Summary
Highlights
Siargao, a rapidly growing tourism hotspot, faces a challenge: most of its food and materials are imported despite its rich natural resources. Lokal Lab, a grassroots NGO founded in 2017, aims to transform Siargao into a model of sustainable island living, empowering the local community to reach its full potential and preserve its unique culture against unchecked development often seen in places like Boracay or Bali.
Lokal Lab operates through three main programs: core community building, focusing on identifying and working with local communities; Tropical Academy, a capacity-building tool for sustainable practices like natural farming and climate-resilient structures; and social enterprises like the Hub and Lokal Tabo, which serve as fundraising projects. Analyn Dulpina, co-founder, emphasizes the goal of making the island sustainable, while Kara, another co-founder, highlights the platform's role in gathering diverse expertise for a shared vision. Iris, the social enterprise director, manages the fundraising projects, connecting with tourists and businesses.
Analyn Dulpina, a former nurse, shares her journey into farming, inspired by her family's land and the desire to help relatives. Ihayas Farm, located in San Isidro, grows produce that is distributed through Lokal Hubs in General Luna and Burgos, directly connecting farmers to consumers. Andrew Malarkey, managing chef partner at Wild, emphasizes the importance of restaurant owners building relationships with local farms, promoting corporate responsibility, and empowering communities to build local industries rather than leaving their hometowns. He highlights utilizing local ingredients like sitaw, gabi, kalabasa, and talong, which thrive in Siargao's conditions.
The Tropical Academy, established two years ago, serves as an open-air classroom for vocational training in agriculture, carpentry, culinary arts, and other essential skills. In partnership with TESDA and ATI, it aims to empower local communities, especially young farmers, who are increasingly drawn to tourism. Lokal Lab's programs also include FarmNet, artisan crafts, and Coco Lab, which utilizes coconut waste. The organization advocates for the community's voice in crucial conversations surrounding Siargao's protected status.
The Caridad Weavers' Association, initially with 18 members and now 42, preserves the traditional weaving skills inherited through generations. The members, especially elders, find pride and a livelihood in crafting mats, which are gaining appreciation from tourists. Lokal Lab's demo farm showcases regenerative farming techniques, empowering farmers through classes on seed saving and compost making, reducing their reliance on external aid. Satellite farms extend this training to various communities, fostering food security and self-sufficiency, addressing the past issue where farmers lacked a market for their produce, leading to reliance on imports from other provinces.
Jolina Mecate, a farm lead at Ihayas Farm, shares her passion for agriculture, inherited from her farming parents, despite their initial disapproval. She emphasizes the importance of empowering farmers by giving them a voice in pricing their produce through monthly meetings, ensuring fair compensation. The video highlights a farmer who, thanks to Lokal Lab, no longer has to travel far to sell his produce, having regular customers on the island. The overarching goal is to make Lokal Lab a long-term, self-sufficient NGO, using tourism as a force for good to make Siargao a self-sufficient island and a model for others. The video concludes with Jolina's dedication to inspiring youth to embrace agriculture, recognizing its vital role in the nation's future.