THE City Government of Mati, Davao Oriental will be giving a P25,000 reward to any lead of individuals or groups involved in growing, selling, and killing endangered species in the city.
In an advisory, the city government said they will be giving a bounty to anyone who can provide valid information leading to the arrest and prosecution of individuals trading or killing pawikans or sea turtle, dugongs, manta rays, and other endangered species.
Mati Information Officer Ben Tesiorna told SunStar Davao in a phone interview that they received photos of a butchered pawikan in Dahican.
"Naa na mi leads pero ongoing pa amo investigation sa nagkatay sa maong pawikan (We already have leads but our investigation is ongoing to anyone responsible for the killing of pawikan)," he said.
Immediately, Tesiorna said the city issued the advisory, adding that anyone who violates the order will be charged in violation of Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. Corresponding sanctions in accordance with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will also apply.
The official, however, noted some fishermen continue to defy the orders.
Tesiorna said the reported incident is only an isolated case, considering the city, along with the deployed Bantay Dagat personnel are strictly monitoring the city's wildlife.
He added the city, being a tourism hub in the region, it is also their responsibility to protect the environment.
"Being a tourism hub in the region, ang atong protektahan ato kinaiyahan (we must protect the environment), which would consist of marine mammals and aquatic animals. So dapat protektahan pud nato sila (It is our responsibility to protect it)," Tesiorna said. RGL