DAVAO: COMPOSTELA VALLEY

PEF to raise funds for Philippine eagle satellite breeding facility in Compostela Valley

THE PHILIPPINE Eagle Foundation (PEF) is preparing to launch a fund-raising campaign for the construction of a new facility in Moncayo, Compostela Valley, which will become a satellite breeding site for the Philippine eagle and other endangered raptors. “The fencing and securing (the property’s) borders alone will cost millions,” Philippine Eagle Foundation Executive Director Dennis I. Salvador said in an interview. Mr. Salvador said the 23-hectare Compostela Valley property was donated by siblings Sammy and Alice Yap to honor the memory of their parents. The Iloilobased Yaps said they want to see the land they inherited put to good use for the conservation of the Philippine eagle. Mr. Salvador said the new facility is in line with their plans to secure and isolate breeding populations given the current threats to captive bird groups such as disease outbreaks and natural calamities. PEF also has a pending proposal before the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to allow them to loan some of the birds for breeding in other countries as part of the risk management program. “So meron pa tayong (we can have) security such as in the US, Singapore, or Australia, where hopefully we can rebuild bird population in the future,” Mr. Salvador said. PEF currently has 34 eagles and 14 other species in the 8.4-hectare Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City. —

THIS BIRD named Mindanao, born on Dec. 10, 2001 and raised at the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City, is designated as the Philippine eagle ambassador for environmental conservation.