Army backs Mambukal conservation program

From the Visayan Daily Star (Dec 10): Army backs Mambukal conservation program

The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade supports the Conservation Learning Program of the Mambukal Mountain Resort, that was launched Saturday in Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia, Negros Occidental.

Capt. Franco Ver Lopez, 303IB Civil Military Operations officer, yesterday said that program was initiated by the management of Mambukal Mountain Resort and it aims to build pocket libraries around the resort in order to provide easy yet free access to reading materials about nature and the environment.

Lopez said the pocket libraries were donated by employees of Land Bank of the Philippines.

The launching was headed by Ellen Marie Jalandoni, Resort manager, with Board Member Alain Gatuslao and Col Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, among the guests.

Jalandoni announced on Saturday that the resort will now be referred to as a Mountain Resort considering that it is located within the vicinity of Mount Kanlaon.

One of the highlights of the program was the inauguration of the new icon of the resort fondly called “Mambu the Bat” which is a giant replica of a large flying fox bat, one of the largest bats in the world.

The bat’s wingspan averages about 1.5 meters, while forearm lengths range from 180mm to 220mm and body weight ranges from 0.6 to 1.1 kg, with sports long pointed ears that resembles fox or dog-like features. The resort’s forest is home to around 10,000 bats.

Mambukal Mountain Resort, as one of the top ecotourism destination in Negros Occidental, focuses on a conservation program that is centered on the appreciation of nature.

It is also the venue of environmental awareness, sustainability, conservation and protection targeting guests from both local and foreign.

Arevalo expressed the strong support of the 303IB to the Conservation Program.

Arevalo said in a statement that from serving the people and securing the land, Army also epitomizes environmental preservation and conservation through protection of animals and its natural habitat and sanctuary.

This emphasizes the strong commitment of the Armed Forces, not only in fulfilling its core purpose, but also in protecting the environment, especially because the resort is adjacent to the military reservation where the headquarters of the 303rd Infantry Brigade is located.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2018/December/10/topstory5.htm