Binay adopts Philippine eagle

Vice President Jejomar Binay has added another member to his family: a Philippine eagle named "Scout Binay." In a statement, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) said that Binay adopted the eight-year-old male eagle being housed at a sanctuary in Davao City.

Vice President Jejomar Binay (left) turns over a PhP125,000 check to Philippine Eagle Foundation president retired Air Force chief Lt. Gen. William Hotchkiss III for the care of the former's adopted eagle, "Scout Binay." Source: OVP

“I am very much honored to be given the opportunity to adopt a Philippine eagle," Binay said. “Today, we take a simple step to protect one of our national symbols." Binay said that he will not only adopt “Scout Binay" during his term as Vice President, but that he will take care of the eaglet “now and forever." The adoption of a Philippine eagle is renewable every year for six years. The OVP said that Binay gave a P125,000 check donation to the officials of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) for the food and veterinary care of Scout Binay for one year. “I hope that as Filipinos, we will all do our share in protecting not only the Philippine eagle, but the environment as well," Binay said during the turnover of the donation. "Wala pong kahulugan ang pagbibigay-kaligtasan sa ating mga agila, kung hindi naman natin bibigyang-alaga ang kalikasan (Taking care of our eagles would have no meaning if we don't take care of our environment)," he added. King of birds The Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is a giant forest raptor endemic to the Philippines. One of the world’s largest and most powerful eagles, it is also one of the world’s rarest — and also one of three most critically endangered eagles in the world. Retired Philippine Air Force Lt. Gen. William Hotchkiss III, PEF president, said that the Vice President’s support to the foundation “will go a long way." Believing that “the fate of our vanishing Philippine Eagle, the health of our environment, and the quality of Philippine life are inextricably linked," the foundation works to promote the Philippine eagle’s survival by advocating the protection and sustainable use of Philippine forests. “The Philippine Eagle Foundation is all about environmental conservation. Environmental degradation is one of the greatest threats to environmental security," Hotchkiss said. “We need 7,000 to 8,000 primary forests. We [conduct] programs to conserve the eagles and conserve our primary forests," he added. The Philippine eagle is also one of several national symbols, together with the flag, the anthem, the coat of arms, sampaguita flower, the narra tree and the Filipino martial art, arnis. VP tradition Binay’s predecessor, former Vice President Noli de Castro, had also sponsored a Philippine eagle named “Kabayan," named after Castro’s nickname. “Kabayan", the first captive-bred eagle released into the wild in 2004, died in 2005. “Kabayan" may have perched on an electric post and got electrocuted, the PEF said.—Kimberly Jane T. Tan/TJD/JV/DM, GMANews.TV