Inquirer.net’s Mayon bacteria report wins 3rd place in global awards
13 November 2026
MANILA, Philippines — INQUIRER.net data journalist Cristina Eloisa Baclig won third place in the Asia-Pacific category of the 2026 Global AMR Media Awards for her report on a newly identified bacterial species from Mayon Volcano in Albay that researchers say could contribute to future studies on antibiotic development.
Baclig was the only finalist from the Philippines in the category. She placed behind Bangladesh-based journalist and visual reporter Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, who won first prize for the story “Antimicrobial Resistance Threatens Bangladesh’s Coasts,” and clinical reporter Laura Andronicos of The Medical Republic in Australia, who took second place for the story “Rising Antibiotic Resistance Threatens Children and Remote Communities.”
Baclig’s winning story, “UP researchers identify new Mayon bacteria with antibiotic potential,” was among 134 entries from the Asia-Pacific region out of 382 submissions received worldwide.
From Mayon soil to antibiotic research
The story traced the discovery of Streptomyces mayonensis to a 2021 research effort by University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) scientists, who collected volcanic soil samples in Malilipot, Albay, about 500 meters above sea level on the slopes of Mayon Volcano.
The researchers initially isolated 30 bacterial strains from the samples, 13 of which showed varying degrees of antimicrobial activity against organisms that cause diseases in humans or plants, according to a Department of Science and Technology report.
One of the strains, initially designated A1-08T, was later studied to determine whether it was a previously unidentified species.
Through laboratory tests and genomic analyses, the researchers established that the organism was genetically distinct from known bacteria, leading to its classification as a new species named after Mayon Volcano.
Earlier tests showed that the strain had activity against several disease-causing microorganisms, including Salmonella enterica, Klebsiella pneumoniae and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
It also showed activity against certain fungi and anticancer properties against human colorectal cancer cells.
The species belongs to the genus Streptomyces, a group of bacteria known for producing many antibiotics used worldwide. The study noted that Streptomyces species account for about 80% of the world’s antibiotics.
However, identifying the bacterium as a new species does not mean it has already yielded a new antibiotic or treatment. The researchers said further studies are needed to determine whether it can produce novel bioactive compounds and establish its potential pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications.
Reporting on antimicrobial resistance
The report also placed the discovery within the broader global concern over antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to medicines intended to treat infections.
As resistance develops, infections can become difficult or even impossible to treat, increasing the risk of severe illness and death.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that about one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide in 2023 were resistant to antibiotics. The misuse and overuse of antimicrobial medicines are among the major factors driving the emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens.
The Global AMR Media Awards recognize journalists and other media practitioners whose work raises awareness of AMR through science- and evidence-based reporting.
The awards are organized by the Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA), a network with more than 300 media members from 33 countries.
Entries are evaluated by an independent panel with expertise in AMR, health and science journalism, and global health. Judging criteria include analytical reporting, use of facts, independence, impartiality, clarity and ethical soundness, as well as the ability to connect issues across sectors such as human and animal health, agriculture and the environment.
The winners were announced online Nov. 11 during the 6th Annual Global Media Forum, held ahead of World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) 2026.
Running from Nov. 18 to 24, WAAW is a global campaign that seeks to improve public understanding of AMR and promote action to prevent the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections.
This year’s theme, “One Health, one action: Prevent AMR now,” highlights the links among the health of people, animals, plants and the environment and the need for coordinated action across these sectors.
Baclig previously won first place in the online category of the Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards 2025 for her reporting on noncommunicable diseases in the Philippines, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes.
She also received recognition from the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2024 and 2025, the Philippine Press Institute’s Think Pink Awards in 2024, and the Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards in 2023.
Baclig is also a fellow of the Environmental Data Journalism Academy-Philippines and the Jaime V. Ongpin Journalism Seminar of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility. /dm
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