Tourism
Promotions Board (TPB) and the Haribon Foundation conducted a series of
teaching sessions focused on spreading biodiversity conservation and
preservation to students in Surigao Del Sur.
Because of the province’
geographical position facing the mighty Pacific Ocean, surf-worthy waves pound
the shorelines of Surigao Del Sur all year round. For many, this becomes a good
reason to get stoked in the province. Conversely, the gift Mother Nature brings
to this sea doesn’t end there. Beneath the mammoth swells hides an underwater
gem teeming with some of the healthiest coral reef in the country.
This fact however, comes
with a shadow of peril. Studies have shown that the wealthy marine system found
under the waters of Hinatuan stretching to Lanuza Bay, can all disappear within
a few years if no actions are taken. Comparing figures from several decades
ago, the percentage of living coral reef has astonishingly diminished by more
than 70%.
Teach
Biodiversity Conservation Now
Because of the threat
facing our ocean’s resources today, it is imperative to start educating the
younger generation about biodiversity conservation.
The Haribon Foundation
launched in 2012, a program called “Biodiversity in Wheels”. According to them
“Biodiversity on Wheels (BOW) is a
built-in multimedia and library rolled into one van that visits schools and
communities to teach environmental topics such as Philippine biodiversity and
solid waste management. BOW has conducted a wide array of engaging activities
for youth new to biodiversity and environmental topics. Through BOW
biodiversity, conservation is now more accessible to children.”
In 2017, the Tourism
Promotions Board of the Philippines (TPB) partnered with Haribon. Since then,
both organizations have worked on a number of projects including a Biodiversity
on Wheels Program in Iloilo in January and this recent one held in Surigao Del
Sur.
In one lighthearted
exchange during the ‘Biodiversity on Wheels’ teaching session at Tagbina
Central Elementar School in Surigao Del Sur; Wendy - a TPB staff volunteering as
one of the day’s teachers, candidly asked the students if they have seen a sea
turtle. Immediately, a 4th grader boy raised his hands and ran to
the classroom’s comfort room. He came back carrying a live baby sea turtle.
It turns out he bought it
from a vendor outside their school and has been keeping it alive on a bucket of
water. After learning about the importance of preserving biodiversity and protecting
Lanuza Bay’s endangered marine species, the little boy pledged to bring the sea
turtle back to sea.
As comical the episode
was, it heightened the significance of raising biodiversity consciousness to
young students early in their education life.
The Biodiversity on Wheels
concluded with a two day interactive discussions conducted by volunteer teachers for the day from the TPB, on
the students of Purisima National High School and Tagbina Central Elementary
School in Surigao Del Sur.
Promoting
Tourism and Environmental Awareness
As the marketing and
promotional arm of the Department of Tourism, the Tourism Promotions Board
(TPB) of the Philippines is also conducting CSR programs that touches on
environment awareness across the country. Because sustainable tourism can only
be achieved if we all do our part in conserving our natural resources, TPB has
reached out to like-minded organizations to spread ecological consciousness. By
partnering with one of the leading environmental advocacy organizations the
Haribon Foundation, it plans to take Biodiversity on Wheels to more provinces
next year.
Today, The Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR) Program of TPB is currently the most active arm of
the agency in promoting sustainable tourism. TPB also perceived that the
conducted CSR activities with partner NGOs yielded more meaningful results, not
only to the target recipients but also to the CSR volunteers who became more
engaged in clean and green practices.
For now, it’s definitely “More Fun in the Philippines”, but how
long it will last depends on our ability to preserve our remaining natural
resources. With the help of Biodiversity on Wheels and other similar programs,
there is still hope in making the fun brought about by the beauty of our
country, to last forever.
