Kiamba, Sarangani Province (7 May) — World Boxing Council Super Featherweight Champion Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao together with officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) released more than a hundred hatchlings of marine turtles to Sarangani Bay Friday last week (May 2) in Barangay Suli, a coastal village of the Municipality of Kiamba, some 95 kilometers southwest of General Santos City.
The baby marine turtles belong to the endangered Olive Ridley (Lepidopchelys olivaceae) species, 71 of which just hatched from a nest in Barangay Suli while 30 of which came from the Pawikan Center in the neighboring town of Maitum.
The ceremony was part of the regional launching of the celebration of May as Month of the Ocean by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 57, dated December 11, 1998, Declaring the Month of May of Every Year as the “Month of the Ocean” in the Philippines and Providing for the Conduct of Activities for its Celebration. A mangrove tree planting and coastal clean-up in the same village preceded the release of the sea turtles.
DENR XII Regional Executive Director Jim O. Sampulna who led the DENR officials present underscored the importance of the celebration as a reminder for all of us to take good care of our oceans. “More than 70% of the Earth is covered with water forming the oceans. Our seas are the sources of our food and livelihood hence we should refrain from polluting these God-given resources. Caring for our oceans should not begin and end this month but should be made on a daily basis, “Sampulna averred.
Pacquiao, Chairman of the Task Force Mindanao of Luwas Kinaiyahan (Save Nature in Cebuano), was also joined in by Board Member Raul C. Martinez, Kiamba Municipal Vice-Mayor Elmer T. de Peralta, M.D., Municipal Councilors Claro Reapor and Reggie Valle, Committee Chair on the Environment.
Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Jesus S. Boja of the DENR’s field office in Kiamba was thankful to Suli Barangay Captain Joaquin F. Balanag, Jr. and the barangay volunteers for taking care of the marine turtle nests in the area. “These volunteers protect nesting marine turtles, popularly known as “pawikan”, from animal and human predators while the eggs are safe kept until they hatch and are released back to the sea,” Boja said.
The Olive Ridley is one of five marine (saltwater) turtles in the Philippines which is protected under the government’s Pawikan Conservation Project (PCP). It is one of the smallest marine turtles, measuring only 60 to 75 cm long and weighing 35 to 50kg. (DENR XII/PIA-SarGen)
