The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has sought the help of the public in raising P100 million for the conservation of six endangered species in the country, including the Philippine eagle, tamaraws, dugongs, the Philippine cockatoo, pawikan, and the Palawan pangolin.
According to Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, the ‘umbrella species’ are important for the survival of other species in the ecosystem, as the agency introduced its Save from Extinction program, where the DENR has partnered with SM Supermalls and Banco de Oro to facilitate donations for its conservation efforts.
“Without action, we risk losing not just [these] species, but the essential services they provide – services that are vital for our own survival and to the web of life,” Yulo-Loyzaga said.
She pointed out that fewer than 400 pairs of Philippine eagles are left in the wild, and there are only 610 to 1,120 Philippine cockatoos. The current population of tamaraws ranges from 574 to 610, a dramatic decline since the species was first discovered in 1896, when the population was estimated at 10,000.
The DENR list of threatened terrestrial species includes 1,106 threatened fauna, and 984 threatened flora.
The DENR chief said the agency would need at least P100 million more in funding for its conservation efforts, in addition to its current P100 million budget already allocated for the six species.
“Let me tell you, just by way of percentages, the budget of the DENR is 0.48 percent of 1 percent of the total budget. And yet we are to be present in 30 million hectares of land, 220 million hectares of waters, over 36,00 kilometers of coastland,” she said. “It is simply impossible.”
The additional P100 million fund would go to 5 nongovernment organizations that have partnered with the DENR in protecting the six endangered species.
It is sad that government has to beg from the private sector, but that is how it is for the environment and endangered species here in this country, where bulk of the people’s money would rather be spent on projects where kickbacks are established and politicians can put their name on, or confidential funds that cannot be accounted for.
Let us do our best to contribute in the effort to conserve the country’s endangered species, by either working with government or the private sector, as everyone tries their best to make a difference, even with limited resources.*
