Pawikan Hatchling Released In Alabel, Sarangani Province

ALABEL, SARANGANI PROVINCE – May 09, 2019.  Thirty-seven Hawksbill turtle hatchlings were released at Barangay Ladol, Alabel, Sarangani Province on Thursday morning.

The hotline numbers of the Office of the Protected Area Superintendent – Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (PASu-SBPS) received a report from Environmental Conservation and Protection Center (ECPC) Dr. Roy Mejorada regarding pawikan hatchlings in Brgy. Ladol, Alabel, Sarangani Province. In response, the Office of the PASu-SBPS immediately contacted MENRO Alabel Admin Aide Jaycee Tolentino, MENRO Allan Rivera and deployed PAMO Staff Ruel P. Burlas to the site.  

The report originated from Bantay Dagat and Fish Warden Chairman Rodrigo Panes, who then relayed the information to Mr. Tolentino and the ECPC The Office of PASu-SBPS received information from Mr. Tolentino to find Barangay Health Workers named Francisco Bibat and Alfredo Escultura. These two Barangay Health Workers watched over the pawikan eggs until they hatched and the pawikan hatchlings were ready for release.

The turtle hatchlings were identified as the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), a critically endangered species. With the supervision of MENRO Alabel and the Office of the PASu-SBPS, the 37 newly-hatched sea turtles or “pawikan” were released last Thursday at approximately 10:19 AM in Brgy. Ladol, Alabel, Sarangani Province. (by: Nadzla Adal, Ruel Burlas)