Twenty-two representatives from the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines Membership Program took part in a three-day Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity in La Union from November 5 to 7, 2025, putting sustainable tourism into practice through hands-on projects with local communities.
Now in its fourth year, the programme engages members directly in initiatives that support environmental protection, community development and responsible tourism across the country.
Participants visited towns across La Union to observe climate-related disaster preparedness, environmental responsibility, marine conservation and sustainable community development. In San Juan, members visited the Coastal Underwater Resource Management Actions (CURMA), a community-based sea turtle, or pawikan, conservation organisation, and attended an educational session on safeguarding marine biodiversity. They also explored Lotus Valley Farm, a nine-hectare eco-tourism and agriculture hub powered by solar energy. Once a land of rice terraces, the farm has been replanted with native trees and provides a water source for families and nearby schools.
In Bauang, members joined a tree planting activity at the Bakawan Eco-Tourism Park to expand mangrove areas, which act as nature-based solutions to climate-related disasters. A disaster preparedness session was conducted by environmental and sustainability advocate Rafael Dionisio. The community of Isla Solomon, whose main livelihood is fishing, received essential supplies through a ceremonial turnover.
TPB also partnered with the Immuki Island community to support the local tourism industry. Activities included repainting bamboo rafts, and donating uniforms, equipment, tools and life vests for community guides. Members learned pottery making at the Taboc Mannamili Association in San Juan and silk processing at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-Sericulture Research and Development Institute in Bacnotan, gaining insight into the province’s crafts and the role of local artisans.
On the final day, participants visited the Naguilian Tourist Rest Area, which houses a souvenir centre featuring farm products and bamboo crafts that reflect local resources and sustainable practices.
The TPB Members’ CSR Program demonstrates the agency’s focus on responsible tourism and projects that support local communities while creating opportunities that sustain the industry.
TPB COO Margarita Montemayor Nograles said: “Our CSR initiatives are a reminder that every destination’s success is reliant on the people who nurture it. By working alongside our partner communities, we not only protect our natural beauty but also help create opportunities that allow tourism to flourish responsibly.”
