Benguet town prohibits hunting of wildlife

AN EXECUTIVE order prohibiting hunting, sale and possession of wildlife and protection of their habitat has been set in Kapangan, Benguet.

Mayor Manny Fermin said it has been evident that wildlife in the municipality are dwindling in numbers if not for some who have gone extinct.

“While the municipal council are doing research and preparing pertinent for the ordinance to localize the prohibition of hunting, we are hopeful that at least 40 percent wild animals from cloud rats, birds and snakes are still alive in the town,” Fermin said.

The chief executive added among the 15 villages, Pudong was declared as a bird sanctuary with 65 hectares, adding construction of an ecopark continues near the municipal hall in a bid to protect wild animals.

Fermin said locals, especially those armed with airguns are warned in the past to abate hunting wildlife in each village.

“It is our promordial duty and responsibility to guard and protect our environment for our future generation. To address the rampant illegal destruction and extinction of our wildlife and their habitat, it is imperative to constitute and executive order for this purpose,” Fermin added.

The mayor added prohibited illegal acts include killing and destroying wildlife species, inflicting injury and impairs the reproductive system of wildlife species.

Illegal acts in critical habitats such as dumping of waste products detrimental to wildlife, occupying portion of sanctuary, mineral exploration and extraction, burning, logging and quarrying.

Also prohibited are trading or sale of wildlife, collecting, hunting or possessing wildlife, gathering or destroying trees, maltreating and transporting wildlife.

The Menro and other concerned departments tasked to conduct an information education campaign.

Together with Menro, the Bantay-Gubat Task Force, Environment and Natural Resources Council, all village captains and Kapangan Municipal Police personnel are tasked to monitor the implementation of the executive order.

The order also anchored on Republic Act 9147 known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act and RA 7586 known as the National Integrated Protected Areas Systems Act and Critical Habitat, both acts aims to protect wildlife species in the country that include protected areas.

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