As part of its corporate social responsibility, Primer Group of Companies, through one of its concept stores Recreational Outdoor eXchange (R.O.X.), partnered with Lingkod Kapamilya’s Bantay Kalikasan and Investments in Loving Organizations for Village Economies (I LOVE) Foundation to provide sustainable livelihood for local communities while taking care of the environment.
Dubbed ‘Lako Lokal’, the partnership aims to foster the growth of local communities while also preserving the environment through joint CSR activities. Some of these activities include providing a dedicated section in R.O.X. for the local communities’ products, and developing key eco-tourism sites that will help create more jobs.
On November 17, 2018, Primer Group of Companies, represented by Primer Group of Companies’ Vice President for Merchandising Planning and Control Dinah Yau Lim, and Bantay Kalikasan and I LOVE Foundation, represented by I LOVE Foundation Chairman and Bantay Kalikasan Founder Gina Lopez, formalized the partnership through a contract signing at R.O.X.
“We are delighted to partner with Bantay Kalikasan and I LOVE Foundation as we believe that this collaboration will truly make a huge impact on the lives of the Filipinos. One of our purposes at Primer Group is to give back to our country through sustainable means, such as through creating sustainable livelihood for communities and implementing programs that help preserve our natural resources. With Bantay Kalikasan and I LOVE Foundation, both of which share the same vision as Primer Group’s CSR, we are now a step closer to making a significant change for the country,” says Yau Lim.
Likewise, Bantay Kalikasan and I LOVE Foundation believes that the partnership sparks hope in uplifting the lives of marginalized communities, through the provision of livelihood opportunities and proper and inspirational mentoring.
“We have 7,000 islands with corals and rivers and streams and mountains and volcanoes, and in my very biased opinion, the most beautiful people in the world. But the reality is that although the Philippines boasts of a 6.7% GDP growth and is see to be one of the top three fastest growing economies in Asia, the robust growth has not trickled down to the remotest areas of the country,” Lopez says.
During the event, a turnover ceremony of donations of packs and bikes from R.O.X. to the Foundation was held for the related initiatives under the partnership.
Among the communities that will be supported by the partnership are Tawi-Tawi, Lake Sebu and Polomolok in South Cotabato, Sta. Cruz Islands in Zamboanga, Maramag in Bukidnon, Bulusan in Sorsogon, Upi in Maguindanao, and Tublay in Benguet.
For more information about the partnership and to learn more about R.O.X., follow @roxphilippines on Facebook and Instagram.
To learn more about the partner communities, visit www.facebook.com/questforloveph