THE 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, together with the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, joined the launching of the Conservation Learning Program of Mambukal Mountain Resort in Murcia town on December 8.

The launching was led by resort manager Ellen Marie Jalandoni, along with Fifth District Board Member Alain Gatuslao, and Colonel Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander.

The program aims to build pocket libraries around the resort in order to provide easy yet free access to reading materials about nature and the environment. The pocket libraries were donated by employees of Land Bank of the Philippines.

Jalandoni said the resort will also be a venue for environmental awareness that seeks to promote environmental sustainability, conservation, and protection.

Mambukal Mountain Resort, one of the top ecotourism destinations in the province, focuses on conservation program that is centered on the appreciation of nature.

The launching also highlighted the inauguration of the new icon of the said resort fondly called “Mambu the Bat,” which is a giant replica of a large flying fox bat, one of the largest bats in the world. The resort’s forest is home to around 10,000 bats.

During the program, Arevalo expressed the military's strong support towards the resort’s advocacy as their commitment to environmental protection.

“From serving the people and securing the land, the Army also epitomizes environmental preservation and conservation through the protection of animals and its natural habitat and sanctuary,” he added. (Christopher D. Yanson, CHMSC-Talisay intern)