TACLOBAN CITY — The sighting of two Philippine Megapode, commonly known as Philippine scrubfowl, has underscored the ecological resilience of Homonhon Island even as authorities assess damage from recent grassfires.
The discovery was made on April 19 during a rapid environmental assessment conducted by a composite team from the local government of Guiuan.
The team was led by Officer-in-Charge Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer (MENRO) Tycho Mabansag, with members that included a forester and personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office’s Specialized Unit for Rescue, First Aid, and Emergency Response (SURFER).
The deployment aimed to evaluate the extent and pattern of grassfires that have affected upland grassland areas across several barangays on the island. Investigators documented multiple ignition sites and assessed potential threats to vegetation, water sources, and adjacent coastal ecosystems.
Although the burned areas are classified as timberlands, environmental officials stressed their critical ecological role in maintaining soil stability, supporting freshwater systems, and sustaining marine habitats downstream.
Amid the assessment, the team recorded two Philippine megapodes, a ground-dwelling bird species typically found in beach forests and small islands. Authorities described the sighting as a positive sign that wildlife continues to persist despite recent environmental disturbances.
The assessment mission was carried out upon the directive of Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan as part of the local government’s response to the grassfires, which occurred around the observance of Earth Day on April 22.
The MENRO said further evaluations are ongoing to determine the full environmental impact of the fires, with recommendations for rehabilitation and mitigation measures expected to follow. Residents were also urged to remain vigilant and refrain from activities that could trigger additional fires.
Officials reiterated the need for sustained and collective action to protect ecologically sensitive areas such as Homonhon Island.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
