Parallel with the mandates of the Ministry to promote wildlife conservation and protection, the Provincial ENRE Office Tawi-Tawi, led by PENRE Officer Jonel I. Mohammad Monel, through its Biodiversity, Ecosystems, Research, and Development Services unit in CENRO 2nd District, conducted on 6 March 2023 a joint release operation with Maritime Group 1st SOU under the command of Police Lieutenant Colonel John Paul A. Tovera, releasing seven (7) species of Philippine Hanging Parrots, locally known as “kulasisi,” and one (1) Pink-Bellied Dove, back to the wild.

On the same date, the said wildlife species were officially turned over to BERDS Director Mohammad Ali Dimaren by the Maritime Group’s 1st SOU at the PENREO Building in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi. The technical team at MENRE-BERDS physically inspected the birds and conducted a thorough assessment.

“In mga wildlife lamud na in mga manok-manok bihaini tandah sin healthy in katilibot kawman sin Tawi-Tawi, protektahan natuh sila saltah iban kawman habitat sin sila. [The wildlife, specifically the birds, indicates that the environment of Tawi-Tawi is healthy, we should protect it and all other species as well as their habitat],” said CENREO Abdulmukim J. Maruji as he facilitated the immediate release of said species in Bud Bongao Forest Park and pinned out the necessity of wildlife awareness campaign in the province.