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The Department of Tourism (DOT) has donated five
million pesos for the construction of a new entrance lounge to the
Philippine Eagle Center (PEC) in Davao City.
The PEC is the home of 36
Philippine Eagles as well as the center for research and breeding of
the Philippine Eagle, one of the critically endangered eagle species
in the world. The area was established and maintained by the
Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), a non-profit organization
established in 1987,
“We were quite happy to be able
to help PEF’s endeavours in some way,” said DOT Secretary Joseph
“Ace” Durano during a recent visit to PEC for an ocular
inspection.
“The Philippine Eagle is
our national symbol and a unique and magnificent bird that can only
be found here in the Philippines,” said Durano. “Not only
is it a source of pride but it is also the subject of interest both
here and abroad. The PEC is one of the top tourist draws in
Davao.”
Visitor traffic at the PEC is an
opportunity not just for eco-tourism but also for education on
wildlife, the environment and how the state of the environment is
linked to the quality of Filipino life.
However, as the current PEC
entrance had become termite-infested and dilapidated it had become
inhospitable and unsafe as well as a fire-hazard.
Foreign and local visitors to the
center have consistently numbered a hundred thousand every year. In
2007, 100,012 visited the center to see and learn more about the
raptors as well as other fauna that the center plays home too.
As a non-profit organization, the
foundation and the center does not receive anything regular from the
Philippine government and depends on revenue from visitors, research
grants and private donations.
“The center is important to all
our work in protecting the Philippine Eagle,” said Dennis I.
Salvador, Executive Director of PEF. “By providing visitors
with the opportunity to see for themselves how magnificent these
birds are we can get them to be concerned with their future which
will result in efforts for environmental protection not just for the
good of these birds but also for the Filipino people.”
Salvador expressed gratitude that
the DOT had offered to shoulder the expense of the new center.
Designed by the Davao based
architectural firm of Hidalgo-Hidalgo, the new entrance lounge will
include a dining area, coffee shop and souvenir shop as well as a
room for educational exhibits and materials for visitors to see and
enjoy to create a more positive visiting experience.
Construction and ground breaking
has already been started. It is hoped that the new lounge will
be ready in time for the Earth Day celebration on April 22.
--Katrice R. Jalbuena
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