TARLAC Governor Susan Yap said on Friday, December 3, that their province is now a haven for bird watching as tourists flock to Victoria town for the activity.
In a regular media forum hosted by the Capampangan in Media Incorporation (Cami), in cooperation with the Clark Development Corp. (CDC), Yap said tourists, including foreigners, frequently visit Canarem Lake in Barangay Canarem, Victoria.
“We are happy about this development especially because foreign tourists joined the Filipinos for the bird-watching,” said Yap.
She said the local economy greatly benefit from the activity.
But Yap stressed she wants “responsible tourists” to visit their province amid the pandemic. She said they discouraged over-crowding in Canarem Lake.
Earlier, Victoria Mayor Christian Yap said they have passed measures and ordinances to protect the migratory birds and their sanctuary at the lake.
He advised tourists to coordinate with the Municipal Government before heading to the venue for the bird-watching.
Yap said they are facing a problem because some of the areas for the bird-watching are now owned by private individuals.
“We are now on the process of buying back the lands,” she added.
The governor said she had asked the owners of the lands not to disrupt the natural habitats in Canarem so that the migratory birds will continue to visit the lake during the winter season in other countries, including China.
“So far they are cooperating,” she added.
Yap said the migratory birds in Canarem were the ones that originally frequented Candaba swamps in Pampanga. But developments in the swamps reportedly stopped the birds from visiting it. (Chris Navarro)