In a heartwarming spectacle that brought together nature enthusiasts, residents, community leaders, and 35 GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co. (GNPD) employee volunteers led the grand release of pawikan hatchlings in a ceremony held at the Sagip Pawikan Foundation hatchery in Sitio Fuerte, Brgy. Poblacion, Morong, Bataan last January 26.
Marking a significant milestone in GNPD’s ongoing efforts to protect and preserve the province’s marine biodiversity, the event drew a diverse crowd, including children, locals, public servants, and environmental advocates, as 270 baby sea turtles were released into the open sea.
Gracing the occasion were Bataan 3rd District House Representative Maria Angela Garcia, PGENRO OIC Raphael De Leon, Sagip Pawikan Foundation President Arnold Mendoza, Poblacion Barangay Captain Jerson Garcia and his councilors, and GNPD AVP for Community Relations Arcel Madrid. The junior pawikan patrollers, who are composed of kids as young as seven years old, were also there.
“Ang atin pong pagmamahal sa ating inang kalikasan ay hindi tuwing season lang po ng pawikan breeding and releasing. Kahit hindi po tayo mag-patrol ng shores gabi-gabi, pero kung ginagawa po natin ang ating responsibilidad at tungkulin sa ating inang kalikasan na alagaan siya, tayo rin po ay kanyang aalagaan,” said Congresswoman Garcia. “Once masira po ang kalikasan, tayo at ang susunod na henerasyon rin po ang mawawalan.”
“Gusto po nating maging sustainable ang effort na ito. Kaya’t maraming salamat sa mga volunteers na naririto, at sa GNPD na laging tumutulong sa atin upang maging successful ang ating pawikan hatchery,” she added.
Meanwhile, PGENRO’s De Leon said that pawikans benefit “not only the environment but also the fisheries and tourism of Morong and Bataan as a whole.” He then requested everyone to say a little prayer upon the release of the sea turtles and to continue supporting their pawikan conservation efforts moving forward.
In July of last year, GNPD inked a three-year agreement worth P4.3M with the Provincial Government of Bataan, PGENRO, and the Sagip Pawikan Foundation to adopt the said local hatchery. The program is part of GNPD’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) flagship project called P.R.O.G.R.E.S.S. under the letter “P” or Protect Marine Life arm.
Since then, the breeding ground has released a total of 10,926 hatchlings from a total of 15,587 pawikan eggs conserved. The adoption has already generated 158 pawikan nests, from which 107 have already hatched and released into the wild. Out of the seven sea turtle species in the world, five can be found in the Philippines. Three turtle species, including Green, Olive Ridley, and Hawksbill turtles, make the shores of Morong, Bataan their nesting sites.
In his closing remarks, Madrid expressed that “as your partners in empowering progress, we at GNPD hope this event serves as a vivid reminder that our individual and collective journeys intertwine with nature. The pawikans’ return to the ocean is not just a celebration of their freedom, but also a reflection of our shared commitment to safeguarding the oceans and the species that prosper in it.”
“As we witness them embark on their journey, let us also acknowledge the journey of collaboration and community that brought us to this moment. Together, we stand as a testament to the profound impact that a united front can have in protecting the world and the community we live in,” Madrid concluded.
As the pawikans were gently let go to the water’s edge, a hushed silence fell over the crowd. With each release, cheers erupted, echoing the collective hope for the sea turtles’ safe voyage to the vast ocean. It was said that once female pawikans reach maturity in 25 years or so, they come back to where they were born and lay their eggs.
In a stroke of serendipity, at around 9:45 pm of the same day, a mother pawikan surfaced from the sea and laid a clutch of 137 eggs. It was a magical moment for all the witnesses, as it sparked hope that collective efforts can indeed make a difference in the conservation of endangered species.
GNPD is committed to continuously creating sustainable and reliable environmental and social
development programs relevant to nurturing and supporting our community and environment to co-create positive change and empower progress.