Mt. Mingan now protected home of PH eagle

GABALDON, Nueva Ecija—Mount Mingan, which this town shares with the municipalities of San Luis in Nueva Ecija province and Dingalan in Aurora province, has been declared a protected sanctuary for “Gab-e,” or the Philippine Eagle.

Mt. Mingan is a habitat not only to Gab-e but to many animal species, based on a three-month ecological study by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Gabaldon, said Ma. Belinda de la Paz, chief executive officer of Haribon.

“Mt. Mingan is home to many species of mammals,” De la Paz said, citing the Philippine mice (Apomys minganensis) and the shrew rats (Archboldomys).

“These may seem like ordinary rats, but the Philippine mice are clean because they consume vegetation and worms, and not rubbish like the city rats do,” she said.

She said the presence of the Philippine Eagle in Mingan “testifies to the pristine nature of the mountain,” which is situated at the Sierra Madre ranges. “This means we still have places to protect, places that protect us,” she added.

Gab-e was first sighted by a Haribon team on March 24 flying parallel to the Mingan River, according to J. Kahlil Panopio, a wildlife biologist.

On March 26, the eagle was seen resting on a tanguile tree branch, apparently drying its feathers. On March 27, it was seen from a short distance and finally on March 28, the team found a pair of eagles flying over Mingan.

“The Philippine Eagle is the symbol of our freedom and identity. This is the largest eagle in the world. The bird is loyal to its mate and is protective of its young. It flies high and is unique because it can be found only in this country,” De la Paz said. Armand Galang, Inquirer Central Luzon