In a strategic move to support disaster-affected communities and promote sustainable tourism recovery, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines completed its TPB Members’ Inspection Tour with CSR activities under the Destination Marketing Assistance for Tourism Recovery Program (DMATRP) from May 19 to 23, 2025, in Batanes.
Led by TPB’s Domestic Promotions Department, the initiative focused on strengthening local tourism infrastructure and community resilience following the devastating impact of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. The corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts included the ceremonial turnover of tour guide kits, donation of roofing materials for the restoration of a traditional Ivatan house, and branding stickers for 150 cogon-roofed tricycles, integral to the province’s tourism transport.
TPB also facilitated a member-led donation drive benefiting Basco Central School, recently damaged by fire, with essential school supplies handed directly to students and teachers.
“This is more than aid—it’s a symbol of shared commitment to sustainable and inclusive tourism,” said TPB COO Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles. “By fostering bayanihan, we empower communities to rise stronger.”
The tour, which included stakeholder dialogues hosted by Basco State College, served to identify collaborative opportunities in sustainable tourism, echoing TPB’s broader goal of resilience-building across the country. The Batanes leg marks the 38th CSR project implemented by TPB nationwide since 2015.
TPB acknowledged its corporate donors, including Asiaventure, Metro Wanderer Travel Services, New World Makati Hotel, Sole Explorer Travel and Tours, Quasar Travel and Tours, and Viva Nomads, for their contributions to the program’s success.
