By Ivy Tejano DAVAO ORIENTAL – Three bays in Mati City, Davao Oriental, have been included in the list of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World. The Most Beautiful Bays in the World Association (MBBWA), in an official communication to the Davao Oriental provincial government, confirmed on February 19 the acceptance of the application for inclusion of Pujada Bay, Mayo Bay, and Balete Bay in the world list. In a letter addressed to Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang and Mati City Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat dated February 19, 2020, MBBWA World President Michel Bujold said that their Board of Directors “has voted in favor of accepting Pujada Bay, as well as Mayo and Balete Bays, as new member of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Association.” Rabat, in her official statement, welcomed the inclusion of the three bays of the city in the Most Beautiful Bays in the World list. She also thanked Governor Dayanghirang for initiating the application as well as all Matinians who participated and cooperated in the city’s efforts for the protection and preservation of the three bays and its inhabitants. “Now all three bays in the City of Mati are in the list of MBBW which is a testimony of how beautiful our waters are. This rare feat now becomes a challenge for us to do more and persevere in our efforts for the protection and preservation of our environment,” Rabat said. The lady mayor said the inclusion of the three bays in the list would be a big boost not just in their conservation effort but also on their tourism industry as more tourists are expected to visit the City of Mati and enjoy the bays. “We still have a long way to go. Being included in the list is the least difficult part, staying in the list is more challenging,” she said. Rabat urged all Matinians to keep all the bays clean like their own backyard. She also assured that the city government will provide more infrastructure and facilities that would help the three bays maintain their clean and pristine conditions that made them to the elite list Most Beautiful Bays in the World. Dayanghirang echoed the same sentiment. He said he is happy with the new milestone for the Davao Oriental province. It was recalled that a team from the provincial government of Davao Oriental  and the Mati City government went to Japan in October, 2019 to apply for the inclusion of Pujada Bay in the prestigious list during the 15th World Bays Congress. On January 8-12, 2020, MBBW Treasurer Guy Rousset and General Manager Bruno Bodard arrived in Mati City for validation of the Pujada Bay. The two foreign validators were all praises for Pujada Bay. Rabat said it was also during the validation that the foreigners got to visit Balete and Mayo Bays which were not originally included in the application. According to Bodard and Rousset, they will be recommending to their Board the inclusion of not just Pujada Bay but also that of Mayo and Balete Bays considering that they are all located in Mati City. The foreign validators submitted their on-site visit report, along with some recommendations, to the Board on January 22. After barely a month, the MBBW Board voted in favor of the application. Bujold informed the provincial and city governments that they would also be sending a copy of the recommendations related to the approval and advised the local governments to implement the recommendations.