Olango bird sanctuary to be improved

The Lapu-Lapu City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) plans to enhance the facilities of the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Olango Island by adding a viewing deck and improving the old boardwalk.

"Dili man gud ta ingon nga ato nang hilabtan gyud siya (ang sanctuary) kay protected area man na siya," said Engineer Perla Amar, CPDO head.

What they can do, Amar said, is to add a viewing deck since the old boardwalk is already damaged mainly due to sea water movement.

"Naa ta'y i-construct diha nga viewing deck kay ang atong boardwalk naguba naman gud tungod sa dagat. Pero i-improve ra nato, naa naman tay design ana," she said.

Amar said they got the budget for the enhancement project through the Integrated Protected Area Fund (IPAF) of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB).

IPAF is a trust fund established under Republic Act No. 7586, or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act.

Amar said the enhancements will also get support from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Lapu-Lapu City Government.

"Naa man support ang city in terms of manpower kay ang city is a member of PAMB," Amar said.

Discussions about the matter is still ongoing, she said.

The close to 1,000 hectares sanctuary in Olango is a known flyway to various species of migratory birds coming from Siberia, Northern China, Japan, and other parts of northern Asia.

Olango is host to 97 species of birds, 48 of which are migratory.

Chinese egrets, Asiatic dowitchers, eastern curlews, plovers, sandpipers, black-tailed godwit, and Red Knot are among the identified birds that seeks refuge in the area during northern winters.