Olive Ridley sea turtle

MORONG, Bataan — The Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) has released a total of 35,632 Olive Ridley sea turtle hatchlings in the coastal waters of this town during its three-year pawikan protection and conservation program SagiPaWeCan in Sitio Fuerte, Barangay Poblacion here.

In a statement released Monday, AboitizPower’s private limited partnership GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co. (GNPD) created the SagiPaWeCan to provide safe nesting environments that facilitated better hatchling survival.

According to the company, the SagiPaWeCan also promoted conservation awareness, thus empowering local communities and fostering a deeper culture of environmental responsibility in the province.

During its three-year run, the program transplanted 37,021 olive ridley eggs and released 35,632 hatchlings. This is equivalent to a 96.25 percent hatching rate, which can otherwise decline to 25 percent or less if the hatchlings are left to disturbances and predators.

“SagiPaWeCan has made a lasting mark on Bataan’s environmental conservation efforts,” said Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office OIC Raphael de Leon. “It significantly contributed to the preservation of Bataan’s sea turtle population, strengthened the province’s eco-tourism potential, and educated local communities about environmental stewardship.”

According to Sagip Pawikan Sitio Fuerte president Arnold Mendoza, training, equipment support, and consistent engagement has empowered the group to take an active role in conservation.

“Volunteers were transformed into marine life protectors, gaining not only environmental awareness but also a deeper sense of purpose and pride.”

Launched in 2023 through a Memorandum of Agreement with the Provincial Government of Bataan, the program helped address the threats faced by endangered pawikan populations along the province’s coastline.