Eagle Cement Corporation (EAGLE CEMENT) strengthens its partnership with the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) during Philippine Eagle Week by pledging continued care and support to Viggo, the Company’s adopted Philippine Eagle within the PEF’s conservation program.

IN THE PHOTO: Viggo, one of the 31 Philippine Eagles nested in the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC), a breeding and rehabilitation facility set up by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF). Viggo turned 10 years old last March 7, having been hatched and bred within the conservation facilities of the PEC.

Viggo is an official ambassador for the conservation of the species. Since becoming sexually mature recently, he has successfully established a bond with his caretaker as his “human surrogate mate” through sexual imprinting. This enables PEF to collect sperm samples from Viggo for its artificial insemination breeding program. As such, Viggo plays a significant role in safeguarding the species from extinction as he is one of the PEC’s potential semen donors.

Furthermore, Viggo is the first captive-bred Philippine Eagle trained to perch on a gloved fist. He continues his flight training to be one of the featured eagles in the flight demonstrations at the PEC.

EAGLE CEMENT has been providing essential benefits such as food, enclosure maintenance, and veterinarian and keeper care annually for Viggo since 2017, and will continue to do so until 2022. EAGLE CEMENT’s partnership with the PEF is among a series of initiatives that the Company is taking to advocate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Promoting biodiversity (SDG 15)^[1] and leveraging the power of partnerships to generate sustainable development (SDG 17)^[2] are two pillars of EAGLE CEMENT’s commitment to protect the delicate balance of our ecosystem.

“We join the PEF in calling on corporations, large and small, and regular Filipinos to support the conservation of Philippine Eagles, especially as they are still considered endangered today. As our national bird, they embody the health of our forests, the state of our natural resources, and the proud national heritage of our people. In these disruptive times, the Philippine Eagle, like the people it represents, should not only be celebrated but also protected,” said John Paul L. Ang, Eagle Cement’s President and CEO.

If you wish to support the PEF amid COVID-19, you may donate to the foundation through https://www.philippineeaglefoundation.org/donate. To learn more about Eagle Cement’s commitment to Viggo, you may also visit www.eaglecement.com.ph