The Conservation Mandate carried four (4) major components, namely:

1. Conservation and Preservation of the Philippine Tarsier and its Natural Habitat. To this end a Sanctuary was acquired and maintained in Canapnapan, Corella. Part of this component was the employment of Mr. Carlito Pizzaras, now known as the Tarsier Man. He is known for his passion in the care and devotion of the Tarsier, studying and observing them in the wilds, even as a young boy.

2. Scientific Research. IUCN and other conservationist organization rated the Tarsier as Data Deficient or “DD” and Conservation Dependent.

3. Community Organizing. This component mandates the mobilization of People’s Organization, providing livelihood and educating them to help in the conservation efforts.

4. Eco-Tourism. To open the sanctuary to guests and tourists and allow them to see tarsiers in their natural habitat, imparting them with the necessary inputs to make them aware of the need for conservation and make them in turn ambassadors to the cause of this beautiful animal.

On September 6, 2007 the US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie A. Kenney came to visit the tarsier sanctuary and went home impressed at the efforts made by PTFI, despite the lack of funds. Through this exposure the USAid, is now looking for ways on how to help the efforts at preserving this specie of tarsier, scientifically known a Tarsius Syrichta.

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The Foundation’s beginnings can be traced to a visit to Bohol by Mr. Jesus Alvarez Jr., former director of the Philippine Parks and Wildlife Bureau, in 1996 on the invitation of local connected citizens. One of the country’s pioneers in nature conservancy field who was primarily instrumental in bringing the plight of endangered Philippine eagle to International attention, Alvarez immediately saw the need for a more organized effort to halt the continuing decline of indigenous tarsier population.

Following the visit, he proposed an initial program of work in that direction wit the following major recommendations.

Establish a body to assume overall responsibility for the whole drive,
Define the parameters of the effort and the role the said body would play therein,
Move for the declaration of the Philippine tarsier as an especially protected species by the President of the republic,

Identify an appropriate site for the designation as a sanctuary for the species. Alvarez also specified four main areas of activity that the organization to be set up would concentrate on: habitat management and protection; community organization and management; research on ecology and biology of the tarsier; and ecotourism.

Accordingly, on April 17, 1996, the Philippine Tarsier Foundation Inc. was registered with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission, with the following prominent Bohol residents listed as incorporators: the Rev. Fr. Florante S. Camacho, SVD, (former) president of the Divine Word College (now Holy Name University); Anos Fonacier, municipal councilor and resort operator; and Col. (Ret.) Zosimo Angan, businessman. They were later joined by Richard Uy, banker, and Marlito Uy, department store owner. Elected principal officers were Fonacier as Chairman; Camacho as president; and Alvarez, who is the only Boholano on board, as executive vice-president.

On November 4, 1996, the Foundation transmitted a formal request to the DENR for the preparation and conclusion for a memorandum of agreement charging the Foundation with implementation of the Philippine Tarsier Conservation Program. Five months later, on April 1, 1997, in recognition of her keen interest in environmental concerns throughout the country, the Foundation invited Tourism Secretary Mina T. Gabor so serve as its honorary chairperson, in which capacity she now functions.

Currently, the Philippine Tarsier Foundation maintains offices both n Tagbilaran and in Metro Manila, which are accessible via postal service, international direct dial telephone/facsimile, and e-mail. Before the end of the year, it will have launched a Philippine Tarsier website in the Internet to provide interested parties with comprehensive and up- to- date information on the species activities being undertaken in its behalf. (more…)