ANTIQUE — The provincial government of Antique has officially completed the first phase of the Antique Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (AWRRC) in Barangay Igbucagay, Hamtic, marking a significant step in strengthening wildlife conservation efforts in the province.
The newly completed Phase 1 facility is designed to serve as a rescue, treatment, and rehabilitation center for injured, confiscated, and illegally poached wildlife, including endangered species such as the Visayan spotted deer. It addresses a long-standing gap in the province’s capacity to provide proper care for rescued wildlife before their eventual release back into their natural habitats.
The AWRRC is located within the Evelio B. Javier–Upland Development Division’s (EBJ–UDD) Upland Development Center in Barangay Igbucagay, which has been designated as the beneficiary site of the project. Once fully operational, the center is expected to serve all municipalities of Antique.
Governor Paolo S. Javier expressed his support for the completion of the project’s first phase, emphasizing the province’s role in protecting endemic species on Panay Island.
“Antique is one of the last homes of our endemic species here in Panay Island, kaya mahalaga na mayroong ganitong facility to protect, rescue, and rehabilitate our wildlife for future generations,” Javier said.
Francisco Siasat, senior agriculturist of the Office of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (OPENRO) and officer-in-charge of the provincial wildlife rescue center, said the facility will allow authorities to immediately confiscate, rescue, and properly care for wildlife illegally poached in any part of the province.
He added that rescued animals will be rehabilitated at the center until they fully recover before being released back into the wild.
The center will also provide veterinary care and technical support through collaboration with the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Its establishment and operation are being led by the Protected Area and Wildlife Services (PAWS) Division in partnership with the EBJ–Upland Development Program Division and the Provincial Veterinarian’s Office.
Meanwhile, OPENRO head Ma. Vivian Marfil said preparations are already underway for Phase 2 of the project, which will focus on facilities specifically designed for the rescue, treatment, and rehabilitation of warty pigs.
She clarified that the current structure is only intended for certain wildlife species and that additional facilities are needed to accommodate other animals.
Marfil also reminded Antiqueños that while the provincial government leads environmental protection initiatives, the responsibility of safeguarding the province’s natural resources is shared by all.
The EBJ-Upland Demonstration and Training Center, where the wildlife rescue facility is located, remains one of the flagship initiatives of the late former Governor Evelio B. Javier./PN
