The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

World Wetlands Day 2003: Philippines

Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary

This is the report of the activities during the celebration of the the World Wetlands Day Febraury 2, 2003:

January 30 - Arrival of Warren Lee Long, Program Officer, Wetlands International-Oceania. Together with the Protected Area Superintendent of Olango Sanctuary, Warren made a courtesy call on the Mayor of Lapulapu City, Hon. Arturo Radaza.

February 1 - Visit of Warren Lee Long to Olango Island for familiarization and brief bird watching.
- Visit and bird watching in Magellan Bay Wetlands and Cordova Wetlands.

February 2 - WWD 2003 Program was held at the grounds of the Nature Center of Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary. An outdoor stage was purposely made for the program. The Mayor of Lapulapu City delivered the welcome remarks, followed by the wetlands message of Warren Lee Long. After his speech, the presented the Certificate of Participation of Olango Sanctuary to the Shorebird Network both to the Mayor of Lapulapu city and to the Regional Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region 7, Mr. Augustus Momongan. After that, the Director also presented the Plaque of Recognition to Warren Lee Long and to the Manager of Bank of Philippine Islands. After giving out the plaques the guests headed by Warren proceeded to the unveiling of the official marble marker of the sanctuary with the Asiatic Dowitcher as the official bird. The DENR Director then delivered his closing remarks. Then the grand luncheon with some 200 guests followed. After lunch there was a video presentation entitled Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary after which the guests started going back to the city.

February 3 - Warren and the Olango Superintendent travelled to Tres Marias Islets and made a courtesy call on Mayor Marcelo Onate. As it was high tide not many shorebirds and ducks were seen.

February 4- In the morning Warren had a courtesy call on the Chief, Protected Areas and Wildlife Division, DENR-7 after which another courtesy call on the Mayor of Cordova was made, during which a video presentation on wetland and shorebird conservation was presented by Warren and was attended by the officials of Cordova who were so impressed by the presentation they promised to protect Cordova Wetlands as soon as possible. In the afternoon Warren took his return flight to Australia via Singapore.

This is the report of my celebration of World Wetlands Day held in Olango and in some parts of the Visayas, Philippines.

Submitted by:

Amuerfino Mapalo
Protected Area Superintendent
Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary
Cebu, Philippines

For further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Bureau, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ramsar@ramsar.org). Posted 25 February 2003, Sandra Hails, Ramsar.