaian Bigkay and her indigenous Lumad community had to seek refuge in Davao City, and eventually in Metro Manila, to get away from enforced 'NPA surrenderees' schemes and death threats by the military.

In an attempt to appease the defiant chieftain, the state in multiple times coerced her in dialogues, including one with then-North Cotabato 2nd District Rep. Nancy Catamco.

However, all attempts failed due to an overlying fact: environmental human rights defenders like Bai Bibiaon are being threatened and killed in Mindanao as they expose the injustices taking place in their communities. This is something continuing up to these days.

Her undisputed dedication in standing at the frontlines not just of her community's but of all Lumad and indigenous peoples' struggles for self-determination and lasting peace, Bai Bibiaon rightfully earned her recognition when she was awarded the Most Distinguished award in the 5th Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan ceremonies in 2018.




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The Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan, co-organized by the Center for Environmental Concerns - Philippines, the IBON Foundation, and this year's cooperating organizations, are proud to bring to you the 9th Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan awards, paying tribute to those who refuse to surrender to inaction and continue to valiantly stand with the peoples' struggles for a healthy ecology.

27/08/2026

27/08/2026

27/08/2026

🚨 PUBLIC ALERT: A REMINDER TO PAN PACIFIC ON GENED 1 AND GENED 2

It has been brought to the community’s attention, based on information from community members, that representatives of Pan Pacific Renewable Power Phils. Corp. are reportedly moving on the ground and allegedly engaging with barangay officials in connection with access or entry to areas identified as the proposed sites of the Gened 1 and Gened 2 dams.

If these reported activities are indeed taking place, they raise serious concerns. The Gened 1 and Gened 2 projects remain surrounded by unresolved questions concerning the validity of the FPIC process, the issuance of the Certificates Precondition (CPs), and the availability of the necessary permits and authorizations for project activities.

WE REITERATE THAT: There has been no genuine FPIC from the ancestral domain of Kabugao, and a case remains pending before the Court of Appeals questioning the issuance of the CPs amid alleged irregularities in the conduct of the FPIC process. The pending case cannot simply be ignored while project proponents continue making movements on the ground. Neither should discussions with barangay officials or attempts to secure access to proposed dam sites be treated as a substitute for genuine consent from the affected Indigenous Peoples.

Kabugao is not a project site waiting to be entered. It is an ancestral domain whose people have rights that must be respected.

The community is watching.
The River is not for sale.

27/08/2026

27/08/2026

27/08/2026

"𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀."

Environmental and human rights lawyer, and 8th Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan Most Distinguished Award recipient, Atty. Tony La Viña is preparing to file a civil suit against Antonio Parlade Jr.

For over 30 years, Atty. La Viña has been a steadfast legal counsel for indigenous peoples, fighting development aggression from mining and logging companies and championing the indigenous community’s right to ancestral lands and education. Now, he takes on Parlade, former chief to AFP's Southern Luzon Command and unchanging NTF-ELCAC mouthpiece, after his repetitive red-tagging accusations and harassments.

These unchecked practices of Parlade and the likes of him, as pointed out by Atty. Tony La Viña, undermine vital aid efforts often relied upon by marginalized sectors, especially from the indigenous communities.

26/08/2026

"𝗥𝗲𝗱-𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴... 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻'𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆, 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆..."

The likes of Antonio Parlade Jr., retired AFP Souther Luzon Command chief and NTF-ELCAC spokesperson, have been historically marked with their abuses, harassments, and rights violations that have put indigenous communities in danger.

As our indigenous peoples of the Philippines struggle for self-determination and social justice in the defense of our remaining frontiers and natural resources, we shall always stand with them!