BALANGA CITY (PIA) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), together with government, private sector, and community partners, signed two Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) to strengthen marine turtle protection and expand mangrove forest conservation in Bataan.
Covering the Sagip Pawikan Conservation and Protection Project (SagipPaWeCan) in Morong and the adoption of an additional mangrove area in Orani, the agreements reinforce efforts to protect coastal ecosystems while encouraging community participation and long-term environmental stewardship.
The partnerships involve the DENR, Provincial Government of Bataan, AboitizPower’s GNPower Mariveles Energy Center Ltd. Co. (GMEC), GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co. (GNPD), concerned local government units, and people’s organizations.
Aligned with the national government’s environmental agenda, the initiatives support biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and community-based protection of coastal and marine resources through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Under the SagipPaWeCan project, partners will protect marine turtle nesting habitats in Sitio Fuerte, Morong, through hatchery management, habitat monitoring, coastal patrols, and environmental education activities.
Marine turtles, locally known as pawikan, play a vital role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. However, they continue to face threats from climate change, poaching, and coastal development.
Of the seven marine turtle species found worldwide, five occur in Philippine waters, including the critically endangered hawksbill and leatherback turtles.
The Pawikan Sitio Fuerte Association, a local people’s organization at the forefront of the conservation effort, has so far released more than 57,000 pawikan hatchlings into the waters of Bataan, reflecting the gains of sustained community-based conservation in the area.
Complementing the marine turtle protection initiative, the second MOA covers the adoption of an additional 12-hectare mangrove area in Sitio Pulo, Barangay Kabalutan, Orani.
The newly adopted area expands the initial 20 hectares earlier adopted by AboitizPower in 2023. The project includes enrichment planting, habitat monitoring, protection activities, and livelihood opportunities for partner communities.
These efforts support the protection and restoration of coastal habitats that serve as natural barriers against storm surges, breeding grounds for marine life, and sources of livelihood for local residents.
AboitizPower GMEC-GNPD Vice President for Corporate Services Andrea Mellind Madrid said the company has committed P37.4 million to support the two environmental initiatives, stressing that its role goes beyond power generation to responsible corporate citizenship and community partnership.
“Ang AboitizPower po ay hindi lamang negosyo na nagbibigay ng kuryente, kami po ay tunay na partner ng komunidad, tagapangalaga rin ng kalikasan, at katuwang ninyo sa pangmatagalang pag-unlad,” Madrid said.
DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo underscored the value of science-based and inclusive partnerships in sustaining coastal and marine resources.
“The DENR is committed to building science-based, inclusive partnerships that protect biodiversity while empowering local communities. By ensuring compliance with national environmental laws and providing scientific and technical expertise, DENR is steering Bataan’s conservation projects toward long-term resilience and ecological integrity,” Pablo said.
Both initiatives are being implemented under Project Transdisciplinary Approach for Resilience and Environmental Sustainability through Multi-stakeholder Engagement, which promotes multi-stakeholder collaboration in building resilient and sustainable communities.
The agreements underscore the importance of collaboration in protecting natural resources and enabling communities to play an active role in coastal and marine conservation. (CLJD/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Bataan)
