Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has instructed the City Health Office and Engineers’ Office to adopt safety measures to protect residents from a bat colony in Purok Paglaum, Brgy. 30, Bacolod City.
A colony of more than 1,000 golden-crowned flying foxes, a critically endangered bat species, have taken up residence in a balete tree located on private property in Purok Paglaum.
Dr. Carmela Gensoli, City Health Officer, said bats can carry rabies and transmit it to humans through their saliva drippings.
The mayor instructed the CHO to come up with an advisory on safety measures for residents in the area to adopt.
The City Engineers’ Office has also been directed to develop a plan to protect the bat colony as well as the residents.
It is illegal to catch, kill or harm endangered bats, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya warned earlier.
The bats may have flocked to the area where there are a lot of fruit trees for food, he said.*