TO SAVE what is left of its natural resources and to protect the booming presence of the Philippine Eagle, Apayao Governor Elias Buliat Jr. is pushing to gain the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) Biosphere Reserve title.
“Part of preservation of our national resources specially biosphere reserve, with the presence of our Philippine Eagle, we have partnered with United States Foreign Service (USFS) to help in the preservation. We are planning, we are now in the legwork for the possible inscription of the province of Apayao for the Unesco biodiversity,” said Bulut in a recent media forum in Baguio City.
At present, there are 15 Philippine Eagles in Calanasan town.
In the Philippines, the Unesco Biosphere reserves are in Puerto Galera in Mindoro Island designated in 1977, Palawan which was designated in 1990 and in Albay designated only in 2016.
For the continuous preservation of natural resources in the Apayao, USFS and the provincial government unit have inked a partnership now on its third year for the deployment of some scientists to study new species and document unique features of the forest areas of Apayao.
The province has also partnered with the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), a non- government organization in Davao.
“Sabi nga ng mga taga foreign service, Apayao is unique to the other biosphere reserve, for example in Albay sa dagat kasi sila it’s not virgin forest, kaya sa atin iba iyong approach. We have deployed some scientists to study the new species possible na makita sa lugar. We have to document these discoveries and give scientific terms. It takes five to 10 years to complete,” says Bulut, citing another exploration will be made this February by the USFS.
He also added one area they want to enter is a virgin forest near the province of Abra.
Bulut added that discussions have been made together with Governor Joy Bernos to aid in the preservation of forest areas so that efforts of the province to protect the Philippine Eagles would not be wasted.