by Noel Baguio
The Municipal Environment and Natural Resources (MENRO) officer of B.E. Dujali, Davao del Norte is set to receive an award, the Gat Apolinario Mabini Awards (GAMA) for Environment category on October 11, 2010 at the Fiesta Pavillion of the Manila Hotel, City of Manila.
Edgar L. Taladhay, the MENRO-designate of this town will formally receive his prestigious award from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), thru its President, Dr. Dante G. Guevarra who launches the Gat Apolinario Mabini Awards.
The PUP awards give recognition to outstanding personalities who, in their career, have contributed to the growth and development of the country and, like Gat Apolinario Mabini, have served as catalysts for social change and people empowerment.
PUP envisions GAMA to become a prestigious-award-giving institutions in the country, which, befitting the name of its main campus, the PUP – Mabini Campus in Sta. Mesa, Manila.
Taladhay was chosen as one of the awardees because of his exemplary achievements in advocating for the protection, replenishment and sustainability of natural resources in particular and in the environment in general.
He is also a recipient before of three other awards from each of the three previous presidents, namely President Gloria Arroyo in 2003 for organizing a Green Brigade that leads to recognized his group as one of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO), President Joseph Estrada for Presidential Youth Achiever’s Awards in 2000 as Best in Environmental Advocacy, and President Fidel Ramos as Most Outstanding Youth Leader in Environment in 1996.
President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino is expected to grace this prestigious awarding ceremony together with other leading personalities.
This year’s PUP’s GAMA awardees include Kara David and Horacio Severino (Mass Media), Brillante Mendoza (Literature, Culture and the Arts), Norby Salonga and Carlito Amalia (Youth Leadership), Regina Lopez and Edgar Taladhay (Environment), Usec Rafael Seguis (Law, Peace & Social Justice), Celia Yangco (Public Service), Dr. Teresita Salva (Education), Dr. Renato Labadan (Agriculture) and Dr. Roel Zamora Cagape, MD (Medicine).
