By Llewelyn Mark Inid
Davao-based journalist Henrylito D. Tacio, the regular writer of Philippine Morning Post, wins another Binhi Award from the Philippine Agricultural Journalists, Inc. (PAJ).
His feature, “Water shortage also means food shortage,” was named Water Sustainability Story of the Year. It was published in the February 2, 2022 issue of Edge Davao, where he also writes regularly.
Early this year, Tacio was also one of the winners in the 2023 Globe Media Excellence Awards. His discussion on “Turning methane into clean fuel,” in his column in Philippine Morning Post, was adjudged Best Column of the Year.
Tacio received his first ever journalism award from PAJ. In 1994, he was named Countryside-based Agricultural Journalist.
Two years later, he was given another Binhi Award as Countryside Agricultural and Environmental Journalist of the Year.
In 2016, Tacio received another Binhi Award when his story on soil erosion was named Environment Story of the Year.
In 2017, he got two Binhi Awards: as third placer for Agricultural Reporter of the Year and Environmental Reporter of the Year.
In 2019, his article “Agriculture as new innovation in tourism,” was adjudged Best in Agri Tourism Reporting by PAJ.
Tacio became the first and only recipient of the Hall of Fame in science reporting in 1988, for winning the award five times.
He is also a Hall of Fame awardee in the annual Jose Burgos Biotechnology Journalism Awards for winning the award four times.
For writing agricultural stories, Tacio also received four awards, including the Agricultural Story of the Year in 2018, from the Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards.
Tacio is from Bansalan, Davao del Sur. He was recognized as one of the Outstanding Bansaleños in 1999. During the 50th anniversary of Davao del Sur, he was also one of those recognized by the provincial government as an outstanding personality from the province.
He started writing when he was still in college. He wrote for such publications as Mod Magazine, Focus Philippines, Woman’s Home Companion, Express Week, Philippine Graphic, Philippine Free Press, and Mr. & Ms.
He was also a former correspondent of Today, Philippine Daily Inquirer, and Manila Times. He also wrote regular features and news reports for Press Foundation of Asia’s weekly dispatch called DEPTHnews.
He also wrote previously for the Asian edition of Reader’s Digest, South Review (based in Malaysia), People and the Planet (London), and Mental Floss (a US publication).
Currently, he writes for Philippine Morning Post, Edge Davao, Agriculture Magazine, Marid Agribusiness Magazine, and Daily Tribune.
Tacio has travelled extensively in various parts of the world. He attended international conferences held in Australia, Canada, United States, South Africa, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. – ###