Legarda: ‘Serve as stewards of Mt. Hamiguitan’

MATI, Davao Oriental – Senate Committee Chair on Environment Loren Legarda challenged the constituents of Davao Oriental to take on the role as stewards of Mt. Hamiguitan which Unesco recently inscribed as a World Heritage Site.

Gracing the recently held Araw ng Davao Oriental was no less than Legarda who urged residents of Davao Oriental to make known to all people, even at the household level that Davao Oriental plays host to the newly Unesco-inscribed Mt. Hamiguitan.

She pointed out that all people in Davao Oriental should take pride of Mt. Hamiguitan as the first Unesco-inscribed World Heritage Site in Mindanao, ranking among the six World Heritage Sites in the country and the sixth Unesco-inscribed wildlife sanctuary in the world.

“Yan po sana ang inyong ikwento sa inyong mga anak sa inyong kamag anak so to be proud of your national and natural heritage,” she said.

She hoped that the pride of having such world heritage in their midst would make them become nature-loving.

“Dapat ituro natin na ang ating pangangalaga ay maging likas sa atin (We must also teach that our being caring should be natural to us),” she said.

Legarda reminded everyone present during the event that man does not own the land the natural environment resources therein, but “merely stewards of nature.”

Meanwhile, Legarda called on all national line agencies to work together and put together efforts in “protecting, conserving and sustaining Mt. Hamiguitan.”

She also pointed out that everyone in the government, the private and the academe can do something for Mt. Hamiguitan and that they have a stake for its protection.

On the other hand, Legarda gave credit to the leadership of Davao Oriental especially to Provincial Gov. Corazon Malanyaon for her resolve effort to pick the Unesco inscription for Mt. Hamiguitan as a World Heritage site.

She also recognized Vice Governor Mayo Almario for passing a bill while he was still in Congress, leading to the proclamation of Mt. Hamiguitan as a protected site. (PIA 11/

Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)