PTT launches 'Visit Rayong' campaign to help communities

PTT launches 'Visit Rayong' campaign to help communities

PTT Plc has introduced a new programme called Siam Yol Rayong ("Visit Rayong") in a bid to encourage visitors to enjoy the province's way of life, communities and local products.

Members of a conservation group ask visitors to help breed shells in a mangrove forest.

Rayong has been the home of various industrial projects over the past three decades.

Last year, environmentalists petitioned the Administrative Court to halt 76 projects in Rayong with total investment value of 400 billion baht.

However, most companies have been able to continue their investments, albeit amid local community concern.

The Siam Yol Rayong project has been ongoing for two years. Its objective is the showcasing of the good sides of Rayong and improving the image of the province in the eyes of the public.

The project involves broadcasting a TV programme on Channel 5 about the way of life and the good environmental conditions in Rayong, unspoiled despite being located near factories.

Pannee Thuamthong, chief of the Prachum Mitr community in the Ban Chang sub-district, said PTT Plc helps promote Batik painting businesses in the local communities.

Communities in Rayong started to produce Batik in 2000.

When PTT Plc started to help promote the business of the communities, more customers visited and community members were able to earn around 10,000 baht a month, double of what they previously earned. The community also plans to enhance the quality of their products and to create more diversity in products made from Batik paintings.

Kin Nawong, chairman of a conservation group focused on the Rayong River and mangrove forests, initiated a programme eight years ago to protect the last mangrove forest with trees older than 200 years.

There are now 300 rai of mangrove in Rayong municipality.

Currently, the mangrove initiative involves 80 people from the public and private sectors. With support from PTT Plc, educational facilities have been built for students and environmentalist interested in learning about mangrove preservation.

Mr Kin, 74, said mangroves in the region had been deteriorating, while pollution in the water was affecting shrimp.

However, the rehabilitation programmes helped gradually clean up the water and also raise awareness in the community of the dangers of throwing garbage into the water.

Maitree Rodpon, chief of Pak Klong Ta Kuan, a fishery group in Rayong Municipality with 329 families, said the community started to raise mussels almost 10 years ago when PTT's factories were established.

Under this initiative, the community was able to generate an income of 40,000 baht per day, or around 500 baht per family. The mussels are sold to small restaurants in the community to serve visitors to the area.

Mr Maitree said if factories in Rayong are more focused on environmental conservation and safety, communities and factories can coexisted in the same area in the same way his community lives near a PTT jetty.

He said the explosion of a factory in Map Ta Phut last month deterred customers from visiting, so income of the group fell to only 4,000 baht a day.

However, the situation is expected to improve.

Chalitrat Chandrubeksa, deputy government spokesman, said the cabinet last week approved 92 projects to be implemented 2012-2016 with a total invest budget of 4.34 billion baht. The projects are aimed at solving environmental problems in Map Ta Phut.

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