South Cotabato continues to lead efforts in protecting and conserving Mt. Matutum, recognizing its ecological and cultural significance in the SOCSKSARGEN region. As part of this initiative, March 22 has been declared as “Araw ng Matutum,” celebrated with a weeklong event known as “Linggo ng Matutum.” One of the highlights of this year’s celebration is the CINEMA22M Promotional Video Making Contest, conducted in partnership with the Municipality of Tupi and the Protected Area Management Office – Mount Matutum Protected Landscape (PAMO-MMPL).
The competition engages college and high school students from the municipalities of Tampakan, Tupi, Polomolok, and General Santos City in raising awareness on environmental conservation. CineMatutum aims to educate stakeholders about key issues, best practices, and solutions related to Mt. Matutum’s protection, while promoting behavior change towards sustainable and environmentally responsible practices. The provincial government allocated Php 39,000 for prizes, plaques, and certificates for the winning entries.
Four schools participated in this year’s competition: South East Asian Institute of Technology (SEA-IT), Maltana National High School, Polomolok National High School, and Notre Dame of Dadiangas University (NDDU). A prejudging and critiquing session was held on March 7, 2025, at the Office of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (DENR-PENRO). The panel included Dr. Rosalinda B. Cortez, representatives from OPENRO – South Cotabato, Corazon T. Tugari and Cornelio O. Pluma, as well as judges Dr. Precy Regalado and Mr. Moises Charles Hollite. The videos were evaluated based on Relevance and Content (30%), Creativity and Originality (30%), Audio and Video Quality (25%), and Audience Impact (10%).
NDDU emerged victorious, claiming the top prize of Php 10,000. SEA-IT secured first place with Php 8,000, followed by Polomolok National High School with Php 5,000 and Maltana National High School with Php 3,000. Beyond the competition, CineMatutum serves a deeper purpose educating communities about critical environmental challenges facing Mt. Matutum while promoting actionable, sustainable practices among local stakeholders. The provincial government has emphasized that this initiative represents just one component of their comprehensive strategy to preserve Mt. Matutum’s rich biodiversity while fostering environmental stewardship throughout the region.
