Legarda: Senate Hails Davao Oriental for Conservation of Mt. Hamiguitan
September 24, 2014PASAY CITY, September 24, 2014 – Senator Loren Legarda announced today that the Senate has adopted Senate Resolution No. 735, commending the collaborative efforts of the provincial government of Davao Oriental, its citizens and the Protected Area Management Board in conserving the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary.
Legarda, author of the Resolution and Chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said that the commendation was in light of the inscription of Mt. Hamiguitan in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon, together with Mayor Justina Yu of the Municipality of San Isidro and Vice Mayor Katrina Joy Orencia of the Municipality of Governor Generoso, personally received a copy of the Resolution during the Senate’s session on September 22, 2014.
“By successfully inscribing the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary as a World Heritage Site, the Philippines commits to the international community its strong support for the conservation of its rich flora and fauna,” Legarda explained in the Resolution.
The World Heritage Committee highlighted that the high level of endemicity of its habitat is significant for putting the Philippines in 7th place among the 17 biologically rich countries in the world.
“This recognition highlights the need to safeguard the biodiversity and natural heritage of the wildlife sanctuary and its surrounding watershed areas and forests,” said Legarda.
“Congratulations to the government and people of Davao Oriental for the great effort you all exerted towards this achievement. May you continue to be champions of environmental conservation and encourage other Filipinos to be the same,” she added.
Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary is officially the 6th World Heritage Site in the Philippines. Other UNESCO Heritage Sites in the country are Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Baroque Churches of the Philippines, Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, and the Historic City of Vigan.