Baguio City – The Girl Scout of the Philippines (GSP) calls for the preservation and conservation of the Baguio Animal Breeding and Research Center (BABRC), popularly known as Baguio Dairy Farm, in Green Valley, Baguio City during the scouts’ 32nd Council Camp.
BABRC is a government property under the Research Division of the Cordillera office of the Department of Agriculture (DA-CAR) which hosts forest and forage areas aside from the research centers for animals and plants. Four hundred and fifty students from 30 Baguio City primary and secondary schools together with teachers and parents participated in the camping from February 12-16.
Some scouts hope that the facility be sustained for the next generations to experience breathing fresh air, feeling cool breeze, and surrounded by trees.
Mary Ann Abes, 13, a scout of Irisan National High School echoes her hopes of sustaining and improving the center. As the city is planted with different infrastructures, she calls for the government and the community to plant trees and maintain the cleanliness of the center in order to preserve the environment and natural resources.
While Maria Palsi, principal of Doña Nicasio Puyat Elementary School said the DA should make the area as an agro-ecotourism facility. By doing so, the facility can be maintained and away from risk of environmental degradation.
Dr. Magdalena T. Wanawan, Chief of the Research Division of the DA-CAR said that she is hopeful that the GSP joins the DA-CAR in its goal of preserving the BABRC as a forest reserve and animal breeding center. Presently, the DA-CAR is doing its best to sustain the facility as it is one of the last standing government facility to have preserved most of its original features. However, problems on squatting and issuance of CALT by the NCIP are some of the constraints of the DA-CAR to sustain and further develop the facility. The GSP’s call is a strong voice that could amplify DA-CAR’s shout for BABRC’s preservation and development, says Wanawan.
The group was also joined by the Philippine Army and Bureau of Fire Protection which trained the students on basic survival skills with their trainors agreeing that the facility is suitable for such activities given the weather and terrain.
Aside from the training, the students also visited and were oriented on the different facilities within the research center with different farm animals such as the apiculture, rabbit and vermiculture integration, dairy cow, silky chicken and native pig farm.
The army and the local guards of the center were present all throughout the activity in order to secure the safety of the children.
Aside from the recent activity, the center had been catering to educational tours and trainings from different schools, farmer’s organizations and applicants for overseas employments.
By JM Dayao
