TPB brings environmental initiative to Laguna and Rizal

TPB employees doing their share in preserving key tourist destinations

Aside from promoting local tourism and raising awareness on its sustainable aspects, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), aims to lead by example as it takes part in protecting scenic tourist destinations of the Philippines through Fun Goes Green, its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. Recently implemented in Laguna and Rizal, the program encourages TPB volunteers and local tourism stakeholders to do their part in preserving the natural beauty of the said destinations

As a budding tourist destination in Southern Luzon, more and more people, locals and foreigners alike, flock to Rizal and Laguna because of their rich heritage and beautiful sites. With this, the CSR is in line with TPB’s message that the environment shouldn’t bear the expense of the joy of travelling.

In partnership with the Haribon Foundation, TPB volunteers went on a two-day immersion with different activities to help protect the natural sites of Laguna and Rizal.

The first destination was Buhay Punlaan Native Tree Nursery in Lumban, Laguna where participants learned about the importance of the propagation stage of forest restoration through activities that included the collection of wildings from mother trees, soil potting and bagging, as well as seedling and seed transplantation. “It is very important to focus on the native trees because these are the species that are most adapted to the Philippine rainforest ecosystem. And that is what we want to promote across the nurseries that we established alongside our community partners,” said Joseph Riel A. Senga, partnerships officer of The Haribon Foundation.

The TPB also headed to the Japanese Garden in Caliraya, Laguna and Mount Batolusongin Barangay San Andres where employees had a trekking and tree planting activity with provincial securities and the Barangay San Andres Samahan Ng Mga Magsasaka.

“We have planted around 1,250 native seedlings here in Barangay San Andres. These seedlings, once they grow to become trees, will provide shelter to the animals living in this area. Also, this will help in giving cleaner air. This project is really important because it shows how nature and humans are interconnected. When we help the environment, it also provides us with what we need,” said Nova Regalario, Conservation Specialist at Haribon Foundation.

TPB’s visit to Laguna and Rizal is the 3rd leg of its CSR program in 2019. Earlier this year, they also implemented CSR activities in Tarlac and Ilocos Norte. Similar activities were also conducted in Iloilo, Bicol, Batanes, Banaue, Laguna, and Surigao del Sur last year.

(L-R) TPB Acting Head of Corporate Planning Marivic Sevilla, Acting Head of Sales and Accounts Management Division Jasmine Parra, Acting Head of MICE Department Ma. Carla Remedios Miranda, TheHaribon Foundation Conservation Associate Ken Carlo J. Penaflor, and Partnerships Officer Joseph Riel A. Senga

Soil potting and bagging at BuhayPunlaan Native Tree Nursery

Tree-planting at Mount Batolusong

Enriching the tourism industry through knowledge-sharing

L-R: Arnold Gonzales, TPB DCOO; San Jeet, DOT market representative for India; Marie Venus Tan, TPB COO; Carlos Mori Rodriguez, EON Stakeholders Relations Group chief innovation officer; and Mohd Akil Bin Mohd Yusof, MATTA deputy president

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism, recently gathered industry stakeholders, tour operators, hotels and resorts, and members of the academe for a one-day discussion on the latest trends in tourism marketing and strategies on how to provide mature and emerging markets an optimal experience to make them stay longer and spend more.

The seminar, themed “Philippine Tourism: Trailblazing Responsible Travel and Inclusive Growth,” is part of this year’s Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX), the biggest travel trade event in the country with over 200 local sellers and 200 international buyers participating.   

Joining the impressive roster of speakers were Thomas Graham, co-founder of MAD (Make A Difference) Travel, who talked about how sustainable tourism is changing the lives of people in communities; Carlos Mori Rodriguez, chief innovation officer of EON The Stakeholders Relations Group, who shared insights about the new breed of OFWs in the UAE; and San Jeet, the Department of Tourism market representative for India, who discussed the needs of the Indian Market. 

