Because of the province's 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 compelling reason to get stoked in the province. Conversely, the gifts Mother Nature brings to this sea don’t end at the surface. Beneath the mammoth swells hides an underwater gem teeming with some of the healthiest coral reefs in the country.
Spreading Biodiversity Awareness in Surigao Del Sur
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) of the Philippines and the Haribon Foundation conducted a series of interactive educational sessions focused on spreading biodiversity conservation and environmental preservation to students across Surigao Del Sur.
This natural beauty, however, comes with a shadow of peril. Studies have shown that the wealthy marine ecosystem found under the waters of Hinatuan stretching up to Lanuza Bay could suffer severe degradation within a few years if no immediate conservation actions are taken. Comparing figures from several decades ago, the percentage of living coral reefs has astonishingly diminished by more than seventy percent.
Teach Biodiversity Conservation Now
Because of the pressing threats facing our ocean’s resources today, it is imperative to start educating the younger generation about biodiversity conservation as early as possible.
The Haribon Foundation launched a program in 2012 called “Biodiversity on Wheels.” According to the organization: “Biodiversity on Wheels (BOW) is a built-in multimedia center 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 who are new to environmental topics. Through BOW, biodiversity conservation is now far more accessible to children.”
In 2017, the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines (TPB) officially partnered with Haribon. Since then, both organizations have executed numerous ecological projects, including a Biodiversity on Wheels outreach in Iloilo and this milestone deployment in Surigao Del Sur.
During one lighthearted exchange during a "Biodiversity on Wheels" session at Tagbina Central Elementary School in Surigao Del Sur, Wendy—a TPB staff member volunteering as one of the day’s teachers—candidly asked the students if they had ever seen a sea turtle. Immediately, a fourth-grade boy raised his hand and ran out to the classroom’s washroom area. He returned carrying a live baby sea turtle.
It turned out he had bought it from a vendor outside their school and had been keeping it alive in a bucket of water. After learning about the critical importance of preserving marine biodiversity and protecting Lanuza Bay’s endangered species, the young boy pledged to return the sea turtle safely to the ocean.
As comical as the episode was, it highlighted the profound significance of raising biodiversity consciousness among young students early in their educational journey.
The Biodiversity on Wheels mission concluded with two days of interactive discussions conducted by volunteer teachers from the TPB for students at 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 actively conducts Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs that focus on environmental awareness across the country. Because sustainable tourism can only be achieved if everyone does their part in conserving natural resources, the TPB reaches out to dedicated environmental organizations to spread ecological consciousness. By partnering with the Haribon Foundation, the agency plans to bring Biodiversity on Wheels to more provinces in the coming years.
Today, the CSR Program of the TPB stands as one of the most active divisions within the agency advocating for sustainable tourism. The TPB noted that CSR activities conducted alongside partner non-governmental organizations yield deeply meaningful results—not only for the student recipients but also for the volunteers, who become lifelong advocates for green practices.
While it remains “More Fun in the Philippines,” how long that fun endures depends entirely on our collective ability to preserve our remaining natural ecosystems. With the help of Biodiversity on Wheels and similar grass-roots initiatives, there is vibrant hope for making the natural beauty of our country last for generations to come.
