Act Now For Ranow qualifies as TAYO 20 Awards Finalist

By: Pearly A. Esperida

Out of 491 entries, the Act Now For Ranow (ANFR) Movement qualified as one of the Top 20 National Finalists for the Search for Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards Year 20, during the Online Siklab Launch on February 4, 2023.

Act Now For Ranow is one of the two Bicol Youth Organizations that made it through secretariat entry screening, validation interviews, and expert screening interviews before being named a TAYO 20 National Finalist.

ANFR aims to provide development opportunities that empower Batoeños to create a positive change in Lake Bato and later on, it expanded to Bicol Region youth development efforts from its ridge to reef approach. It started with the Bato Lake Clean-Up Drive, which was awarded as the Most Collaborative Project in the Bicol Region in 2020 and also selected as the Philippine representative for the YSEALI Marine Accelerators Program in 2021.

Last year, Act Now For Ranow was granted funds and implemented various programs, such as the 1st Bato Lake Guardian Fellowship (BLGF), Bato Lake Clean Up Drive 2.0, and Learning Exchange Discussions (LED) among stakeholders, which involved representatives from various sectors in the community and partners to discuss solutions and environmental plans. This year, the organization is set to present the Environmental Youth Agenda from the said community.

The founder and executive director, Mr. James Nathaniel Refugio, believes that the youth sector is the best social infrastructure of the future, which is why he continues to empower youth through the Act Now For Ranow Movement and its sustainable projects and across Bicol Region.

“We need to develop more young leaders in this changing world. Let’s involve and engage them in different development opportunities and youth platforms that will further amplify their causes to their respective communities,” he added.

TAYO 20 finalists will join the TAYO week set in March 2023. The top ten organizations will be named during the 20th TAYO awarding ceremony, which will be held in Manila, Philippines.