Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) conducted training on the management and protection of wildlife on May 27 – 28 as part of its Bio-Diversity Project, particularly its program to assigned qualified personnel to man its Wildlife Restitution Center (WRC) located in Tupi and Tampakan towns.
PEMO’s Forest and Inland Water Division chief Forester Mary Jane Manlisis disclosed that 19 individuals have completed the training and eventually will become “Local Para-Vets” or Community Veterinarian.
The pool of trainors of the 2-day training included Anna Mae Sumaya, curator of Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) based in Davao City, PEF IEC Manager Rai Kristie Salve Gomez, Mt. Matutum Protected Landscape (MMPL) Protected Area Superintendent Jamel Tiburon and Mangayao Macapodi of DENR 12 Conservation and Development Division.
Said trainors took turns in lecturing about topics such as Wildlife in Tropical Rainforest (A Situationer), Common Challenges and Opportunities for Wildlife, Basic Concepts on Wildlife and Habitat Conservation, Wildlife Act and Other Related Legislation, Animal Husbandry and Handling, Wildlife Handling and First Aid Exercise, and Wildlife Conservation Protocols, Commitments and Agreements.
Likewise, a Communication Plan for South Cotabato Wildlife Conservation Program was also presented by Rogelio Calmita of PEMO to the participants.
The 19 graduates came from personnel of MENRO and OMAg of Tampakan and Tupi MLGUs, Linan and Lambayong BLGUs and the animal keeper from PVET.
“The para-vets will take charge of the operations of the WRC that will be specifically established in Lambayong, Tampakan and Linan, Tupi,” Manlisis said.
Lambayong is home to different species of birds while Tupi is a known sanctuary of the tarsier, the smallest primate in the world.
