WWF-Philippines and the Department of Tourism Push for Sustainable Consumption and Production to Achieve Sustainable Tourism in the Philippines
September 2019
Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Philippines shakes the hand of Mr. Joel Palma, President and CEO of WWF-Philippines, to seal the agreement between the two organizations. Joining them are Undersecretary Arturo D. Boncato Jr. of the Tourism Regulations, Coordination, and Resource Generation (TRCRG) and Mr. Aurelio “Gigi” Montinola III, Chairman of the Board of WWF-Philippines.
On September 2, 2019, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, through its pioneer project on sustainable consumption and production, The Sustainable Diner: A Key Ingredient for Sustainable Tourism, met with the Department of Tourism (DOT) Philippines at their head office to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will strengthen the partnership between the two organizations in further pushing for the implementation of sustainable dining practices in the local tourism and food service industry.
Liezl Stuart Del Rosario, Policy Specialist of The Sustainable Diner project, presenting the results of the initial sustainability trainings conducted in partnership with DOT-Philippines.
Signing the MoU were Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat of the DOT-Philippines, Mr. Joel Palma, President and CEO of WWF-Philippines, Mr. Aurelio Montinola III, Chairman of the Board of WWF-Philippines, and Undersecretary Arturo D. Boncato Jr. of the DOT-Philippines’ Tourism Regulations, Coordination, and Resource Generation (TRCRG). They were accompanied by Assistant Secretary Maria Rica C. Bueno of the TRCRG, Director Rowena Lu Y. Montecillo of the DOT’s Office of Industry Manpower Development, Mr. Ryan N. Sebastian, Officer-in-Charge of the DOT’s Manpower Training Division, Mr. Ismael Cabigao, Officer-in-Charge for Marketing and Resource Generation of WWF-Philippines, and Ms. Liezl Stuart Del Rosario, Policy Specialist for The Sustainable Diner project.
Sec. Romulo-Puyat, Mr. Palma, and Mr. Montinola watching The Sustainable Diner project’s newest animated video.
WWF-Philippines and the DOT-Philippines enter into an understanding to work together towards achieving certain objectives of the DOT’s Office of the Industry Manpower Development and The Sustainable Diner project, including the preparation and conduct of sustainability trainings that will benefit the tourism and foodservice industries, local government units, and local communities. The MoU seeks to efficiently transfer the knowledge and skills required in order for the foregoing stakeholders to be able to integrate sustainable consumption and production practices in their operations and policy decisions. It also upholds the DOT mandate to promote a tourism industry that is ecologically sustainable, responsible, and participative, among others.
Sec. Romulo-Puyat, Mr. Palma, and Mr. Montinola posing for a group photo with representatives from the DOT-Philippines and WWF-Philippines.
L-R: Liezl Stuart Del Rosario (Policy Specialist, The Sustainable Diner), Ismael Cabigao (Officer-in-Charge for Marketing and Resource Generation, WWF-Philippines), Undersecretary Arturo D. Boncato Jr., Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Mr. Joel Palma, Mr. Aurelio Montinola III, Assistant Secretary Maria Rica C. Bueno (TRCRG, DOT-Philippines), Director Rowena Lu Y. Montecillo (Office of Industry Manpower Development, DOT-Philippines), and Mr. Ryan N. Sebastian (Officer-in-Charge, Manpower Training Division, DOT-Philippines)
“The DOT-Philippines can always rely on the continuing support of WWF, particularly in the promotion of sustainable tourism and in the implementation of their priority programs highlighting environmental sustainability and ecological stewardship”,’ says Palma. “The long-standing relationship that we have, I believe, is the right partnership when it comes to engaging with various industries and the general public. We are one with the DOT in making our tourism industry more sustainable. Together, it is possible for us to transform the foodservice industry and the tourism industry to work for the betterment of our people and our planet.”
The Sustainable Diner project, under WWF-Philippines’ Sustainable Consumption and Production, is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag.
For more information, please contact:
Melody Melo-Rijk
Project Manager
mmelorijk@wwf.org.ph
For media arrangements, please contact:
Pamela Luber
Integrated Marketing Communications Specialist
pluber@wwf.org.ph
Lorayne Roque
Sustainable Consumer Specialist
lroque@wwf.org.ph
