In the province of Marinduque, Dr. Mandia's award-winning project aimed to restore mangroves and advance aqua-silviculture. The project intends to bring about long-lasting good change by addressing the socioeconomic and environmental issues that the local communities confront.
Her magnificent project, mangrove restoration aquasilviculture, tries to address the problems by creating a net-enclosed, mangrove-friendly way of raising fish in a mangrove reforested area without chopping down a single tree. Through this, it benefits the environment and economy and includes better water quality, more marine habitat, less coastal erosion, and more chances for local communities to make a living. The long-term advantages of the project were enjoyed by the nearby farmers and fishers, other community members and the surrounding ecology at Barangays Ino-Capayang and Sitio Ubog-Ubog in Nangka II, town of Mogpog. She assisted these people in seeing more employment opportunities and generating high incomes from aquasilviculture techniques.
“Rotary defines impact as positive, long-term change that strengthens individuals, communities, and systems, “We are honoring these six Rotary members for helping people to thrive and for building the capacity of communities to lead and further develop these life-changing initiatives in the future,” said Rotary International President Gordon McInally.
All over the world, Rotarians are evaluating the needs of the communities they serve on a local level, collaborating with partners, governments, and experts to bring about a lot of long-lasting changes that promote the well-being of individuals and communities. Through developing peace, combating illness, offering clean water and sanitary facilities, assisting with education, rescuing women and children, boosting local economies, and safeguarding the environment, they enhance lives and effect long-lasting change in communities all over the world.
This coming May 25-29, Mandia will participate in fitting ceremonies among the other honorees at this year's Rotary International conference, which will take place in Singapore. Each will provide a presentation on how they work with partners and communities to bring about significant and long-lasting change. (RAMJR/VMMN/PIA MIMAROPA - Marinduque)