Local villagers to handle management and protection of biggest bats in the world

BACON, Sorsogon, Oct. 4 (PNA) – The Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) Energy Development Corporation (EDC) based here is set to turn over the management of BacMan Eco - Tourism Park and the protection of world’s biggest bats.

PNOC-EDC community affairs officer Gerry Bonao said they will turn over the management of eco-tourism to the community within the area to develop an environmental friendly community and improve their livelihood.

The PNOC-EDC has develop the area as tourist attraction in BacMan, located within the Geothermal Power Plan site and has been certified as eco-tourism in 2005 by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The eco-tourist park is popularly known as the home of the biggest fruit bats in the world, sanctuary of millions of firefly and butterflies.

According to Dayao, the company is now preparing necessary arrangement regarding the turn over of eco-tourism park management to the local villagers.

Dayao said that more than 1,000 visitors, mostly local tourists from other provinces and neighboring regions have have been in BacMan geothermal power plant. “Our major attraction here is the giant bats and well protected species.”

This biggest bats in BacMan Geothermal Production Field (BGPF) are actually more shy than scary, helpful rather than harmful and play a very important role in the land’s ecology.

This golden-crowned flying fox grows with a wing span of 1.5 to 1.7 meters. A sight to behold, these bats have attracted tourists, who are given an encompassing view of the flying marvels and other breathtaking sights from the BacMan geothermal view deck.

The giant bats numbered about 100,000 ion a colony, however, these have fast dwindled, slashed by more than 90 percent and now merely 1,500 to 2,000.

Dayao said that hunting of these nocturnal creatures has been banned. At night these bats forage as far as 40 kilometers for food such as figs and various insects.

He said that as an energy company, they are working with communities not just to produce clean and dependable energy but also to proactively safeguard and nurture nature’s bounty.

The official further said that from a fundamental concern for the communities emanate an entire range of programs that continuously evolve and work together for the good of the people and the environment.