Pagpalawod Convention Gathers 100 San Enrique Youth for Sustainable Fisheries

MURCIA, Negros Occidental – More than 100 youth leaders from all 10 barangays of San Enrique gathered last September 6–7, 2025 at Mambukal Mountain Resort for the Pagpalawod: Tuloy Heroes Convention, a two-day event that celebrated youth leadership in sustainable fisheries and inclusive community development.

Organized by the Negrosanon Young Leaders Institute (NYLI) with support from the Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia, the convention highlighted the gains of Project Tuloy Heroes– a youth engagement project aiming to create youth-led sustainable fisheries networks and post-harvest fisheries alternative sites to pursue a participatory and inclusive circular blue economy in Negros Occidental.

The project has recently established Diri sa Nayon, a community-based post-harvest fisheries site in Barangay Nayon. This center now stands as a hub for innovation, income generation, and climate resilience, supporting fishing households in San Enrique.

The convention featured panel discussions on youth inclusion in the Blue Economy and Community-based Fisheries Value Chain Management, alongside a Tuloy Heroes Bazaar where participants showcased local fishery products. Provincial and local officials, including Governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson, and San Enrique leaders, expressed their support for the youth-driven initiative.

“As an island province, our prosperity and resilience are deeply tied to the health of our waters and the strength of our communities that depend on them. By equipping young leaders with knowledge, skills, and advocacy, you are ensuring that the sea sustains us today will also sustain the generations to come,” Gov. Bong Lacson expressed.

A key milestone of the event was the oath-taking of the Federated Tuloy Heroes Organizations, which unites young leaders across San Enrique to strengthen advocacy for sustainable fisheries governance.

“We have seen that the youth of San Enrique embraced social entrepreneurship, l championed the blue economy, showing that young people like you and us can be powerful stewards of our fisheries and environment,” said Kevin Gaitan, NYLI Executive Director.

The convention followed the success of Pagpanagat, a community-based workshop series held from July 4 to August 10, 2025 in Barangay Nayon. Through Pagpanagat, young people deepened their knowledge of the blue economy, learned hands-on fisheries product innovation, and addressed critical issues such as post-harvest losses that threaten food security.

Pagpalawod built on these lessons, giving youth the platform to connect, collaborate, and chart a shared vision for San Enrique’s coastal communities.* (NYLI)