MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine eagle and the tamaraw, which are considered as endangered species in the country, may soon be given special attention under the proposed Adopt-a-Wildlife Species Program.
Rep. Susan A. Yap (2nd District, Tarlac) said the program contained in House Bill 5311, aims to expand the participation of the private sector in the conservation of the environment by providing for incentives and a strong science-based framework, which will guide related programs and activities.
House Bill 5311, principally authored by Yap, has been approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives and transmitted to the Senate for action.
Yap said despite conservation efforts, the number of the Philippine Eagle and the tamaraw still continues to decline.
The bill intends to establish additional measures for the preservation and protection of biological diversity and promote ecological sustainable development.
Under the bill, donation, contribution or grant, which shall be made to the ‘Adopt-a-Wildlife Species Program’ will be exempted from the donor’s tax and shall be considered as allowable deduction from gross income in the computation of the donor’s income tax.
Rep. Edcel B. Lagman (1st District, Albay), another author of the measure, said the bill aims to prevent the extinction and protect the threatened species and their habitats, and conserve these species and their habitats through the active participation of the private sector and other sectors of society.
Lagman also cited various laws to protect the country’s threatened species, including Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act and Republic Act 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act.
He said there are also a number of existing laws aimed at protecting specific threatened species such as marine turtles, whale sharks, marine mammals, the Philippine crocodile and the tamaraw, among others.
Lagman said the adoption of wildlife species by local communities should be under the guidelines to be jointly promulgated by the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Agriculture and Finance and the Palawan Council for sustainable Development.
It shall be implemented throughout the country with the active participation, involvement and assistance of the local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (POs), civil society groups and private individuals.
Philippine Eagle and Tamaraw to get special protection
