LAOAG CITY, Dec. 30 (PIA) -  Following the launch of the birdwatching circuit in Paoay Lake National Park, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc said that the provincial government will look into strengthening wildlife protection programs in the province.

“It has to be a community effort,” Manotoc said while discussing the protection of bird protection in the province when asked about laws governing the killing of birds.

“I think we can also provide livestock or different sources of livelihood for the communities surrounding the lake,” he added.

Moreover, Rosalia S. Pungtilan of the City Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) for Central Southern and Eastern Ilocos Norte, shared the efforts of the DENR for raising awareness in protecting wildlife, especially bird species inhabiting Paoay Lake.

"At the DENR, we have established Lawin Patrollers, sila yung grupo ng aming mga empleyado na nagco-conduct ng patrolling sa lahat ng ating kabundukan, including Paoay Lake National Park,” Pungtilan said. She also shared that they have employed 15 lake guards that will help patrol the area of the Paoay Lake.

The CENRO head also said that the DENR conducts a series of information dissemination programs for communities around the lake and forest areas to bring awareness on laws governing the protection on wildlife. This includes the ‘Dalaw Turo’ project where they visited elementary schools to educate children on protection of wildlife and conservation of nature. (JCR/EJMG, PIA Ilocos Norte)