Roberto Ballon, Jr. | |
---|---|
Born | Roberto Amido Ballon, Jr. May 24, 1968 |
Nationality | Filipino |
Other names | Ka Dodoy |
Occupation(s) | Fisherman, community leader, environmental advocate |
Years active | 1990s–present |
Organization | Kapunungan sa Gagmay'ng Mangingisda sa Concepcion (KGMC) |
Known for | Environmental conservation, fishermen's rights advocacy |
Political party | Independent (since 2024) |
Spouse | Rebecca Magsalay |
Awards | Ramon Magsaysay Award (2021) |
Roberto "Ka Dodoy" Amido Ballon Jr. (born May 24, 1968 [1] ) is a Filipino fisherman, environmental advocate, and community leader known for his work in sustainable fishing practices and marine conservation. He received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2021 for his contributions to environmental conservation and community development. In 2024, he entered national politics as a senatorial candidate.
Roberto Ballon was born on May 24, 1968, in Pilar, Capiz, Philippines. At the age of 13, his family relocated to Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay. During his youth, he was actively involved in organizing fellow young people for various activities at the local Catholic parish, demonstrating his early leadership skills. [2] Despite not having a formal college education, Ballon's grassroots experiences and dedication to community service became the foundation of his advocacy work.
Ballon began his career as a small-scale fisherman in Zamboanga Sibugay. Facing the challenges of depleted fish stocks and environmental degradation, he emerged as a community leader advocating for sustainable fishing practices. [3]
As the leader of Kapunungan sa Gagmay'ng Mangingisda sa Concepcion (KGMC), Ballon initiated several projects that transformed his fishing community:
In October 2024, Ballon filed his certificate of candidacy for senator in the Philippines. His platform focuses on:
Ballon has been vocal about strengthening maritime security in the West Philippine Sea. In June 2024, he joined other fishers' groups in calling for:
In July 2024, Ballon delivered a memorable speech at UP Visayas, addressing the graduating Class Haraya. Speaking in a mix of Filipino and English, he humbly acknowledged his lack of formal education while emphasizing his dedication to service:
"Wala akong kurso kagaya ninyo," (I don't have a degree like you do) Ballon stated, adding "Ang kurso na mayroon ako ay ang kursunada. Ito ang kursunada ko na magsilbi sa tao, sa aking pamayanan." (The only course I have is my passion. This is my passion—to serve the people, to serve my community.) [8]
During his speech, he shared the challenges he faced in his environmental advocacy, particularly in mangrove reforestation. His group was initially ridiculed as "lunatics" by community members. They persisted despite skepticism, with Ballon encouraging his team: "Magtanim lang tayo nang magtanim ng mangroves para balang araw, maibabalik natin ang ating kabuhayan." (Let's keep planting mangroves so that one day, we can restore our livelihood.) Their efforts eventually succeeded in restoring local biodiversity and providing livelihood opportunities.
Ballon emphasized the importance of genuine service, stating "Ang matuod nga serbisyo, wala naga hulat sang balik" (Genuine service does not expect anything in return). His message resonated with the graduating class, highlighting how his grassroots environmental work led to "a more united and empowered community." [8]
In 2021, Ballon was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award, often called "Asia's Nobel Prize," for his:
The award recognized his "inspiring determination in leading his fellow fisherfolk to revive a dying fishing industry by creating a sustainable marine environment." [3]
Other awards received by Ballon include:
These recognitions span nearly two decades of Ballon's work in environmental conservation, sustainable fishing practices, and community leadership. His consistent recognition at both regional and national levels demonstrates the sustained impact of his initiatives in marine conservation and community development.
Ballon is married to Rebecca Magsalay, and the couple resides in Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay. He continues to work closely with local communities, promoting sustainable fishing practices and environmental conservation.
The Philippine Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean east of the Philippine Archipelago and the largest sea in the world, occupying an estimated surface area of 5 million square kilometers. The Philippine Sea Plate forms the floor of the sea. Its western border is the first island chain to the west, comprising the Ryukyu Islands in the northwest and Taiwan in the west. Its southwestern border comprises the Philippine islands of Luzon, Catanduanes, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao. Its northern border comprises the Japanese islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyūshū. Its eastern border is the second island chain to the east, comprising the Bonin Islands and Iwo Jima in the northeast, the Mariana Islands in the due east, and Halmahera, Palau, Yap and Ulithi in the southeast. Its southern border is Indonesia's Morotai Island.
The Ramon Magsaysay Award is an annual award established to perpetuate former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay's example of integrity in governance, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society. The prize was established in April 1957 by the trustees of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund based in New York City with the concurrence of the Philippine government. It is often called the "Nobel Prize of Asia".
Gawad Kalinga (GK) ("to give care" in Tagalog) is a Philippine non-governmental organization known officially as the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation. It describes itself as a "poverty alleviation and nation-building movement".
Artisanal fishing consists of various small-scale, low-technology, low-capital, fishing practices undertaken by individual fisherman. Many of these households are of coastal or island ethnic groups. These households make short fishing trips close to the shore. Their produce is usually not processed and is mainly for local consumption. Artisan fishing uses traditional fishing techniques such as rod and tackle, fishing arrows and harpoons, cast nets, and small traditional fishing boats. For that reason, socio-economic status of artisanal fishing community has become an interest of the authorities in recent years.
Sibuguey Bay or Sibugay Bay is a large bay of the Moro Gulf, situated off the southwestern coast of Mindanao Island in the Philippines.
