Filipino scientists are reaping praises for the discovery of species in Mindanao's rich biodiversity.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Philippines has commended biologists Kier Mitchel Pitogo and Aljohn Jay Saavedra for rediscovering a rare frog that was last seen almost three decades ago.

The brightly colored Guttman's stream frogs were believed to be extinct until they were rediscovered living in the forest of Mount Busa. They were first seen in the wild in 1993.

"USAID supports Filipino scientists who are making discoveries in Philippine biodiversity," the agency said in a statement posted on Facebook March 12.

"Deep in the forests of Busa mountain range in southern Mindanao, Kier Mitchel Pitogo and Aljohn Jay Saavedra rediscovered Guttman’s stream frog—an amphibian so rare, it was thought to be extinct for decades since it was first recorded," it reported..

The two biologists, in a research paper published on Herpetology News, said they found the small population of the frogs called "Pulchrana guttmani" near the streams of Bulul Tbotu, Lake Sebu in South Cotabato in September 2020.

The stream frog is "a high-elevation specialist and may have little to no tolerance to disturbance, which may explain its absence from the type locality despite recent, extensive fieldwork in the area," the paper read.

The two scientists committed to continue follow-up studies on the mysterious stream frog but admitted that the "difficult logistics" of accessing the deep forested area, "security concerns, and bureaucracy" still impeded fieldwork. "We hope that our discovery can be a milestone that paves the way for more field-based biodiversity surveys in southern Mindanao, with strong support from local government institutions, grant-giving bodies, and local communities," they said.

New species of lipstick vine discovered by Filipina botanist

The US agency likewise lauded the work of Shiella Mae Batuigas Olimpos following the discovery of a new lipstick vine in Tawi-Tawi.

The lipstick vine, with official species name Aeschynanthus rejieae, is the latest discovery in the past 20 years. Olimpos is a botanist belonging to the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc.

"Olimpos found a new species of lipstick vine in the forests of Panglima Sugala while doing a botanical survey as part of a field expedition to study Sulu hornbills," the USAID said.

The research of three Filipino scientists has received backing from the USAID to advance the conservation of biodiversity in the country.

"USAID supported both field researchers through its program of assistance for graduate students, local experts, and conservation groups to pursue scientific studies that will support biodiversity conservation in the Philippines," the agency said.