Nineteen participants from Brgy. Literon, Calbiga, Samar joined the two-day Lakbay Gabay activity of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc.-Bantay Kalikasan.

The participants visited Biliran and Leyte to learn from the best practices of established people’s organizations managing community-based sustainable livelihoods in the two provinces.

Following the trip, Brgy. Literon Women’s Association and Lulugayan Falls Tour Guides’ Association will be managing the development of Brgy. Literon, Bantay Kalikasan’s new assisted site, as an ecovillage and ecotourism site.

Their first stop was in Canaan Farm in Biliran, the first agritourism project to be accredited by the Department of Tourism in Region 8 and one of the learning sites of the Agricultural Training Institute.

The group also visited Bantay Kalikasan’s assisted sites in Leyte funded from the donations given to Operation Sagip after typhoon Yolanda—the Sabang Daguitan Surf Camp, the San Jose Skimboarding Camp and the San Jose Organic Farm in Dulag.

Their last stop was the Villa Conzoilo Farm in Jaro, the first organic farm in Leyte run by a people’s organization.

Jun Figueroa, Bantay Kalikasan’s Operations manager for Yolanda projects, said: “The participants expressed excitement to start planting upon their return. They feel that they neglected the potentials of their areas or farms. They have learned so much from the trip and they are willing to share it with other community members.”

Lakbay Gabay is one of Bantay Kalikasan’s activities for people’s organizations in its assisted communities. It is an immersion that becomes an avenue for the communities to share inputs on how they found solutions to different issues that arise in their sites.

The activity was funded by the local government unit of Calbiga and the Samar provincial government. (Story/Photos by: Althea Cahayag and Jun Figueroa)