Tarsiers thrive in Southern Leyte barangay sanctuary

TACLOBAN CITY — A barangay in Southern Leyte has been protecting and providing sanctuary to Philippine tarsiers, considered one of the world’s smallest monkey since 2014, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Eastern Visayas (DENR-8) bared yesterday.

DENR-8 Regional Director Leonardo Sibbaluca said that residents and officials of Barangay Catmon in Silago, Southern Leyte are actively and voluntarily protecting the unique and world-renowned specie Philippine tarsiers (Tarsius syrichta) found in the area.

The tarsiers in the barangay, however, are slightly larger than those found in other areas.

Sibbaluca said that the legal basis for the protection of the tarsier is a barangay resolution passed by the barangay council last 2014 “instituting the protection and conservation measures of the unique tarsier within its area of responsibility.”

He added that the resolution mandates the barangay initiate conservation and protection measures for the Philippine tarsier consistent with section 27 of the Republic Act 9147 otherwise known as the Wildlife Act of the Philippines.