| Turtle hatchlings released off Morong, Bataan coast |
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| Written by Butch Gunio / Special to the BusinessMirror | |
| Tuesday, 15 December 2009 | |
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Monday, 14 December 2009
MORONG, Bataan—Government officials and volunteers have released day-old baby turtles off the coast of barangay Nagbalayong here. The baby turtles were hatched in this town’s turtle-conservation center. Deputy Presidential Spokesman Lorelei Fajardo participated in the release of the marine turtle hatchlings off the coast Morong in the South China Sea to highlight the town’s annual celebration of its Pawikan Festival. Fajardo lauded volunteers of the Bataan Pawikan Conservation Center (BPCC) in Nagbalayong and local officials and environmentally concerned residents for what they have been doing to the marine turtles, which she described as critically endangered marine species. She also urged everyone to join hands in caring for the environment. The BPCC is considered the first community-based turtle-conservation center in the Philippines. Fajardo herself released several of the 180 turtle hatchlings hatched at the conservation center’s nesting area. Manolo Ibias, chairman of the 24-member Bantay Pawikan volunteers, said the hatchlings belong to the Olive Ridley species. Some children and adults got the privilege of releasing the “baby” turtles, while hundreds just clapped and shouted as they watched the little sea animals sucked by the waves. Records showed that more than 40,000 hatchlings have so far been released out to the sea since the center was established in 1999. The sandy shores of Morong town are vital nesting grounds for the endangered species, the smallest of the world’s eight sea-turtle species. The town was once a site of rampant poaching and illegal egg collecting until the establishment of BPCC. The release of the baby turtles was the highlight of the Pawikan Festival yearly staged here to heighten awareness of the need to save the Olive Ridley marine turtle species and for other communities to be enticed to duplicate the turtle-conservation effort in this town. Other activities at the festival included a walk-for-a-cause, ethnic dances, sand sculpting, body painting, kite flying, beach volleyball and beach concerts. The governor’s wife, Vicky Garcia, chairman of the Bataan Tourism Council Foundation Inc., led the turtle festival. Mayor Cynthia Estanislao of Morong, Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III of Balanga City, Mayor Carlos Pizarro of Pilar town and wives of mayors from 11 towns and one city joined Garcia. |
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 15 December 2009 ) |
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