The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has partnered with the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) and three other organizations for the second Sarihay Media Awards aimed to recognize journalists for excellence in covering environment stories.

The partnership was sealed through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed recently by the DENR, FPE, Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation, Tanggol Kalikasan and the Miriam College Environmental Institute.

Representatives from these organizations will comprise the Technical Review committee tasked to oversee the event and acknowledge outstanding environmental media practitioners who “promote the preservation of Mother Earth and the protection of mankind through responsible and fearless news reporting on print, TV, radio and internet.”

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje said the DENR and fellow organizers of the Sarihay Media Awards want to give due recognition to media practitioners, who through their exemplary work, place environment and sustainable development issues at the forefront of news stories.

“These men and women are game-changers and the Sarihay Media Awards confirm their invaluable contribution as stewards of God’s creation,” Paje said, acknowledging media’s role in the pursuit of DENR’s mandates.

“Media have boosted my department’s thrust and advocacies, part of which is to shift the citizenry’s mindset to being co-responsible for the protection of our environment,” he said.

Lawyer Marina Rabe, executive director of Tanggol Kalikasan, said the awards hopes to encourage more writers, reporters and bloggers “to continue bringing the often overlooked environmental protection and biodiversity conservation issues to the attention of the government, decision-makers and the public to raise awareness and understanding on these concerns.”

FPE executive director Godofredo Villapando Jr. urged all Filipino media practitioners and bloggers to submit their entries on environmental issues published, aired or posted from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2015 to qualify for the competition. A total of 15 awards will be handed out during the awarding ceremony to be held in June.

“We encourage journalists to send in their stories and documentaries. This year, we are expecting more entries of truly inspiring and compelling materials,” Villapando said.

He added: “We envision the Sarihay to be the highest showcase for environmental journalists and broadcasters.”

Winners will each receive a plaque, cash prize and an exposure trip to an FPE-supported project area.

FPE is a non-profit organization working with the government, private sector, and civil society towards effective biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Through its grants and programs across the country, it envisions communities caring responsibly and living fully in harmony with their environment.

For more details about the 2nd Sarihay Media Awards, those interested may contact the Secretariat at 927-21-86, 926-96-29, and mobile # 0916-313-97-94, log on to fpe.ph or email sarihaymediaawards@fpe.ph. ###