Filipino fisherman Roberto 'Ka Dodoy' Ballon receives 'Asia's Nobel Prize,' the Ramon Magsaysay Award

Filipino fisherman Roberto 'Ka Dodoy' Ballon was recently recognized as one of the recipients of the 2021 Ramon Magsaysay Awards (RMA). Touted as the 'Asian Nobel Prize,' the RMA was awarded to five recipients this year, including Ballon.
 
The recipients* of the 2021 Ramon Magsaysay Awards (RMA) are:

• Muhammad Amjad Saqib (Pakistan), a visionary who founded one of the largest microfinance institutions in Pakistan, servicing millions of families

• Firdausi Qadri (Bangladesh), a Bangladeshi scientist who has been instrumental in discovering vaccines that have saved millions of lives

• Steven Muncy (Southeast Asia), a humanitarian who has been helping the displaced refugees of Southeast Asia rebuild their lives

• WatchDoc (Indonesia), a production house that ingeniously combines documentary filmmaking and alternative platforms to highlight underreported issues in Indonesia

• Roberto Ballon (Philippines), a fisherman from Southern Philippines who has led a community in restoring their rich aquatic resources and their primary source of livelihood*descriptions from RMA website

 
Ballon, who hails from Zambonga Sibugay, Mindanao, was recognized for leading his community in restoring aquatic resources in their hometown. By leading mangrove-planting initiatives in his community, Ka Dodoy was able to preserve the coastal environment that many of his peers consider a primary source of livelihood. 
 
Initiatives like Ballon's matter not only because of their environmental impact but also because of their contribution to the community. Despite being one of the top fish-producing countries in the world, the Philippines lags in providing equal opportunities for laborers in the fisheries sector. Municipal fishermen constitute 85% of over 1.6 million fishermen in the country, and yet are among the poorest labor groups. 
 
Now 53 years old, Ballon has led mangrove reforestation efforts since 1986 through Kapunungan sa Gamay nga Mangingisda sa Concepcion (KGMC), or Association of Small Fishermen of Concepcion, alongside thirty other fishermen. Their efforts vastly contributed to local fishermen's catch quality:

• From 1.5 kg for an eight hours fishing trip
• To 7.0 kg for just three to five hours of fishing

Consequently, the fishermen were reportedly able to purchase boat engines and simple household appliances following the drastic improvement in their livelihood. They were also able to send their kids to school, the RMA's official write-up reports. 

"The RMAF board of trustees recognizes his inspiring determination in leading his fellow fisherfolk to revive a dying fishing industry by creating a sustainable marine environment for this generation and generations to come, and his shining example of how everyday acts of heroism can truly be extraordinary and transformative," says the RMAF of Ballon.