Stakeholders agree on protecting Olango wildlife

CEBU, Philippines - The Lapu-Lapu City government in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources with the funding support abroad agreed to address threats to the wildlife sanctuary in Olango Island.

Mayor Paz Radaza and officials of the Protected Areas Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Services of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas agreed to implement the program starting next year.

The program is in partnership with the Deutsche Geselishaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbet (GIZ) Gmbh.

The enhanced Protected Area Management of Olango Island Wildlife Sactuary will cover 1,000 hectares in Barangays San Vicente, Sta. Rosa, Sabang and Pangan-an in Olango Island.

Radaza and officials of the DENR hope to address the threats to biodiversity and wetland ecosystem reduced with the implementation of the program.

An amount of P3 million is needed for the implementation of the program. The city government of Lapu-Lapu promised to allocate P1 million while DENR Central Visayas also promised to allocate P1 million.

Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Alexander Gestopa Jr., chairman of the Committee on  Environment, said GIZ Gmbh also promised to allocate P1 million in support of the project.

The presence of migratory birds in Olango Island has attracted thousands of visitors,  Gestopa said. —  Jose P. Sollano (FREEMAN)