Negros Occidental observes 17th Wildlife Month
THE Province of Negros Occidental, through the Provincial Environment Management Office (Pemo), observes the 17th Provincial Wildlife Month with series of activities that commenced with a conference held at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol building on Monday, November 15.
Lawyer Julie A. Bedrio, Pemo head, led the celebration with the presence of former governor Rafael "Lito" Coscolluela and other partners.
Provincial Ordinance 002, Series of 2009 declares the Month of November of every year as Wildlife Month for the Province of Negros Occidental.
The celebration was also marked with the first Negros Occidental Environmental Partners' Conference led by Bedrio.
The event aims to share the best environmental practices and programs of various partners of the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental that serve as models for adoption in other towns and cities despite the onslaught of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
The environmental practices are actions that reduced the negative environmental impact caused by activities and processes through changes and improvements in the organization and development of actions in rehabilitation, conservation and protection.
The topics for presentation are categorized according to the following: Blue Environment; Brown Environment and Green Environment, which will be discussed by the invited speakers from the National Government Agencies, Provincial Government, Local Government Units, Non-Government Organizations and Academe.
This will be attended by the Environment and Natural Resources officers of 31 component cities and municipalities of the province, the academe and non-government organizations, among others.
It will be streamed live at Pemo Negros Occidental's Face Book account.
During the event Monday, several resource speakers shared their inputs during the conference, namely, Kimberly Casipe, project manager, Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc. (PRRCFI) for Provost, United States Agency for International Development
(USAid); Fish Right Fishing Index and Threat Assessment Tool (I-FIT) by Andrea Leonor Barcelpna, DVM Field Program coordinator, Visayan Sea USAid Fish Right Program; Bureau Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan Project by Marian Jill Sajo Abeto, MPA OIC-Provincial Fisheries Office, Negros Occidental; Network of Alliances for Coastal Wetlands Conservation/ 2021 GalingPook Award by Bedrio; and several others.
Meanwhile, as one of the conveners, the Negros Forest Park-Biodiversity Conservation Center (NFP-BCC) (Formerly managed by then Negros Forests & Ecological Foundation Inc. (NFEFI), as Wildlife Rescue & Captive Breeding Center in West Visayas, now under the management of Talarak Foundation Inc. (TFI) actively participated on this yearly event.
One of our main contribution for this celebration is an Open House at the NFP-BCC on November 19, 2021 where we open the center for public viewing that starts 9am to 4pm for free to all visitors.