Also sharing their expertise were Donald Patrick Lim, country chief executive officer of Dentsu Aegis Network Philippines, who shared shared how the digital age is changing the tourism landscape; Mohd Akil Bin Mohd Yusof, the deputy president of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) and Nelly Nuezca Dillera, deputy executive director of the Philippine Trade Training Center, shared points on how to cater to the Muslim market. 

“With the diversification of UAE industries, there is a growing number of Filipinos who work as professionals in industries outside oil and construction. Unfortunately, these new breed of OFWs with disposable income prefer to travel to other destinations than tour the Philippines,” shares Rodriguez.

By 2020, at least 30-32 million Indians are expected to travel overseas for leisure. According to Jeet, “To capture a chunk of that market, industry stakeholders in the Philippines should customize tours that focus on unique and luxurious experiences, especially since these are spending tourists who are willing to splurge on quality accommodations, sightseeing, relaxation, and shopping.”

For Graham, he sees great opportunity in sustainable tourism as it meets both profitability and viability. “There are a growing number of tourists who are starting to prioritize experiences over material possessions. Sustainable tourism is gaining traction because learning about other cultures, connecting with people, and giving back to local communities provide a one-of-a-kind, meaningful experiences.” 

The educational seminar concluded with back-to-back Halal-related talks where Yusof recommended ways to make establishments and tourist sites in the Philippines Muslim-friendly, while Dillera complemented this by sharing the government’s efforts to help local businesses make their products halal-compliant.   

In closing, TPB COO Venus Tan said, “PHITEX is organized, not only to provide a platform to connect buyers and sellers, but also to build the industry through education and insightful discussions among stakeholders. Hopefully, with these insightful talks, we are able to inspire and encourage them to develop tourism products that would provide unique, meaningful experiences for our visitors, which in turn would make them stay longer, spend more, and be avid ambassadors of the country.”

TPB lends a helping hand

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) recently visited Leyte, as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program to help the province recover from the aftermath of the disastrous typhoon Yolanda that hit the country in 2013. 

Leyte was one of the hard-hit areas in Visayas. It was engulfed by a deadly storm surge and hundreds of families were badly affected, especially those living along the coastlines. Even after three years, the province is still recovering from the disaster as thousands lost everything – their shelter, livelihood and families.

TPB started their outreach program by bringing cheer to the orphaned and underprivileged children from the Social City Welfare, as well as the elderly from the Pope Francis Complex Center for the Poor. TPB employees donated school supplies, toys, books, canned goods, toiletries and clothes to children and elderly.

To help in protecting the coasts of Leyte from another fortuitous event, TPB employees also planted mangroves along the shores.

To cap off their charitable mission, the employees visited some of Leyte’s tourist attractions, such as the Sto. Niño Church, Palo Church, Sto. Niño Shrine and Museum, San Juanico Bridge, MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park and the Leyte Provincial Capitol. They also visited M/V Eva Jocelyn, one of 17 cargo ships that was washed ashore by the storm surge during typhoon Yolanda from the waters of the Port of Tacloban City to a side of a hill in Barangay 37 which was turned into a monument and a mini-park; and the Tzu Chi Great Love Village in Palo, a Taiwanese Buddhist foundation which provides livelihood and shelter for the victims of the typhoon.  

“Apart from promoting the country’s wonderful tourist spots, we, at TPB, are also committed to help communities and preserve the environment. We hope that in our humble efforts, we not only protect our natural wonders, but more importantly, uplift the spirits of our fellow Filipinos,” says TPB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Domingo Ramon Enerio III.

TPB’s visit to Leyte is the 2nd leg of its CSR program this year, which started inOccidental Mindoro and will conclude in Palawan. They also had similar activities 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 in restoring its beauty and making the Philippines more fun.

    

       TPB employees at the Pope Francis Complex Center for the Poor

 

     Feeding activity with the orphans and underprivileged children of Tacloban

         

                                                      Mangrove planting activity

       

      

                                    The MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park

     

       M/V Eva Jocelyn, one of 17 cargo ships that was washed ashore by the storm surge, made into a                 monumento and mini park.