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Friday, August 19, 2005
Maitum marine turtles freed
MAITUM, Sarangani -- With 21 adult marine turtles freed and more than 2,000 hatchlings already released to the wild since last year, this town was set to declare all its coastal barangays as pawikan (turtle) sanctuary.
Volunteers who have learned to monitor and rescue captured marine turtles were helping the government, according to the municipal information office.
On July 28, a juvenile hawksbill turtle was about to be butchered by a fisherman in barangay Old Poblacion but his wife came to the rescue, said Beth Palma Gil, the municipal accountant and information officer.
"She told the husband that killing the turtle is punishable by law. This is what the wife has learned from the information and education campaign regularly conducted by the local government on the barangay folk," Palma Gil said.
The Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office released the juvenile sea turtle on the same day. The turtle measured 30 centimeters. The biggest turtle (measuring 100 cm.) was released on June 18 at Barangay Pinol.
"Our coastal barangays are breeding grounds of sea turtles," said Palma Gil. "Local officials are working out for the proclamation of all seven barangays as pawikan sanctuary."
In preparation for the proclamation, provincial legal officer Jenny Ramos has conferred with the barangays involved to delineate the sanctuary area. Ramos has also gathered data together with the Japan-funded Environmental Conservation and Protection Center based in Alabel.
"Mayor George Yabes and residents here vow to manage its environment for the sake of future generations. After all, this is the greatest legacy we can offer to them," Palma Gil added.
The Municipal Government has established barangay Old Poblacion as the nesting and study site for marine turtles.
The barangay council of Old Poblacion has also declared the barangay, visited by at least 600 tourists this year, as pawikan sanctuary.
Some 400 eggs are expected to hatch this month from different clusters in barangays Old Poblacion, Pinol, and Mindupok.
Palma Gil said the presence of sea turtles in the coastal area of Maitum "only proves that the municipality still has a diverse marine eco-system." (Sarangani Information Office)
(August 16, 2005 issue)
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