[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he country’s #1 mobile services provider Smart Communications (Smart) is once again throwing its support to the yearly summer event, Sarangani Bay Festival.  This partnership helps promote tourism in Sarangani and raise public awareness on environmental protection and preservation.

READ: Sarbay Fest 2015 Amazing Party Acts

smart2 run

The festival runs today, May 15 to May 17 at the white sand beach strip of Gumasa, Glan, Sarangani.  Among the events supported by Smart are the Talk ‘N Text Day today, the 15th; the Swim-Bike-Run for the Environment Triathlon on the 16th, and the Community Coastal Cleanup and release of fingerlings on the Bay on the 17th.

smart4 beach

This has been Smart’s 4th year of supporting the environmental campaign during SarBay Festival now as part of its advocacy to promote ecological stewardship, and push Sarangani as an eco-tourism hub south of the Philippines.

Sarangani Bay is a 230-kilometer stretch of shoreline that is home to diverse marine life, including the world-famous tuna.

The need to protect the environment has become all the more pressing with the onset of climate change. Getting more people involved in this global effort to save the planet is very important. At Smart, we take initiatives like the SarBay Fest as an opportunity to promote not only the beauty of our country but also the protection of its resources to a bigger stage,” said Ramon R. Isberto, head of Public Affairs at Smart.

smart3 mangrove

Smart has continually been pushing tourism with its digital tourism initiative, and its Doon Po Sa Amin mapping competition that encourages crowd-sourcing of content from young students on what’s special about their hometowns.

Being the Philippines’ leading wireless provider with facilities strategically located nationwide, Smart knows that it plays a key role in advancing the institutionalization of sound environmental practices in the industry.

smart5 fireworks

It has been planting trees and mangrove propagules in various adopted sites nationwide in an effort to offset the greenhouse gas emissions of its operations. It is also one of the key proponents of the Marikina Watershed Initiative that aims to reforest and rehabilitate Metro Manila’s flood water catch basin.

Smart also adopted green merchandising and is the first company in the Philippines to make use of eco-friendly materials like stone paper for its outdoor advertising. It is also working closely with a community in Sooc, Iloilo for the upcycling of used tarpaulins into designer bags.

Truly noble acts from the country’s #1 wireless service provider.  Thank you Smart!

If you are attending SarBay Fest 2015, use the hashtags #SmartSummer and #LiveAllOut in your social media posts.  The main activity area of SarBay Fest is a FREE WIFI ZONE.