On World Bee Day, the Embassy of Slovenia officially launches a beekeeping project in Labo
The year-long economic empowerment initiative is designed to support 13 women-led households by guiding them through a complete annual beekeeping cycle. Participants will receive comprehensive training in stingless beekeeping, colony management, and financial enterprise development, alongside hands-on workshops to manufacture high-value bee products—ranging from honey and propolis to cosmetics and vinegar.
Partners launching the Stingless Bee Livelihood Project in Labo | Author Embassy of Slovenia in Manila
Ambassador of Slovenia in Manila Dr Smiljana Knez officially opened the project alongside the Mayor of Labo, the Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Lionel Dabbadie, and Project Leader Prof Cleofas Cervancia.
Reflecting on the milestone, Ambassador Knez stated: "Today, the UPLB Bee Program, together with Project Bee Inspired Corporation, the AAA Philippines, and the Embassy of Slovenia in Manila proudly launch the Women-Led Stingless Bee Livelihood Project in Labo, Camarines Norte. The initiative empowers 13 women-led households through training in stingless beekeeping, management, and product and enterprise development. It promotes climate-resilient, biodiversity-friendly, and community-driven livelihoods while advancing sustainable resource use and environmental conservation. As we celebrate World Bee Day, an initiative originating in Slovenia to recognize the important role of bees and other pollinators, we honour the shared commitment to empowering communities through bee-cantered sustainable development."
Promoting Biodiversity and Resilience
The project’s site and the specific bee species were meticulously selected by experts at UPLB. The teams opted for a native Philippine stingless bee (Trigona spp.), perfectly adapted to local ecosystems. Labo was specifically chosen for its rich biodiversity and the critical ecological role that pollinators play in sustaining local agriculture, particularly coconut plantations and other dominant regional crops.
Beyond creating immediate, sustainable income streams, the project places a major emphasis on raising environmental awareness. By integrating community-driven livelihoods with conservation, the initiative ensures that sustainable resource management goes hand-in-hand with regional biodiversity protection.
A Multi-Faceted World Bee Day Celebration
The launch anchors a broader campaign by the Slovenian Embassy to highlight the vital importance of pollinators. Alongside the livelihood project, World Bee Day milestones in the Philippines included the introduction of an educational board game titled "Buzzing Futures," as well as a series of media interviews and features, including an op-ed published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer exploring why local communities must protect pollinators.
Highlighting the project's success, Ambassador Dr Knez noted that the official launch in Labo served as a powerful testament to how global initiatives like World Bee Day can take deep root locally, fostering concrete economic empowerment and environmental stewardship through the partnership of dedicated stakeholders.