THE PHILIPPINE Eagle Foundation will launch a retrofitted powerline project in Arakan to keep the Philippine eagles safe from accidental electrocutions.
Dr. Jayson Ibañez, PEF director for research and conservation, said during the PEP Talks at SM Lanang Premier on Aug. 1 that the project will keep the eagles away from dying due to electrocutions caused by power lines near their nesting sites.
“We think that this (accidental electrocution) is an emerging threat. So as an initiative to come up with protocols and models for preventing accidental electrocution sa eagles, through the help of the Cotabato Electric Cooperative, and then Suntory Inc. from Japan, nag-install na po tayo ng first 1.5 kilometers (km) insulated powerline to prevent future accidental electrocutions from happening again,” Ibañez said.
Ibañez said the project targets to install a total of 4.5 kilometers of insulated power line surrounding the Philippine eagle nesting site. He hopes the project will be replicated across the Philippines, especially in areas where the rural electrification program increases.
“Pumatong po siya (eagle) doon sa poste, and then ang nangyari, ‘yung isang wing niya, dumikit sa isang linya, and then ‘yung isang wing naman, dumikit doon sa second line, so naging part siya ng circuit (The eagle landed on the electric post, and what happened was that its wing had cling to the power line, and its other wing had also cling on the second power line, and it became part of the circuit). Namatay siya (eagle) because of accidental electrocution,” Ibañez added.
Ibañez stressed that modernization also created a greater challenge to protect the eagles.
The Philippine Eagle Foundation uses the Philippine Eagle as a flagship for creating innovations and promoting biodiversity. At the same time, the non-profit group seeks to modernize society in pursuit of the country’s sustainable development goals.
