Globe conquers Arakan

Launches Arakan XC2 (cross-country) biking event

                Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom intensifies its efforts in Arakan Valley to conquer the mountainous North Cotabato town through a wholistic program specifically designed to contribute to the well-being of the indigenous peoples of the Philippines.

               

“We have chosen Arakan to be one of our Communities of Practice because we want to help in protecting the habitat of the Philippine Eagle while at the same time, assist in uplifting the lives of host communities where the nests of the eagles are located.  We’re doing this through sustainable livelihood program, capacity building, agro-forestry initiatives, technology support, and educational assistance.  We want the communities to see us as a long-term partner in this undertaking,” said Fernando Esguerra, OIC, Globe Corporate Social Responsibility.

               

To start off, Globe launches Globe Arakan XC2, a 60-kilometer cross-country fundraising bike challenge set on October 13 in support of the Forest Corridor Development Program (FCDP) of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) and the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE).  PEF is Globe Telecom’s partner and beneficiary for Arakan XC2.

FCDP aims to re-establish forest on grasslands, rehabilitate degraded lands close to habitats of threatened wildlife and critical watersheds, provide incentives to both indigenous and non-indigenous community partners, and participate in carbon markets to generate supplementary income for upland communities who restore degraded habitats.

Globe Arakan XC2 is a 30-kilometer loop ride of mixed paved and off road which will begin at the Philippine Eagle Center in Calinan, Davao City to Brgy. Salaysay, Arakan Valley, and back. It is a timed event designed for beginners and experienced bikers to create awareness and understanding of wildlife conservation issues.

Funds that will be raised this year will be used to further provide educational materials to the students in Arakan Valley and for continued livelihood support to SEBNAKA (Sinaka Eagle Bagtok Napunangan Kayupaton Association) and PALUPA (Panuangdig Lumadnong Panaghiusa).  The two tribal councils are duly registered as Indigenous People’s Organization under the Department of Labor and Employment and are also active members of the Arakan Civil Society Organizations.

Earlier, Globe offered educational support to 180 primary and high school students of Tumanding Elementary School and Sto. Nino High School in Tumanding, Arakan Valley to lessen the financial burden of the parents who are mostly dependent on farm labor for income.  The school supplies were given as conservation incentives to habitat restoration partners of Globe.

In addition, part of the funds will be allotted for the Paralegal and Raptor Management Training of Brgy. Salaysay to teach the community the proper way of protecting and managing the nest of the Philippine Eagle to ensure survival of the endangered species.

Aside from the fundraising biking challenge, Globe is also set to conduct other activities in Arakan such as the provision of mobile equipment, life insurance, and solar lamps to 132 members of Bantay Gubat (Forest Guard), a group of tribal people doing patrolling and documentation to ensure protection of its remaining forests which are continually under threat from unscrupulous human activities.

The mountain ranges of Sinaka, KABIKU (Kabalantiian-Binoongan-Kulaman), Mahuson, and Kimamulig were declared as Arakan’s forest reserve and wildlife sanctuary in 1994

Due to over five decades of commercial logging and agricultural expansion, what is left of the forest cover of Arakan are only isolated forest fragments in the mountain ranges of Mahuson, Sinaka and KABIKU.  These forest fragments prove to be biologically and ecologically important as these have been home to the Philippine Eagle.  Sinaka and Mahuson are where two wild pairs of Philippine eagles have been breeding at least since 1992. 

Likewise, Sinaka is regarded as one of the world’s important bird areas due to the relatively high proportion of unique threatened birds it contains.  Mahuson also has a unique mammalian assemblage as exemplified by the existence of the Philippine large-headed fruit bat.