The City of Mati LGU and the Philippine Eagle Foundation Inc. revisited their agreement for the protection of Philippine eagles that inhabit the vast Mt. Hamiguitan Range in the tri-boundaries of Mati City, San Isidro and Governor Generoso towns.
In a meeting on Wednesday, October 2, Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat expressed her willingness to resume the agreement with PEF which was stopped back in 2016 after a shooting incident that led to the death of eagle Pamana on August 2015. Also in attendance were PEF Executive Director Dennis Salvador, PEF Director for Research and Conservation Jayson Ibanez, DENR-PENRO Development Management Officer III Yolanda Bueno, DENR-CENRO Land Management Officer Eduardo Mugas, Davao Oriental Provincial Natural Heritage Office Head Dolores Valdesco, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Eddie P. Cobacha, along with other city employees and DENR staff.
The objective of the meeting was to revisit the previous contract based on the activities that were conducted by the PEF, and the renewal of contract and reactivation of the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary Management Council (PESMC).
During the meeting, Ibanez presented to the body the status of the project located in Barangay Cabuaya, City of Mati.
In 1993, an immature Philippine Eagle crash landed by the shore of Cabuaya. The bird was rescued and turned over to the Philippine Eagle Foundation. Bird was later named “Kalayaan”.
By 2005, a Philippine eagle nest was discovered which has been monitored and observed since then.
For this, a 7,000-hectare Philippine Eagle Sanctuary was set up through Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Resolution No. 365, series of 2005.
In 2014, the Mt. Hamiguitan Range was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. (CIO MATI)
