Sipalay City’s women-led beach cleanup initiative placed second in the thriving communities category of the Top 100 Green Destinations Story Awards in Berlin, Germany, on Thursday, March 7.
The “Labayon (‘Lakbay sa Baybayon’ or ‘Walk Along the Beach) Women’s Beach Clean-up Volunteer Project of the Sipalay City Council for Women was awarded second place in the thriving communities category, the only Philippine entry to be make it to a top slot across all categories of the Green Destination awards.
The award was received by Sipalay Mayor Gina Montilla-Lizares, Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) and City Tourism Officer Jerick Lacson during the Internationale Tourismus Borse (ITB) 2024 Convention in Berlin.
The project has also significantly cleared and cleaned the beach from waste and led to the declaration of 40 percent of the shoreline as a conservation area for sea turtles and the 11-hectare beach and mangrove forest.
Through the consistent clean-up, the beach is now the main beach tourism and recreational area of the city and venue to various local and national sports tourism activities, the Green Destination website also said.
Mayor Lizares told DIGICAST NEGROS that the award is a testament of their commitment towards sustainable development in Sipalay.
“This is also a fitting and timely tribute to the women leaders of Sipalay, past and present, who spearheaded this program in celebration of the International Women’s Month,” she added.
The mayor added that this puts Sipalay on the right track towards sustainable tourism, environmental conservation and inclusive governance.
Lacson said that the award goes to the people of Sipalay especially to all the women leaders and members who have contributed to this recognition and who stood up for sustainable development.*