THREE Sun.Star Cebu journalists received recognition during the 8th Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards last night for helping raise awareness on issues hounding the agriculture sector.

“Cold weather’s toll in Cebu now P26M,” a story written by Flornisa M. Gitgano with Elias O. Baquero, received the Bright Leaf Award for best agriculture news story regional.

The story, published last January, reports on the loss of crops and livestock due to unusually low temperatures in the uplands of Cebu last January.

The incident prompted some local government units to declare a state of calamity in affected barangays to access funds that were used to provide assistance to farmers.

More winners

Cherry Ann T. Lim’s Bugs “Slay, nature’s way,” a two-part report on sustainable pest control and agricultural practices won best agriculture feature regional.

“Fish in troubled waters,” a three-part special report by Lim and Liberty A. Pinili was named the 8th Bright Leaf Awards Agriculture Story of the Year.

The report looks into the declining fish stocks in the Visayan Sea, and how this threatens the livelihood of thousands of fisherfolk and the country’s food security.

Adjudged Tobacco Story of the Year is an article written by Gabriel Cardinoza of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The panel of judges, chaired by Daily Tribune’s Ninez Cacho-Olivares, picked the winners from over 500 entries.

Organizer

Other winners this year are: best agriculture news story national by Cardinoza; best agriculture feature story national by Henrylito Tacio of the Marid Agribusiness Magazine; tobacco photo of the year by Mauricio Victa of the Business Mirror; agriculture photo of the year by Harley Palangchao of the Baguio Midland Courier; best agriculture TV program produced by Karen Verona of ABS-CBN Davao; and best agriculture radio program by Malu Cadelina Manar of dxND Kidapawan, North Cotabato.

The Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards was launched in 2007 by Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. to give recognition to journalists and photojournalists who bring to public attention the issues that affect the agriculture sector.

At present, it is organized by the Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp., the company that was created by the merger of Philip Morris and Fortune Tobacco.

The 8th Bright Leaf Awards winners were announced in Manila.