Apo Reef is a coral reef system in the Philippines situated in the western waters of Occidental Mindoro province in the Mindoro Strait. Encompassing 34 km2 (13 sq mi), it is considered the world's second-largest contiguous coral reef system, and is the largest in the country. The reef and its surrounding waters are protected areas administered as the Apo Reef Natural Park (ARNP). It is one of the best known and most popular diving regions in the country, and is on the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to fishing:
Sustainable sushi is sushi made from fished or farmed sources that can be maintained or whose future production does not significantly jeopardize the ecosystems from which it is acquired. Concerns over the sustainability of sushi ingredients arise from greater concerns over environmental, economic and social stability, and human health.
Green Fins is an approach to sustainable marine tourism activities operating in Southeast Asia, Caribbean and the Indian Ocean that works with business operators, communities and governments. It helps to implement environmental standards for the diving and snorkelling industry through a code of conduct. The overall aim of the initiative is to mitigate damaging impacts to the marine environment from the marine tourism sector and improve sustainability. The code of conduct is a set of 15 points designed to tackle the most common and detrimental effects of scuba diving and snorkelling activities on the habitat in which they operate.
Velondriake, meaning “to live with the sea” in the Vezo dialect of the Malagasy language, is a locally managed marine area (LMMA). Established in 2006 in southwest Madagascar, Velondriake is home to over 7,000 resident Vezo people and covers a marine and coastal area of about 64,000 ha making it one of the largest LMMAs in the western Indian Ocean. The LMMA includes extensive coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, baobab forests, spiny forest and other threatened habitats. The LMMA includes five permanent coral reef reserves, two permanent mangrove reserves, and numerous periodic fisheries closures (PFCs), primarily for octopus on reefs and for mud crab in mangroves.
The Menai Bay Conservation Area (MBCA) is located in Menai Bay, Zanzibar Tanzania. At 470 square kilometres (180 sq mi), it is Zanzibar's largest marine protected area. It was officially established as a conservation area in August 1997 in the traditional fishing area, known as Unguja Island, covering the tropical marine environment comprising extensive coral reefs, tropical fish, sea grasses, and mangrove forests. In addition to controlling illegal fishing, MBCA's alternative initiatives have included bee keeping, mangrove replanting, tree nurseries and tourism. The management of the MBCA falls upon the Fisheries Department and the bay's local villages. It is rated by the IUCN as Category VI Managed Resource Protected Area.
Angel Chua Alcala was a Filipino biologist who was named a National Scientist of the Philippines in 2014. Alcala is known for his fieldwork to build sanctuaries and to promote biodiversity in the aquatic ecosystems of the Philippines. He was the Chairman of the Board of Advisers at the Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Management located in Silliman University. Alcala published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles and books and his biological contributions to the environment and ecosystems have made him a renowned figure of natural sciences in the Philippines.
The Danajon Bank is the only double barrier reef in the Philippines, which is a very rare geological formation, which is located in the Camotes Sea. It comprises two sets of large coral reefs that formed offshore on a submarine ridge due to a combination of favorable tidal currents and coral growth in the area.
Selinog, historically known as Silino and also named Silinog, is an island barangay in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. It is coterminous with Silino Island and is located 12.9 kilometres (8.0 mi) off Tagolo Point, the northern entrance point to Dapitan Bay, and some 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) east of the island of Aliguay in the Bohol Sea. The island is a flat coralline island with a land area of 78 hectares. It is surrounded by 70 hectares of coral reefs and sandy areas. According to the 2020 census, the island community has a population of 692 inhabitants.
Baía da Babitonga Wildlife Reserve was a proposed wildlife reserve in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The purpose was to research methods of improving sustainable fishing and aquaculture of oysters and mussels; however, the bay is home to a major industrial park and port. The project encountered resistance from local politicians and business leaders and was shelved.
Community Based Mangrove Management (CBMM) is a sustainable approach for conserving the rapidly disappearing mangrove forests. It can be defined as community driven management and rehabilitation of mangrove forests involving resource users in the management process directly. CBMM decentralizes authority and power from government to local communities. The dual aim of CBMM is the ongoing conservation of mangroves and generation of sustainable livelihood.
The Philippines is an archipelagic country with a large coastal population. In many areas, communities rely heavily on fisheries for subsistence and livelihoods. Both capture fisheries and aquaculture occur inland and at sea, producing various fish, shellfish, other invertebrates, and seaweed.
The municipal fisheries in the Philippines are the Philippine fisheries that fall under the jurisdiction of local governments, namely cities and municipalities. This includes all fisheries on inland waters, and in waters within 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) of the coast. While the term may technically include aquaculture activities, it is usually used to discuss capture fisheries. Municipal fisheries are restricted to boats of 3 gross tonnes or smaller, and commercial fishing vessels are generally prohibited from fishing in these waters.
The Monsoon trawl ban is a regulatory measure implemented by the Indian government to protect marine biodiversity, conserve aquatic lives, and support sustainability of livelihood in coastal communities. Introduced in the 1980s, the ban restricts fishing activities during the Monsoon of South Asia, coinciding with the breeding and Spawning period of many Marine life. With its extensive coastline of over 8,100 kilometres, India has made the monsoon trawling ban a critical strategy for sustainable fishery management.
Ronnel Arambulo is a Filipino fisherman, environmentalist, and activist who is Vice Chaiperson of Pambasang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya Pilipinas or PAMALAKAYA. In the 2025 Philippine Senate election, he is running under Makabayan.