Philippine Eagle excites Singapore president

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Visiting Singapore President Halimah Yacob expressed excitement over the Philippine Eagle as she cited the cooperation between the Philippines and Singapore in biodiversity conservation.

Halimah, on a four-day state visit in the country, arrived here last night for an overnight trip that includes a visit today at the Philippine Eagle Center in Barangay Malagos, Calinan District, Davao City.

Managed by the non-profit Philippine Eagle Foundation, the Malagos Center keeps at least 30 Philippine eagle raptors and carries out conservation and breeding programs. 

“I am also happy that we are also cooperating in biodiversity conservation, in June 2019, we reached a landmark agreement for a pair of critically endangered Philippine eagles to be loaned to Singapore on a 10-year research and breeding program,” Halimah said during the state banquet held in her honor the other night in Malacañang Palace.

“Singapore is honored to host and care for the Philippine national bird. I look forward to visiting the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City to see these majestic raptors and to learn more about the Philippine eagle conservation project,” she said. 

Two Philippine Eagles – the 15-year-old male Geothermica and 17-year-old female partner Sambisig – were flown to Singapore last June for the research and breeding program.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio hosted a dinner for Halimah last night at the Marco Polo Hotel.

Halimah will also hold a dialogue with youth groups at the Ateneo de Davao University before flying back to Manila later this afternoon.