BALANGA CITY, Bataan, Philippines – Tourists and visitors continue to come in droves in this coastal and progressive city in Central Luzon to watch the various species of migratory birds that flock here.

Just recently, Balangenos and city officials, led by Mayor Joet S. Garcia and Vice Mayor Noel Valdecanas, celebrated the 2nd Ibong Dayo Festival at Wetland and Nature Park in Tortugas in a bid to create awareness on efforts to protect species of the migratory birds.

The festival also called the attention of tourism officials and bird lovers amid reports of birds migrating in the city, prompting local officials to construct the Wetland and Nature Park here.

The Ibong Dayo bird festival was organized by the Balanga City government with the support of Bataan provincial government, headed by Gov. Enrique “Tet” Garcia , Department of Tourism (DoT), and Wild Bird Club of the Philippines.

Mayor Garcia, in his speech, urged the public to protect the migratory birds, saying this is also aimed at educating people here particularly the youth on the birds’ importance and their uses to humans.

“We are blessed with the natural gifts from God and we must protect them as caretakers,” pointed out Mayor Garcia, a recipient for various awards for good governance and effective leadership.

For his part, Gov. Garcia also said “it is important to preserve the eco-system and the environment to be able to fight climate change and global warming.”

The Wild Bird Club of the Philippines reported that of the 600 species of birds in the country, 200 are endemic or those that can only be found in the Philippines and these are the 200 reasons why foreign tourists prefer to go to the Philippines, said tourism officials.

For his part, Barangay Cataning Captain Benjie Meriño, also the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) president, pointed out that the onset of modernization does not mean forgetting the need to protect and preserve the environment. “Kahit panahon na ngayon ng modernisasyon dapat yung pangangalaga sa kapaligiran di makakalimutan at magandang halimbawa ang Ibong Dayo Festival na ito sa Balanga dahil tungkol ito sa pangangalaga,” Meriño said in vernacular.

The barangay captain also said that Balanga is like a “paradise” with efforts being pursued by the city government and its people to preserve the environment.