A total of 106 pawikan hatchlings were released to the ocean by the Davao Light and Power Co., Inc., a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power, on Monday afternoon August 14, 2023, at the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park, at Sitio Punta Dumalag in Matina Aplaya, Davao City.
Guided by the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China-Davao, along with the City Government of Davao, members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), media representatives, and various organizations, the critically-endangered hawksbill sea turtle hatchlings found their way to the ocean.
Recent data shows that the power company transferred a total of 550 eggs just two months after the first sea turtle nest of 2023 was discovered.
In an interview, Davao Light Reputation Enhancement Department manager Fermin Edillon expressed optimism for more pawikan releases in the upcoming weeks.
‘We are hoping that daghan tag ma-release na mga pawikan no. We are expecting that daghan pa mapusa na mga pawikan two weeks from now (We are hoping that many turtles will be released. We are expecting that many turtles will hatch two weeks from now),” he said.
To date, the Davao Light initiative has successfully released 7,470 pawikan hatchlings since its inception in 2014.
The Cleanergy initiative embodies Aboitiz's commitment to "Care for the Earth." This multifaceted project is geared towards safeguarding turtle habitats, preserving mangrove and coastal forests, nurturing vibrant coral reefs, and protecting the expansive 37-hectare Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Punta Dumalag. DEF