Best Sunshine unveils transformative campaign

Sustainability, community, beautification, and environmental awareness are core values behind a long-term, sustainable partnership between a company, its government and its people. The latest initiative of the conglomerate behind Saipan’s soon-to-rise multi-billion integrated resort complex aims to prove its commitment to the people of CNMI.

Participants of Best Sunshine International Ltd.’s “Beautification Campaign” join BSI chief executive officer Mark Anthony Brown and Senior Vice President-Corporate Marketing Jacqueline Wu, center, following the launch yesterday of this transformative initiative that is aimed at the long-term care and protection of the natural environment. (Contributed Photo)

Best Sunshine International Ltd., which is set to build a $7.1-billion mega integrated resort complex on the island, is jumpstarting a series of events in preparation for the massive tourist influx expected by the year 2016 when BSI opens its first tourism project.

As early as this week, the group is launching the initiative called “Best Sunshine’s Beautification Campaign” that is centered on sustaining the islands’ premier economic engine: tourism. Today marks the first day of the project.

Considered a transformative initiative, this campaign, along with the $10 million CUC voucher that benefited 15,615 residential accounts, form part of BSI’s comprehensive long-term contribution to be the island’s corporate partner that supports the universal value, principle, and hope to inspire residents to take on social responsibility and advocacy for long-term care and protection of the natural environment.

The Beautification Campaign involves the cleaning up and preservation of the island’s top tourist sites, with a goal of driving tourism while at the same time drawing attention to BSI’s message of environmental awareness.

The campaign recorded 196 people who signed up during the initial period. All candidates who signed up attended interviews and was assigned to a 12-day cleanup exercise that started today until Dec. 5, 2014. They range in age from 16 to 62 and come from multiple cultures: Chamorro, Carolinian, Filipino, Indian, Palauan, Chinese and Singaporean. Each day there will be about 30 to 35 people assigned to a designated location. By demonstrating BSI’s token of goodwill, eligible participants will receive $7.50 an hour by participating in the project.

“This project is one of Best Sunshine’s additional contributions to the local community in addition to the $10 million CUC voucher,” said Jacqueline Wu, senior vice president, Corporate Marketing. “We are here for the long term, we are here for good. As a corporate citizen, we have our obligation to contribute to the betterment of Saipan. We listened to those valuable opinions and we answered. And we, the people and BSI, have to work together as a team. Involving our local residents is critical to ensure the success of our community projects. We would like them to commit to the sustainability of this project because in the end, everyone can benefit from a better environment, a better community.”

“From the opinions we gathered today, all participants were pleased with participating the campaign and all are welcome to future involvement in BSI’s community projects. This is a great inspiration for us,” Wu added.

BSI’s parent company, Imperial Pacific International Holdings, recently unveiled details about its five-phase development plan, which will include a total of 4,252 rooms, 300 villas, a 1-km retail street, a massive themed entertainment complex, 1,600 gaming tables and 3,500 slot machines.

“With this massive scale of development, there will be thousands of direct and indirect jobs created. The variety of job functions will awe everyone in the region: from hotel officers, golf course manager, engineers, theatre lighting operator, to water park ambassadors feeding dolphins or logistics handlers for the biggest names in Sports and Entertainment. Hence, to prepare our current workforce and future generations, one of the key areas BSI will focus on is education and training, beyond environmental protection,” Wu said.

The projected $7.1-billion price tag will surpass the budget for other mega casinos in Las Vegas or Singapore, as well as the upcoming Entertainment City project in Manila, Philippines. By then, the BSI integrated resort project is envisioned to rise as a landmark entertainment and recreation destination in the Pacific region. (BSI)