A mini-documentary highlighting the Apo Myna (Goodfellowia miranda), a rare and elusive bird species found within and around the Mt. Apo geothermal project site of First Gen’s Energy Development Corp. (EDC), and Kidapawan City’s rich natural heritage aired recently over Knowledge Channel’s ‘Wow’ series.
The special episode titled ‘Wow Kidapawan,’ produced in collaboration with Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI), was launched during the World Tourism Month (WTM) celebration organized by the local government of Kidapawan City.
Leading the celebration were Kidapawan City Mayor Atty. Jose Paolo M. Evangelista and Councilor Dr. Philbert Malaluan, Department of Tourism Assistant Regional Director Armin Hautea, EDC Corporate Relations and Communications Head Maria Nancy Ibuna, and KCFI Vice President and Wow series Host Edric Calma.
The ‘deep ties between nature and culture’ through Mt. Apo’s ecological resident, the Apo Myna, is echoed in this year’s WTM theme ‘Tourism and Sustainable Transformation.’
The episode also featured the Obo Monuvu indigenous people of Cotabato-represented by the Manobo Apao Descendants of the Ancestral Domain of Mt. Apo-whose stewardship of their ancestral lands continues to preserve Mt. Apo’s ecological and cultural integrity.
‘This special feature takes us to Kidapawan City, home to the Apo Myna, which symbolizes our shared responsibility to protect the forests that sustain life and culture in this region,’ said EDC Mt. Apo Corporate Relations Head Karen Kay Abarrientos.
‘Through our Flagship Species Initiative [FSI] under BINHI, we aim not only to conserve species like the Apo Myna but also to strengthen partnerships with local communities, such as the Obo Monuvu Tribe, whose deep connection to Mt. Apo inspires us to pursue truly regenerative development,’ she added.emic to the montane areas of Mindanao’s mountains, the Apo Myna, also known as the Mount Apo starling, is among the bird species protected by the conservation efforts of First Gen-EDC at the Mt. Apo geothermal project site.
The documentary is an effort under the First Gen-EDC’s BINHI FSI, a biodiversity conservation project protecting prioritized native and threatened flora and fauna across its operational renewable energy sites.
Through this collaboration with KCFI, First Gen-EDC continues to champion regenerative development, an approach that goes beyond sustainability by restoring ecosystems, enriching biodiversity, and empowering communities.
Featuring the Apo Myna in the ‘Wow Kidapawan’ episode highlighted this avian species as an ambassador for First Gen-EDC’s regenerative development advocacy.
The flagship species also serves as an indicator of the effectiveness of the watershed management and forest protection efforts of the company, an essential measure in future-proofing the site’s operations.
EDC is First Gen Corp.’s 100 percent renewable energy subsidiary with 1,388.8MW total installed capacity, which accounts for 17 percent of the country’s total installed renewable energy capacity.
Its 1,094.80MW geothermal portfolio comprises 56 percent of the country’s total installed geothermal capacity, making the Philippines the third largest geothermal producer in the world. First Gen is the Philippines’ leading clean energy company.