Primer Group’s CORE extends financial aid to Center for Conservation Innovations
The Primer Group of Companies’ advocacy arm, Center for Outdoor Recreation and Expedition (CORE) turned over P150,000 to the Center for Conservation Innovations Inc. (CCI), a biodiversity conservation group, as part of its pledge to the Padyak Palawan 2016 project.
The donation turnover was conducted at the Recreational Outdoor Exchange (R.O.X.) store in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig City and was attended by Primer Group’s Senior Vice President and General Manager for Primer Resources Corp. Eric Sarmiento, CORE Program Manager Kristine Villaflor, and CORE Athlete Romi Garduce, who spearheaded the Padyak Palawan, a fundraising bike tour in the Palawan province.
For their part, CCI Executive Director Edmund Leo Rico and CCI President Neil Aldrin Mallari accepted the donation, which will be used to fund Oplan Tandikan, which aims to increase the land area conservation management and building conservation capacity of endemic species and their rapidly dissipating habitats in Palawan.
A photo exhibit on the Padyak Palawan project, was displayed at R.O.X. store in BGC during the ceremony. Garduce also revisited the experiences they had during the bike tour.
The Padyak Palawan 2016, which was conducted last October 10 – 22 from south to north in Palawan, aimed to promote adventure tourism in Palawan by showcasing its heritage sites and wildlife locations. The bike tour explored the region’s sweeping vistas: Cave, Estrella Falls, Matanglaw and Umalad Falls, St. Paul’s Underground River, and Sta. Isabela.
In addition to its wildlife tour, the two-week bike adventure intended to spread awareness on wildlife conservation, endangered species protection, the importance of synergies with local communities, and the ethereal resources unique in the country.
“We are truly grateful to all those who’ve contributed to this project,” said Villaflor.
“Palawan is an absolutely beautiful place with scenic spots, and we want to preserve it in that way,” she added. “Through Padyak Palawan, we are proud to say that we were able to achieve that in our own little ways.”
With the success of its first run, Villaflor said another leg of the Padyak series may be conducted this year. “Stay tuned, and continue checking our CORE and Padyak Palawan pages for updates.
For more information about CORE and its programs, visit the following:
CORE website: http://www.coreasia.org.ph;
Primer Group website: http://www.primergrp.com; or
CORE Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/CORE.ph.
