SM, firms help rebuild ‘dying’ Ifugao terraces

By Dexter A. See

BANAUE, Ifugao – ShoeMart (SM)  has joined the movement called Cordillera Heritage Weekend Warrior Caravan Run to restore the Banaue Rice Terraces, which was recently restored as world heritage.

SM was the latest among companies nationwide to signify intention to preserve and protect the over 2,000-year old stairway-like rice paddies from eventual extinction.

The caravan was initiated by the Philippine Tour Operators Association and photographer John Chua with Canon Philippines and other corporate entity volunteers dubbed as “weekend warriors.”

Along with the other environment conservationists, the SM team, led by SM Cares Yes Tourism committee assistant program director Nona Reyes, SM Baguio Manager Marc Janssen Pe, and SM Baguio Public Relations Manager Karren Padilla, were in Batad, Banaue, Ifugao recently to help rebuild parts of the Batad rice terraces and extend school and community works to the residents.

“The growing corporate social responsibility projects being done by various corporations in the rice terraces areas has greatly helped in awakening the Ifugao youth to work for the preservation and protection of our identified heritage sites,” Gov. Eugene Balitang said after receiving numerous commitments from multinational corporations planning to help rebuild the damaged rice terraces.

Farming tools and other equipment were turned over by the SM Prime Holdings team to the local government of Ifugao for the use of farmers in their restoration efforts.

Padilla said this is the second time that SM, through its corporate social responsibility program, joined the movement, with Chua being a long time corporate partner starting with the company’s project for people with disabilities, among other SM’s CSR programs.

In Feb. 3, SM joined Canon Phils., environment groups, the Ifugao government and residents in the launching of “Banchang” (bayahihan) in Batad.

Reyes said the partnership with the noted photographer and other individuals and groups for the preservation of heritage sites like the Banaue terraces gave them the opportunity to enhance their programs that support tourism.

“We believe heritage sites can help spur tourism,” Reyes said, adding that Ifugao has been an eco-tourism site over the past several decades and had lured the influx of tens of thousands of foreign and domestic tourists to visit the scenic and historic rice terraces in the different parts of the province.

They will be again collaborating with Philtoa which will feature UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Ifugao, during the 23rd Philippine Travel Mart, the largest annual tourism expo in the country on Aug. 10 to 12 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, set to boost the DOT campaign for sustainable tourism.

Earlier, the Laguna-based Toshiba Electronics Company also adopted portions of the Batad rice terraces and donated funds and farming equipment to the farmers which will be used to further improve their production of the famous “tinawon” native rice and help sustain native rice production as the major source of income of residents in the said place.