A Light for the Community

EXTENDING A HELPING HAND TO PALAWEÑOS

For

the second year running, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines visited Palawan as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda, organising the “Fun Goes Green” campaign from October 22–25, 2016. The TPB aims to encourage its employees to be ambassadors of green and sustainable tourism, and inculcate a deeper appreciation of the importance of conservation and preserving Nature.

Being a prime tourist spot in the Philippines, Palawan was included as a priority destination for the implementation of CSR activities to encourage local tourism stakeholders to participate and be involved in sustaining its natural beauty.

The first stop was Puerto Princesa, where TPB employees planted mangroves to help in protecting the coasts of Palawan. Mangrove forests are extremely productive ecosystems, providing homes to several species of plants and animals.

In El Nido, TPB employees shared the gift of light with the Sibaltan community, where a total of 50 solar lamps were personally assembled and provided, benefitting 250 people. The Liter of Light is a global, grassroots movement committed to providing affordable, sustainable solar light to people with limited or no access to electricity. Through a network of partnerships around the world, Liter of Light volunteers teach marginalised communities how to use recycled plastic bottles and locally sourced materials to illuminate the latter’s homes, businesses and streets.

TPB employees also had quality time with some of the children in the community through an activities afternoon filled with fun games, storytelling sessions and gift-giving, while women in the community participated in a hygiene workshop.

As well as the series of charitable activities, the employees also had a chance to explore Palawan’s many tourist spots, namely the underground river, Baker’s Hill, Mitra’s Ranch, the butterfly garden in Puerto Prinsesa, and the small lagoon and Ipil beach in El Nido. TPB’S visit to Palawan was the third leg of its CSR programme in 2016, which started in Occidental Mindoro Province last May, followed by the Leyte leg last June. Similar activities were also conducted in Boracay, Bohol and Camiguin last year.

By setting an example, TPB’S charitable works hope to inspire not just its employees, but also other agencies and the general public to help the country restore its natural beauty, and have fun in the process.