Sun Life Foundation Philippines for WWF's Ridge to Reef Program in Sablyan, Occidental Mindoro
July 2018
(L-R Sun Life Foundation Executive Director Kristine Millete; President Alexander Narciso; Chairperson Riza Mantaring; WWF-Philippines President and CEO Joel Palma; and Occidental Mindoro Project Manager Luis Caraan.) © Juancho Misa / WWF
In their efforts to touch lives and transform communities, Sun Life Financial Philippines Foundation has teamed up with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines to support their Integrated Conservation Program of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. Being the largest municipality in the country where agriculture and fishing are the main sources of livelihood, WWF works in conserving both protected areas in the region: Apo Reef Natural Park and Mounts Iglit-Baco Natural Park.
Apo Reef is the second largest contiguous reef in the world, next to the Great Barrier Reef; while Iglit-Baco houses the critically endangered and locally endemic Philippine Tamaraw. Recognizing the biological importance of the area, Sun Life Foundation has declared to support the project from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.
In the upcoming year, WWF-Philippines and Sun Life Foundation aim to provide habitat management for both Apo Reef and Mts. Iglit-Baco; assist in developing income and food security of the indigenous people; and hopefully tackle the effects of climate change such as coral bleaching, disaster risk reduction, and flood evacuation drills.
Luis Caraan, WWF-Philippines Occidental Mindoro Project Manager goes through the Ridge to Reef program before the turnover. © Juancho Misa / WWF
Both presidents of Sun Life Foundation and WWF-Philippines, Alex Narcisco and Joel Palma, go over the process of getting to Sablayan via Abra de Ilog port. © Juancho Misa / WWF
“What’s great about the project is that it not only protects the integrity of the environment, but uplifts lives of indigenous and fishing communities, two of the most disadvantaged sectors of Philippine society,” muses Riza Mantaring, Sun Life Philippines Chairperson.
Sun Life Financial Philippines Foundation has begun to transcend from helping individuals to transforming entire communities. “With your assistance, we are confident that the holistic conservation and livelihood project of Occidental Mindoro will achieve programmatic success,” says Joel Palma, President and CEO of WWF-Philippines. Indeed, building a brighter world is possible when done together.
