DENR urges anew: Help save wildlife

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of  Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) -7 has reiterated its call for the preservation of wildlife in line with the observance of World Wildlife Day (WWD).

“We should endeavor to co-exist with them,” said DENR 7 Executive Director Isabelo Montejo, especially now that the Philippines has earned praise from the international community for its efforts in addressing illegal trade of wildlife.

Last June 21, DENR destroyed five tons of smuggled elephant tusks using a road roller, making the Philippines the first country in Asia to conduct physical destruction of massive ivory stockpiles in support of global efforts to stamp out illegal wildlife trade.

Montejo said they have been continuously monitoring the situation in the region to ensure that the Wildlife Resources and Cave Protection law is being enforced to the fullest. The law aims to protect and conserve wildlife species and their habitats, to do regulation and collection of trade and wildlife, and to initiate or support scientific studies on the conservation of biological diversity.

The Philippines’ participation in the global celebration was part of the country’s commitment to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international agreement adopted in 1973 to regulate worldwide commercial trade in wild animal and plant species.

As a signatory to CITES, Montejo said the celebration would be an opportunity to further raise public awareness on the important role of regulating the trade, whether locally or internationally, of wildlife species and ensuring that their survival is not threatened.

In line with the WWD, DENR-7 announced the winners of the quiz bowl and essay writing contests, which were participated in by at least 20 elementary and secondary schools. The contests were aimed at raising awareness and at pushing for efforts to protect threatened species.

The winners of the quiz bowl are: First - Christy Vera Mariane Codesar and Jose Paterno Montesclaros of Talamban National High School; Second – Weand Ybañez and Christian Loer Llemit of  Philippine Science High School-Central Visayas Campus; Third – Jason Ouano and Kristine Joy Cafe of Mandaue City Science High School; and Fourth – Vernica Jane Tuozo and Hanika Magbutay of Saint Theresa’s College-Cebu.

The winners in the essay writing contest are: First – Nicole Calipondan of Cabancalan Elementary School; Second - Rochelle Marie Albellar of Barrio Luz Elementary School; and Third – Dennise Nicholai Domingo of Bright Academy. —/JMO (FREEMAN)