The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the promotional arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable tourism through a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative held on August 23-24, 2023. In partnership with the Haribon Foundation, TPB organized a comprehensive CSR program featuring awareness training, educational sessions, and hands-on environmental activities in the La Mesa Nature Reserve and the Southern Sierra Madre Mountains. Prominent environmental advocate and content creator Cha Ocampo also participated in TPB’s CSR program.
The program commenced with a guided tour of the Petron Trail within the La Mesa Nature Reserve, offering participants an immersive opportunity to explore Philippine native trees and comprehend their vital role in preserving biodiversity.
TPB also engaged in a community native nursery activity in Tanay, Rizal, focused on seedling preparation for planting. Facilitators and community partners provided guidance to enhance TPB participants’ understanding of forest restoration.
Environmental advocate Cha Ocampo emphasized the importance of environmental education, stating, “As we were educated during the CSR program, we learned that native trees help recover and expand forest habitats for native species of plants and animals. They also protect watersheds and freshwater resources to support the livelihood of local people. All of these new learnings are crucial information for forest conservation.”
In addition to its commitment to environmental education, TPB actively participated in the Forest for Life Movement’s Adopt-A-Seedling Program on August 24, 2023. Through this initiative, TPB planted 1,250 native seedlings in the Southern Sierra Madre Mountain Range, situated in Brgy. San Andres, Tanay, Rizal. The program encompassed community training, nursery establishment, livelihood incentives, site preparation, and a three-year commitment to maintain and monitor the planted seedlings.
These CSR initiatives hold significant importance in the preservation of the Philippines’ longest mountain range, the Sierra Madre. Not only is the Sierra Madre a prominent green tourism destination, but it also serves as a vital water source and a natural barrier against severe storms for numerous cities. Thus, the promotion of native trees and the planting of seedlings in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range contribute to its long-term preservation and the protection of Filipino lives.
“These CSR programs align with the Tourism Promotions Board’s objective of establishing the Philippines as a sustainable and uniquely diverse travel destination. It is essential for our employees to engage in these conservation activities,” emphasized TPB’s Chief Operating Officer Margarita Montemayor Nograles. “TPB recognizes the critical role played by the Sierra Madre Mountain Range in local tourism and the daily lives of Filipinos. Therefore, we are committed to safeguarding the country’s longest mountain range through education in conservation practices and native tree planting within the Sierra Madre.”
The native tree trek, community native nursery activity, and exclusive tree planting initiative are among the CSR programs TPB has been actively involved in since 2015. This year alone, TPB has conducted 26 CSR activities spanning from Luzon to Mindanao. The organization remains steadfast in its commitment to environmental and community-based initiatives, working tirelessly to support green and sustainable tourism practices.
