PDI correspondent tops HOLCIM journalism awards

YOLANDA SOTELO/NOVEMBER 11,2016Yolanda Sotelo, PDI Correspondent Northern Luzon Bureau won the 2016 Journalism Awards for Sustainable Construction Reporting (JASCOR) during the Holcim-PPI awards night in Makati City.(NEWS)ARNOLD ALMACEN/INQUIRER

A Philippine Daily Inquirer story about how a filmmaker built a “mud” house out of natural materials for his family in the farming town of Bayambang in Pangasinan province won top prize in this year’s Journalism Awards for Sustainable Construction Reporting (Jascor) given on Thursday night.

Written by Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer correspondent in Pangasinan, the story, “Climate Change Revives ‘Natural Building’ of Houses” published on Feb. 3, bested two other finalists, both from the Inquirer, in the national newspaper category.

The other finalists were: “Baguio-La Trinidad Traffic Solvers Hope for E-Trains” (Sept. 22, 2015) by Inquirer Northern Luzon reporter Vincent Cabreza; and “New Growth Areas for Renewable Energy” (June 30) by the late Inquirer Business reporter Riza Olchondra.

The Inquirer also received the Merit Award for Sustainable Construction Reporting, including a cash prize of P75,000, for having the most number of finalists this year, sweeping the national newspaper category.

The Mindanao Observer’s “A Brave New School without Walls,” took the top prize in the community newspaper category, where four other finalists competed. It was written by Lina Sagaral Reyes, with contributions from Rey Garcia, Mel Madera, Nova Thirdy Agravante, Mary Rose Silvidad, Dahlia Benemerito.

A finalist in this category, “The Zero Carbon Resort Demonstration Cottage: Retrofitting the ‘Bahay Kubo’ for Climate Change,” was written by Frank Cimatu for the Baguio Chronicle. Cimatu is an Inquirer correspondent in Baguio City.

Each of the two top winners took home a cash prize of P50,000 and a plaque. The other finalists in both categories each received a consolation prize of P10,000.

Jascor is an annual recognition jointly given by the Philippine Press Institute (PPI), the country’s biggest association of newspapers, and construction solutions company Holcim Philippines.