Davide Welcomes Plan to Declare Province as Birds, Bats Sanctuary

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III welcomed the possibility of declaring the entire province as birds and bats sanctuary but said the matter should be studied thoroughly first.

Davide said many things need to be taken into account, including sufficient data to support the move, as well as the specific measures that would be undertaken to implement them.

“We need to protect our wildlife here because of pollution, we need to take measures such as those. But before we declare that, we have to have data. We have to be sure of our responsibility afterwards,” Davide said.

The members of the Cebu Provincial Development Council (PDC) environment committee earlier concurred to propose to the Cebu Provincial Board the crafting of an ordinance that would declare the whole province as birds and bats sanctuary.

The ordinance would also ban the hunting and capturing of any of their species.

The committee noted the importance of birds and bats in forest regeneration through distribution of seeds.

The environment committee has yet to present their formal request to the PDC for deliberation and approval during a full council meeting next month.

“I still have to take a look on the basis of their recommendation. We have to study the basis how they were able to draw that conclusion that it is necessary to declare the province as birds and bats sanctuary,” Davide said.

Davide also chairs the PDC. (PNA) FPV/EB/EDS