THE PHILIPPINE Eagle Foundation (PEF) launched its crowdfunding campaign to provide the city’s forest guards with personal protective equipment (PPE).
During the Kapihan sa PIA on Oct. 23, Nathan Nuelan, PEF communication officer, said they will hoped to raise P600,000 to help equip forest guards with their needs in line with the celebration of the Indigenous Peoples (IP) month.
“We’re doing this because we feel like we owe it to them. They’re not only protecting their ancestral domains but they’re ensuring that the future generations can still enjoy the natural resources, from these mountains, watersheds, coincide with the Philippine eagle nesting sites,” Nuelan said.
Currently, there are a total of 117 forest guards in Davao City, protecting areas all over Mount Apo. About 90% of them are from the IP community, namely from the tribes of Bagobo Klata, Obu Manuvu, two groups from Bagobo Tagabawa (Toril and Sibulan), and Manobo-Tinun-anon.
The forest guards cover a total of 244,000 hectares in Davao City to protect natural heritage, resources, and especially watersheds.
Pongnguo Rosalito Anug, one of the forest guards and Bagobo Klata’s tribal chieftain, said they were more encouraged to look after the forest with the continuous help given by the PEF.
“Importante kaayo sa Bantay Bukid ang PPE, kay ang kinabuhi namo isip Bantay Bukid, delikado. Wala mi’y tarong nga gamit, pati sa pagkaon, kulang. Dili pangwarta among tuyo sa Bantay Bukid, kundi ang pagprotekta sa kinaiyahan,” Anug said.
With more than 6,378 hectares of forest, Bagobo Klata forest guards already covered 2,000 of it by planting at least 10,000 trees. However, illegal logging is prevalent in about 2,000 hectares, managed by what they call “tribal migrants.”
Nuelan also stressed that although forest guards earn P3,500 monthly honorariums from the city government, it’s not enough to sustain their needs. However, they fully understood the situation, so they tried to exert efforts to support these volunteers through crowd-funding initiatives.
Stefan Madrona, PEF marketing and board relations officer, added that PPEs are critical to protect forest guards from weather conditions and make them safe when patrolling inside the forests.
The PEF plans to purchase hard hats, boots, raincoats, tents, headlights, binoculars, dry shirts, and radios from the money raised.
To support the funding, PEF will also open donation boxes online. Interested donors may also visit their Facebook page and website, at Philippine Eagle Foundation.
Photo courtesy of Bantay Bukid FB page
