Ligo Sardines: Helping protect the future of a Filipino staple

For many Filipinos, sardines are part of the rhythm of everyday life—a quick meal, a pantry essential, a dependable source of nourishment when families need something familiar and filling. Helping protect the future of this staple means also caring for the communities and resources that make it possible.
Through “Padagos, Bulan,” Ligo’s parent company has worked with partners in Bulan, Sorsogon to encourage responsible fishing, better fish handling, and stronger local livelihoods. The initiative is rooted in a simple idea: sustainability becomes more meaningful when it improves real lives on the ground.

More than 600 fisherfolk joined training sessions, while fish rejection rates improved from 13% to 3%. Local processing activity supported over 3,400 quality manufacturing jobs, while 300 fisherfolk wives also took part in livelihood training.

The effort also reached beyond the shoreline. Through school feeding efforts, more than 5,300 children received over 200,000 protein-rich meals, while a classroom initiative added another layer of support for the community. With improvements in supply, the broader program also helped deliver 57 million protein-rich meals to Filipino consumers. For a brand that has long been trusted at the Filipino table, helping protect the future of a staple food is one more way of caring for the families who depend on it.

The initiative was also recognized at the PRCA APAC Awards under the CSR and Sustainability category, which highlights excellence in sustainability and corporate responsibility programs. PRCA Asia Pacific, which was launched in 2018 to help raise standards in PR and communications across the region, describes its awards program as one that celebrates outstanding achievement, creativity, and innovation. The recognition adds an important layer to the story: that helping protect the future of a Filipino staple can also be a meaningful example of sustainability in action.