Search on for ‘bleeding hearts’

Nigel Simpson, Curator of Birds at the UK's Bristol Zoo, was in Negros recently to discuss ongoing projects with local partner-environmental organizations, including the Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation and the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation.

The focus of the visit was the Negros Bleeding Heart Pigeon, one of the most critically-endangered birds in the Philippines and number one in Bristol Zoo's top 10 'at risk' species, a press release from NFEFI said yesterday.

The zoo, in association with NFEFI and PBCFI, has mounted a series of biodiversity surveys in Negros Occidental and Oriental to ascertain if the bird is still present.

"Even though there are only occasional sightings of this rare bird, we are optimistic there are still breeding pairs in the wild. BirdLife International estimates there are only 300 Bleeding Heart Pigeons left in Negros, so their future here is uncertain," Simpson said.

"The problem is the drastic loss of lowland forest areas where the birds thrive, hence the low numbers. But with the establishment of more conservation areas we are confident their population can increase."

NFEFI's Biodiversity Conservation Center in Bacolod City has successfully hatched eight of these rare birds and they can be seen at the NFEFI compound by the Provincial Lagoon, the press release said.

Dr. Joanne Justo, NFEFI curator said, "These captive-bred pigeons could be released into the wild once protected areas have been established.

Bristol Zoo, that celebrated its 175th anniversary last year, is working with organizations like NFEFI and PBCFI to develop local conservation areas in various parts of the province where rare birds and other endangered animals can be released, the press release added.*

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‘Ang Banwahanon’
nominations start

Bayawan City Mayor Rene Gaudiel focused on economic development, livelihood opportunities and improvement in the education sector in his second State of the City Address Wednesday at the Bayawan Integrated Complex in Villareal.

Bayawan presented a positive indication of a growing business community with the presence of commercial banks, restaurant and shopping centers, that provide employment opportunities and increase the purchasing power of the people, he added in the SOCA delivered.

Positive feedback from local business sector and outside clients had also been received on the LGU’s business one-stop shop that has issued 1,278 business permits, he said, adding there was a 36 percent increase in the total taxable assessed value in 2011, with tax collectibles of more than P27 billion that he attributed to the schedule of market values of taxable property units under Republic Act 7160.

He also said that the city’s integrated training center, inaugurated in December 2011, also provides basic services and facilities, especially as site research on agriculture, assistance to farmers, fishermen cooperatives and the transfer of technology to people’s organization.

Gaudiel also challenged the school board to identify strategies to improve the performance of the DepEd Bayawan District, which, he said, ranked very poorly among the school districts in the province.*MA

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3-day disaster risk reduction
workshop slated in Bacolod

A three-day contingency planning workshop on disaster risk reduction will be conducted by the Corporate Network for Disaster Response March 13 to 15 at the Bacolod City Government Center.

The session is a follow-up to the community-based disaster risk management seminar held at the L’Fisher Hotel in January attended by more than 50 representatives from the Bacolod City government and the barangays.

The activity will be in cooperation with Councilors Caesar Distrito and Em Ang and the Office of Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, with the support of Smart Communications Inc., a press release from the Office of Distrito said.

We received positive feedback from the participants of the previous seminar and this time, we want them to learn more about the contingency plan of the city when it comes to disaster preparedness, Distrito said.

Main speaker in the seminar will still be Cedric Daep, chief of Albay’s Public Safety and Emergency Management Office, a consultant on strategy planning and management on risk reduction and disaster preparedness, the press release said.

A memorandum of agreement will be signed between the City of Bacolod, CNDR and Smart Communications March 13 on the “Noah’s Ark” project, that aims to strengthen the capacities of the City and Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils.

A turnover ceremony on the street names and railings, donated by Smart Communications to the City and to be installed in various streets to instill order and ease the flow of traffic will follow, the press release added.*

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Couple earns
free Guam trip

Couple Vigee and Beverly Jaro of Bacolod City qualified for a free trip to Guam in May 2012, a press release from Reliv International said.

The package includes free roundtrip plane tickets, hotel accommodations, and sightseeing.

Those interested to join the Reliv trips may call 0928-5015679 or email vigeejaro@yahoo.com, the press release added.

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