Pangasinan, a habitat for PHL eagle soon
SAN MANUEL—The Philippine Eagle Habitat Suitability Assessment project was formally launched Wednesday at the San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam Project in this town with the planting of 90 trees of nine indigenous species.
The project aims to create an ideal habitat for the endangered Philippine eagle around the Cordillera-Caraballo mountain ranges which is part of the surrounding area of the San Roque Dam.
Tommy Valdez, vice president of the San Roque Project Corporation (SRPC) which operates the dam, said the rare eagle species will become the rallying point in conserving and protecting the Agno watershed.
“Kung protektahan natin yong eagle, i-protect din natin ang forest,” he told the media during the launch.
Valdez said the objective is to bring in a pair of Philippines eagles will be brought in from Davao City within two to three years through the Philippine Eagle Foundation based there.
The foundation will first conduct an assessment whether the area is already suitable by then to become home to the eagles.
During the launch, a preserved specimen from the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao was brought for exhibit and a lecture was delivered by a representative of the Philippine Eagle Foundation to teachers and students who participated in the tree planting activity.
TREE PLANTING
The tree planting was also in honor of prominent business executive and philanthropist Washington Sycip who celebrated his 90th birthday.
Sycip is a trustee of Synergia Foundation, which partnered with SRPC in providing education materials and equipment to communities in the three catchment areas of the San Roque dam, including this town, San Nicolas and Itogon in Benguet.
Some 7,000 workbooks and manuals were distributed to public elementary schools in the three towns.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed between Synergia, SRPC and education officials for the fifth year implementation of the Reading and Mathematics Proficiency program.
Joining Sycip were local government officials led by Pangasinan Vice Governor Ferdinand Calimlim and Benguet Vice Governor Cresencio Pacalso and SRPC officers. (DOS/PIA Pangasinan)
ZERO DROPOUT
Sycip, speaking after the MOA signing, rallied for a zero dropout rate at the elementary level.
He said someone who does not finish basic education becomes illiterate and will be hard-pressed to get out of poverty.
Sycip also called on government to address the high cost of credit and the loss of professionals, especially nurses who could be rendering service in rural health centers.
Referring to the “5-6” scheme that loan sharks offer, wherein P6 is paid for every P5 borrowed, Sycip said, “No one can get out of poverty with this kind of credit.” (DOS/PIA Pangasinan)
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