The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO) of Puerto Princesa through the Wildlife Management & Services Division (WMSD) conducted a 2-Day Bird Guide Training recently aimed at enhancing birding activities and promoting conservation as it equips individuals with knowledge and skills in bird identification, understanding their habitats, and other useful guiding techniques.
The City ENRO, headed by Atty. Carlo B. Gomez, said that the activity is in preparation for the upcoming 8th PPUR International Bird Photography Race.
Environmental Management Specialist II Myla Adriano, head of the City ENRO’s WMSD, said that the training intends to capacitate City ENRO personnel and community-based guides that will help equip them to become better bird guides.
The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) was among the resource speakers of the training, which they discussed the purpose, scope, and prohibited acts under Republic Act No. 9147, also known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.
PCSDS said that they discussed RA 9147 “with particular emphasis on avian conservation and protection. In addition, they highlighted the guidelines for the protection of wildlife and their habitats, and underscored the critical role of bird guides in conservation effort, particularly in the identification, reporting, and prevention of wildlife-related violations.”
On November 15-17, 2024, Puerto Princesa organized the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) 7TH International Bird Photography Race, an annual event that showcases its rich biodiversity, native birds and wildlife, and one of the main features of the city’s Subaraw Biodiversity Festival 2024.
As a zealous bird photographer, the City ENR Officer, Atty. Gomez is passionate about Palawan’s native bird species through the event, seeking to contribute to wider conservation initiatives. He is the brainchild of the PPUR International Bird Photography Race that started in 2015.
During that event, the participants spent 2 days birding within the city to capture endemic, native, and migrant bird species. A total of 25 Palawan Bird Endemic was spotted out of 27.
