Banate, Iloilo – July 25, 2025 — In a powerful display of collaboration, three mission-driven organizations—Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST), Share An Opportunity (SAO) Philippines, Inc., and Rivers.Global—joined forces to implement a crucial tranche of their shared environmental advocacy through the Saving Banate Bay Project and ROAR (Raising Ownership, Awareness and Responsibility).
Held at Barangay Alacaygan, Banate, Iloilo, the event brought together key leaders and community members in a unified effort to promote environmental stewardship, develop value-based leadership, and tackle the pressing issue of plastic pollution in marine ecosystems.
Representing ISUFST were Dr. Johnny B. Dolor, Project Leader of Saving Banate Bay, and Dr. Joana Paula B. Biñas, Director of Extension Services and Development. Their leadership emphasized the role of academic institutions in science-based community action and education.
Pastor Gaudencio Boko Jr., Team Leader of SAO Philippines and Project CHAMPS, brought faith-based insights into the program, guiding participants in developing environmental indicators grounded in stewardship, accountability, and shared responsibility.
The program was actively participated in by members of the local children and youth organizations, barangay officials, and fisherfolks, who all shared the common concern for the health of their coastal environment.
This collaborative initiative showcased how inter-organizational synergy—rooted in education, values, and community participation—can pave the way for sustainable, inclusive, and impactful environmental action. The July 25 activity served as a milestone toward their shared vision: a resilient Banate Bay for generations to come.
