M’LANG, Cotabato Province (PIA) – The surge in waterbird sightings in the municipality of M’lang is expected to boost tourism in the area, particularly in Barangay Dugong, the Municipal Tourism Office reported.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources—Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO), which is based in Matalam, did a waterbird census on January 14 and 15 of this year and found that 905 species of birds were seen in the area.
Municipal Tourism Officer Marynel Porras Magno said that there is a possibility of them adding waterbirds to their list of tourist attractions following the results of the DENR census.
To realize the potential, Magno said they are closely collaborating with the DENR-CENRO to ensure that the plan will materialize.
“We are still in the process of reformulating our [Municipal] Tourism Development Plan (MTDP),” she said, emphasizing also the need to reactivate the tourism council.
Apart from the DENR in Region 12, the local government of M’lang, she said, is also in coordination with the Department of Tourism to discuss the possibility of integrating it into their MTDP.
The waterbird species were Javan Pond Heron, Little Egret, Intermediate Egret, Great Egret, Purple Heron, Philippine Duck, Barred Rail, Purple Swamphen, Black-winged Stilt, Common Tern, Brown Shrike, Philippine Coucal, Munia, White Collared Kingfisher, Striated GrassBird, Swiftlets, and Philippine Bulbul.
Meanwhile, the DENR reiterated its call for residents near wetlands not to harm the waterbirds.
DENR Regional Executive Director Felix S. Alicer said the annual waterbird census aims to assess the status and population of the different bird species in the region.
“It is also crucial in raising public awareness about the significance of these species and in tracking potential illegal activities, such as bird hunting,” he said in a statement.
Aside from the municipality of M’lang, the waterbird census was also conducted in the wetlands of Kabacan, Cotabato; Glan, Alabel, and Kiamba in Sarangani; Lebak and Lutayan in Sultan Kudarat; Sto. Niño and Lake Sebu in South Cotabato; and in General Santos City. (SJDM – PIA Region 12)
