Century Pacific Food, Inc. (PSE:CNPF), one of the leading food companies in the Philippines, scales up sustainability endeavors in the Bulan, Sorsogon fishing community with “Padagos, Bulan”. At the recent PRCA APAC Awards 2026, the program was recognized as the Grand Prize winner for Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, reflecting the collective efforts of CNPF’s sardine business, corporate procurement department, and the Group’s philanthropic arm, RSPo Foundation. For the second year running, the program’s holistic agenda continues to promote responsible fishing practices and support the livelihoods of smallholder fisherfolk and their families, all while providing steady supply for CNPF’s sardine business.
The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) is a leading global community for professionals in public relations, communications, and public affairs providing industry insights and opportunities to connect and exchange knowledge. The PRCA APAC Awards celebrates exceptional PR campaigns, teams, and individuals across Asia Pacific. This year held the annual awarding ceremony in One Farrer Hotel, Singapore on April 23, 2026.
Ron Agoncillo, Vice President and General Manager of Sardines, shares, “We are deeply honored to be recognized by PRCA APAC. It’s an encouraging reminder to keep the momentum of what we’re doing in Bulan across livelihoods, nutrition, education, and environment. With rising fuel costs further adding pressure on smallholder fisherfolk to make ends meet and exacerbating an already challenged sardine supply, we are all the more compelled to work towards sustainable, inclusive growth.”
CNPF relaunched its “Sustenido, Bulan” pilot program in 2024 as “Padagos, Bulan”. The Bikolano word, padagos, means to carry on or move forward, signaling the Group’s commitment to continue collaborating and sharing success with the Bulan fishing community.
Through sustained partnership with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, and the local government, the program delivered training on responsible fishing and fish handling methods to more than 600 fisherfolk, doubling its efforts from its pilot year, and facilitated their accreditation as certified suppliers. Since inception, fish rejection rates have fallen by around 11 percentage points, reducing marine waste and improving catch yield. This has led to fisherfolk raising their income levels while also enabling CNPF’s sardine business to achieve profitable growth in 2025.
“When we think about sustainability at Century Pacific, we look for win-win opportunities where we can create value alongside the communities we work with,” added Agoncillo. “We see it as a virtuous cycle – growing the business responsibly means we can also help uplift communities. And when communities flourish, it also translates into business wins as well. That’s what led the team to scale the impact of ‘Padagos, Bulan’ to nourish and empower fisherfolk families.”
In 2025, CNPF served 200,000 protein-rich meals to elementary students across 3 schools through RSPo Foundation’s flagship feeding program Kain Po. Through its partnership with HOPE Foundation, CNPF also pledged to build a classroom in Inararan Elementary school supporting 1,500 students. Moreover, the Group also worked with TESDA and PESO to provide a handcrafted dressmaking program for 300 fisherfolk wives, empowering families to diversify their revenue streams and potentially increase their household income.
“We are inspired by the lasting impact we can make by working together with the Bulan community. Looking ahead, we stay committed to deepening our impact. It goes to show how supply chain resilience, environmental preservation, and community development can also lead to holistic, inclusive growth.” says Agoncillio.
