By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental provincial government recently expressed their desire to move the Negros Forest and Ecological Foundation, Inc. (NFEFI) wildlife sanctuary from next to the Provincial Capitol to the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan.
According to Provincial Board Member Salvador Escalante, Jr., the land the sanctuary presently sits on is “prime property.”
Currently, the area around the Provincial Capitol is undergoing massive renovation and construction.
Earlier this week, the Provincial Board passed a resolution authorizing Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. to provide P720,000 in financial assistance to NFEFI, through a memorandum of agreement.
Escalante explained this is the first time assistance was extended to the foundation, as the aid they were previously receiving stopped following the death of an Australian environmentalist.
NFEFI is a non-profit organization that relies on donations and sponsors to continue its work of conserving forests and endangered species native to Negros and the Philippines./WDJ