THE Bagobo-Tagabawa community in Davao City received a million peso grant from the Australian Embassy to strengthen its resource management and better protect the wildlife including the Philippine Eagle.
Datu Hernan who leads the Bagobo-Tagabawa community in Barangay Sibulan, Toril explained that his people are much concerned with the welfare of the wildlife and the Philippine Eagle as they understand the role it does for the forest and them as well.
"Our community is happy to receive this support from our friends in the Australian Embassy who have seen our efforts to provide care to our fauna," the chieftain said during a short ceremony at the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) in Malagos Friday.
The Australian Embassy partnered with PEF to develop a project that should help in the supervision of the wildlife and other resources.
Jayson Ibañez, director for research and conservation of the PEF, said that the project will help set the guidelines for using the forest.
"There are different villages within the community and the idea for each village is to enforce the rules for using the forest, protecting the wildlife, watching over the forest," he said.
The general idea of the project is to provide incentives and livelihood support, "so they could realize that they are better of saving the forest, [and] the eagles than destroying it," the head researcher added.
Australian Ambassador Amanda Gorely, in an interview, shared that she and her team were impressed with the foundation and the work that it is doing and to the Philippine Eagle itself.
PEF is widely recognized for its accomplishments in the conservation of the Philippine Eagle, not only to recover its dwindling populations but also to protect its forest habitats and ensure the sustainable use of the forests’ bounties for the people.
"We are providing contribution to improve the work of the indigenous people of this area who have the tradition and knowledge about the life of the Philippine Eagle, methods of conservation, increasing biodiversity, and preserving what you have here," Gorely added.
PEF also works out on developing a national accreditation program with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to increase the number of forest guards helping secure the wildlife.
Ibañez said the Australian Embassy has given them an opportunity to build a track record for the community through the project. It will serve as the pilot project and will be emulated by other Key Biodiversity Areas in the country.
The Australian Embassy has been keeping a good relationship with the Philippines for 72 years and its biggest priorities were mostly on the education sector. The ambassadress noted in an earlier interview that they need to ensure that children have access to quality education.