DENR forges partnership with private sector for management of Wildlife/Philippine Eagle rescue center

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
December 29, 2011

TACLOBAN CITY  –  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Region 8, recently entered a 25 year Memorandum of Agreement with the Dangkalan Pacific Beach Resort (DPBR) in Taft, Eastern Samar for using the latter’s existing facility as a Satellite Regional Wildlife Rescue Center and Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) rescue center.

The MOA signing was done by DENR Regional Executive Director Rogelio T. Francisco and DPBR Manager Adonis Moscare. The signing was witnessed by Regional Technical Director Danilo A. Javier of the DENR PAWCZMS, PENR Officer Marciano T. Talavera of PENRO, Eastern Samar, CENR Officer Delia A. Benitez of CENRO Dolores, Eastern Samar, Hon. Mayor Diego T. Lim of Taft, Eastern Samar and other DENR officials.

Consistent with the DENR’s mandate and R.A. 9147, the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001, the DENR-8 endeavors to collaborate with various local and foreign institutions or organizations in the implementation of various conservation-oriented programs such as management of Wildlife Rescue Centers and conduct scientific researches of biodiversity for social, economic and scientific benefits.

As a Satellite Regional Wildlife Rescue Center, the DPBR shall serve as temporary and appropriate shelter for surrendered, confiscated, donated, retrieved, and/or abandoned wild plants and animals. It shall also provide adequate care and maintenance for said wildlife with the ultimate objective of releasing the same back to its natural habitat.

The MOA provides that all retrieved plants and animals shall remain to be the property of the government. Transfer and shipment of said wildlife within and outside the country for any purpose shall be subject to existing laws and with permission of the DENR.

Moreover, flora and fauna species deposited in the facility shall be used strictly for educational purposes and activities specified under the agreement and shall not in any manner be used for Pharmacological screening or for the extraction of genetic material for commercial purposes.

As partner of the DENR in biodiversity conservation, the DPBR through its Manager, Adonis B. Moscare, shall provide food and medical needs of wildlife that will be housed in their facility, and to nurture and/or rehabilitate the same until they are fit for release to the wild, its natural habitat.

A holder of Wildlife Registration Certificate No. 0107 which was issued by the DENR on January 17, 2011, the DPBR has been nurturing some wildlife species in its resort as an added attraction to its customers.

DENR is thankful that the DPBR has offered their facility for our rescued wildlife species.  This facility is strategically positioned since this is near the declared Taft Forest Philippine Eagle Sanctuary in Barangay Binaloan and San Rafael, Taft where sightings of the Philippine Eagle were recorded.

For its part, the DENR through its Protected Areas Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Service will provide technical and administrative assistance in developing the capability of the DPBR working force through appropriate trainings on handling and nurturing wildlife species. Other trainings would include among others: retrieval and transport of apprehended wildlife for nurturing at the DBPR facility.  The DENR’s Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices in Borongan and Dolores, Eastern Samar respectively, will periodically monitor the facility, Ms. Purificacion Daloos, chief of the DENR-8 Public Affairs Office said.