The Samdhana Institute

The Samdhana Institute is implementing the DIVE-Tagbanwa project to create a sustainable and inclusive tourism model that highlights the traditions and ancestral waters of the Calamian Tagbanwa people in Palawan, Philippines. The project will produce three video documentaries showcasing underwater stories from the local community and develop a community driven business model supporting eco-tourism managed by the Tagbanwa people. By involving local youth in the production process, the initiative aims to enhance skills, foster community engagement, and empower the Tagbanwa to manage their own tourism enterprises, preserving their cultural heritage and marine ecosystems while generating income through sustainable tourism. ABIC funding will support business plan development, capacity-building sessions, pilot testing, and the production of underwater video stories. In the next six months, the project aims to establish an ecotourism enterprise by launching the DIVE-Tagbanwa tour package in Culion, Palawan. Within two years, the goal is to increase livelihood opportunities for the Tagbanwa indigenous community by fully developing indigenous-led ecotourism packages that promote sustainable tourism in their ancestral waters.