Hundreds of baby turtles released to the sea in Bataan barangay

Hundreds of turtle hatchlings were released to the sea recently near the Sagip Pawikan Foundation hatchery in Sitio Fuerte, Barangay Poblacion, Morong, Bataan. 

Barangay residents, volunteers, local government staff and employees of GNPower Dinginin Ltd Co., a coal power plant operating in the province all joined hands in releasing 270 hatchlings.

The turtles known locally as pawikan, is one of the seven species of sea turtles existing in the world, five of them can be found in the Philippines. 

Three of the turtle species — Green, Olive Ridley, and Hawksbill turtles — make the shores of Morong, Bataan their nesting sites.

Some of the baby turtles on their way back to the sea.  After 25 years, the mothers will be back in Barangay Poblacion in Morong, Bataan to lay their eggs and to hatch anew to continue the cycle. (Photos: Manila Standard) 

Barangay Poblacion, headed by its Punong Barangay Jerson Garcia, is a coastal barangay at the mouth of Morong River that connects to Batalan River.  It has a population of 7,329 persons based on the 2020 Philippine Census.

Barangay Poblacion hosts the Sagip Pawikan Foundation which oversees the hatchery operating in the area while GNPower Dinginin Ltd Co. a company operating a coal-fired power plant in Mariveles, Bataan, supports the Foundation.

GNPD considered the event as a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to protect and preserve the province's marine biodiversity.

In July last year, the firm, which is part of the Aboitiz Power conglomerate, signed a three-year agreement worth P4.3 million with the provincial government of Bataan. 

Since the signing of the agreement, the breeding ground has released a total of 10,926 hatchlings from a total of 15,587 pawikan eggs conserved. 

The turtle hatchery program is part of GNPD's corporate social responsibility project which has already generated 158 pawikan nests from which 107 have already hatched and released into the wild. 

Gracing the event were Bataan 3rd District Rep. Maria Angela Garcia, Raphael de Leon of the provincial environment office, Sagip Pawikan Foundation president Arnold Mendoza, Poblacion barangay chairman Jerson Garcia, and GNPD assistant vice president for community relations Arcel Madrid. (Barangay Reporter)