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PHILIPPINES – JUNE 8, 2011 – With over a billion texts sent daily, the country has definitely put itself on the map as the texting capital of the world. That’s why the World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines (WWF-Philippines) together with the country’s leading wireless service provider, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has launched the Text-to-Donate program, an SMS-based donation platform for the organization’s flagship project, the conservation and protection of marine biodiversity particularly the dugongs and sea turtles of Davao Gulf.
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WWF’s Lory Tan and Smart’s Mon Isberto
“A lot of Filipinos are naturally caring and protective of our country’s environment and native creatures. They are willing to help but they do not know how” Mon Isberto, head of Smart’s Public Affairs said. “Smart’s Text-to Donate is an accessible, simple, and quick way to do their share and with a partner like WWF, they are assured that their donations will be put to good use.”
The new value-added service of Smart allows its 46 million subscribers to text in their donations that can go for as low as five pesos to as much as P1,000. They can also opt to give regular donations by turning on the service in their phones which will automatically donate five pesos every 20 days.
According to Lory Tan, Vice Chairman and CEO of WWF-Philippines, the gulf ranks as one of the priority conservation areas of the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Eco-region: “It is a breeding and nursery ground for small and large pelagic species, with frequent sightings of whale sharks, dugongs, and leatherback turtles. Sadly, the Davao Gulf is being threatened by the very economic activities it supports.”
Tan added that the growing poverty in the surrounding area place a greater strain on the current environmental condition of the marine life: “Fish yields have decreased, leading many to adopt destructive fishing methods in order to survive. Turtles are killed for their meat and eggs, while the number of dugongs has dwindled due to boat propeller accidents and fishnet-caused drowning, among others.”
The fundraising is currently part of an on-going project of WWF-Philippines and the Davao Gulf Management Council which covers five coastal cities and 18 coastal municipalities surrounding the gulf.
To take part in the Text-to-Donate fundraising, Smart and Talk n’ Text subscribers can make one-time donations by texting WWF <amount> to 4483 (valid values are 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500, 1000). They may also choose to give regular donations by texting WWF ON to 4483. The donated amount will be deducted from the subscriber’s prepaid load or billed to the account of postpaid subscribers.
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