NAGBALAYONG, Morong, Bataan – Sen. Cynthia A. Villar and Bataan Gov. Abet Garcia led the release on Saturday of more than 100 marine turtle hatchlings into the sea during the annual celebration of the Pawikan Festival here.
The release of the baby sea turtles (Olive Ridley SeaTurtles) was the highlight of the whole day festivity participated in by more than 5,000 guests from the academe, government, non-government organizations, and students.
Spearheaded by the Bataan Peninsula Tourism Council Foundation, the festival aims to raise public awareness about the importance of marine turtles in the ecosystem and the protection of the environment in general.
Villar in a speech commended the provincial government and the tourism council for organizing the festival that provides importance to marine life by promoting and facilitating coastal clean-ups to preserve and protect marine animals against pollution and other human-caused damages.
“It is truly good to know that the people of Bataan who used to exploit the endangered turtles are now the ones protecting our endangered species. Ako ay nagagalak at ito’y magandang halimbawa na nagpapatunay na ang residente ng probinsya ngayon ay environmentally aware na and better informed,” she said. (Franco G. Regala)
