DENR-7 inaugurates PHP3.597-M nature center in Olango wildlife sanctuary

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=8&rid=778724
• Thursday, July 2, 2015

(PNA), LAP/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, July 2 (PNA) -- Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Region 7 Regional Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo on Wednesday led the inauguration of the newly constructed PHP-3.597-million Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary (OIWS) Nature Center in Barangay San Vicente, Olango Island off Mactan Island.

Montejo said the newly completed nature center will serve as a clear manifestation of the DENR’s serious commitment to promote and improve ecotourism in Central Visayas.

The building sits on a 168-square meter lot and took more than six months to build from December 2014.

The nature center will serve as a venue for all ecotourism services to be offered in the OIWS through the participation and involvement of all people’s organizations in Olango Island.

“OIWS is the Philippines’ first wetland of international importance for waterfowl as it supports the largest concentration of migratory birds found so far in the country, it is only fitting to give our tourists a more attractive and modern facilities when they visit here,” Montejo said.

The OIWS have so far collected a total of PHP1.7 million resource user’s fee from January to June this year.

Montejo said there are about 97 species of birds in OIWS, 48 of which are migratory species, while the rest are resident birds of the island which is presently protected and maintained by the DENR 7.

Among the recorded birds in the sanctuary are the Chinese Egret, Little Egret, Little Heron, Grey Plover, Kentish Plover, Greater Sand-Plover, Far Eastern Curlew, Eurasian Curlew, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Terek Sandpiper, Grey-tailed Tattler.

Also found in the sanctuary are the Ruddy Turnstone, Asian Dowitcher, Great Knot, Rufus-necked Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Gull-billed Tern, Whiskered Tern, Common Kingfisher, White-collared Kingfisher, Barn Swallor, Pacific Swallor, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Golden-bellied Flyeater, Pied Fantail, Brown Shrike and Olive-backed Sunbird.

The new building and nature center of the DENR-7 will also serve as venue for lectures and seminars on the importance of migratory birds and history of migratory birds in the sanctuary.