Natural Resources-Caraga, Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), Caraga State University (CSU), and Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) joined forces for the launch of the “AgiLAYA: Lasting Freedom for the Philippine Eagle” campaign (Caraga leg) with renowned ornithologist and Philippine Eagle Conservation Champion, Dr. Robert “Bob” S. Kennedy, on August 11-13, 2022.

The campaign aims to increase public awareness of the status of the country’s national bird, the Philippine Eagle, which is considered to be “critically endangered” under the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, hoping that the charismatic talks by expert ornithologists and conservationists and the film show would bring about behavioral change among the audiences who mostly belong to the academe that has the expertise and the capacity in instilling to the youth the messages on the importance of conserving and protecting this national treasure and the role it plays in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. 

Specifically, the initiative seeks to reduce, if not eradicate, the continuous shooting and trapping of the Philippine eagles in the wild.

The campaign commenced at the CSU-Ampayon, Butuan City Campus wherein CSU Vice-President for Research and Extension Dr. Rowena Varela, ARD for Technical Services Maritess M. Ocampo representing DENR-Caraga Regional Executive Director Nonito M. Tamayo, Cantilan Bank President and former PEF and CSU Trustee Lt. Gen. (ret.) William K. Hotchkiss delivered messages on the importance of the protection and conservation of the Philippine Eagle.  

            PEF Executive Director Mr. Dennis J.I. Salvador gave an overview of the film “To Save Our Eagle” before showing it to the audience comprising CSU's college and graduate school students and some of its faculty members, DENR personnel involved in biodiversity conservation, and some media practitioners of the region.  

After the showing of the 45-minute video, Dr. Jayson C. Ibanez of the PEF talked about the state of the national bird complementing Dr. Bob Kennedy's feature talk on his journey concerning the Philippine Eagle Conservation Program, which highlighted the event.

In RED Tamayo’s message delivered by ARD Ocampo during the public talk, he said, there are nine sites reported to have sightings of the Philippine eagle within the region, and a total of eight birds have been recorded and documented, of which five, were turned over to the PEF, and the three remain free in the wild (2 parent eagles and 1 juvenile). 

He added that this significant population of the raptor in the region makes the place a strategic site for the launch of the AgiLAYA campaign.

He also thanked the PEF for the technical support it extended to the DENR Caraga in the rescue and rehabilitation of the Philippine eagles.

Before the Film-showing and public talks, a press conference took place where ARD Ocampo, Dr. Kennedy, CSU VP for RIE Dr. Varela, PEF Executive Director Mr. Salvador, and Lt. Gen. (ret.) Hotchkiss of Cantilan Bank served as a resource person or panel member. National and local media practitioners participated in the conference.

The CSU’s University Center for Culture and the Arts (UCAA) artists performed a dance number depicting the journey of the Philippine eagle in the wild.

Meanwhile, Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) sponsored another set of the same campaign held at its main campus in Butuan City the next day, August 12, 2022.

During the activity, FSUU President Fr. John Christian U. Young expressed his full support for the AgiLAYA campaign. FSUU students and some of its faculty members attended the event. 

Butuan City Councilor Joseph Omar O. Andaya, representing Mayor Ronnie Vicente C. Lagnada, graced the occasion, showing the LGU's support of the event for the protection of the Philippine eagles.

The activity ended with the planting of trees at the "Arboretum and Rest and Recreation Area" in Sitio Sanyata, Barangay San Roque, Bislig City under CENRO Bislig in Surigao del Sur. Surigao del Sur PENRO Victor B. Sabornido, CENRO Nathaniel E. Racho of Bislig, and other DENR personnel together with Dr. Kennedy, PEF Executive Director Mr. Salvador, Dr. Ibanez, and other PEF staff, LGU Bislig City Officials, members of the Eagles Club, and representatives of Cantilan Bank exemplify their commitment of support to the campaign for the protection and conservation of the Philippine eagle by enhancing the forest which served as the raptors’ habitat.