As a way of saying “thank you” to its customers in its 160th anniversary, the Bank of the Philippine Islands in Dumaguete City launched its CSR program to rehabilitate the Silliman Beach in barangay Bantayan last Saturday.
The rehabilitation program is part of BPI’s nationwide employee volunteerism program, Bayanihan Para sa Inang Bayan (BPI Bayan). The program is a way of giving back to the community and encouraging its employess to go beyond what they do at works.
The project aims to recruit partners and coordinate their involvement of the coastal clean-up; recruit partners well-versed in environmental advocacy for the environmental campaign; establish structure to remind beach users to help preserve the marine environment; and to assist the LGU to establish coral reefs.
Senior Vice President and Group head of the Consumer Banking Group, Natividad N. Alejo stated the program will also raise the awareness of the community with how to be responsible to the environment. She also stressed that this is not a project of BPI but the project of its employees.
BPI Dumaguete Branch Manager Gary Rosales, the program proponent, said they chose Silliman Beach was chosen because he realized that the beach used to be beautiful but has faded from public view due to the garbage that are left or washed up on the beach.
Rosales added that this was the first time that BPI Dumaguete was able to conduct an activity for the BPI Bayan since before they just used to fund the program.
For one employee, Roy Villacora, the program was a fulfilling activity because in his free time he was able to help clean-up the coastal area of the community.
The rehabilitation of the beach is a yearlong program which also includes a monthly clean-up, environmental campaign, establishing of environmental messages, construction of an artificial coral reef, and planting of mangroves.
Assistant Vice President and Area Business Director of Negros Cristina Sy, stated that in the long run the beach might be the “next Boracay.” While Rosales hopes that other groups will follow suit on their efforts in the preservation of the environment.
Joining the clean-up were BPI employees, Bantay Dagat Dumaguete, Friendship Home Valencia, NORSU Mountaineering Club, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Century Security Guards and the Senior citizens of the barangay. (Reuel John Lumawag)
