MARIVELES, Bataan — GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co. (GNPD), a coal-fired power plant here, has sponsored the partnership of the local government units of Bataan and La Union on learning the best practices of the latter in preserving its pawikan.
Arcel Madrid, GNPD assistant vice president for community relations, and Raphael de Leon, Bataan provincial government environment and natural resources officer, headed a group from Bataan PG–ENRO, provincial tourism office, provincial veterinary office, Bataan Peninsula State University, Sitio Fuerte Sagip Pawikan Association, and GNPD’s community relations department in the visit to La Union.
The travel to La Union under a benchmarking program not only aimed to capture the province’s best practices in the preservation of their pawikan but to know of their ordinances and notable statistics about the sea turtle.
The trip was considered as a successful venture to preserve the sea turtles in Morong where GNPD has adopted the local pawikan hatchery at Sitio Fuerte in Barangay Poblacion.
The group paid a courtesy call on La Union Gov. Rafy Ortega – David who emphasized the fruitful partnership of the two LGUs and the need to protect the environment. “Naniniwala kami na walang tourism kung hindi maayos ang ating environment dito sa La Union,” the governor said.
Madrid agreed and said “we value our commitment to our environment and allotted 60% of our department’s budget to environment-related projects to foster our corporate social responsibility.”
To further introduce the Bataeños to their pawikan conservation efforts, the group met and discussed with Carlos Tamayo, president of Coastal Underwater Resource Management Actions, about their methods in rehabilitating injured pawikan and inspiring volunteerism in the province.
CURMA, one of La Union’s flagship associations in preserving marine life, is currently restoring a malnourished sea turtle in their facility. Their remarkable efforts were also initiated by volunteers, much like the Sitio Fuerte Sagip Pawikan Association.
La Union is not only concentrating its efforts on saving the pawikan but also aimed to enrich all kinds of life like the Beekeeper’s Farm of Toby Tamayo amidst the tall bamboo trees and forests that contributed to the alluring sceneries in the province.
The Bataan group also visited the sprawling corals of Immuki Island and the mangroves of Bauang Bakawan Eco-tourism Park. Conservation of the corals and the mangroves is also one prospect in Bataan of GNPD.
The benchmarking program concluded with a courtesy call to Bauang Mayor Eulogio Clarence Martin P. de Guzman III, who also shared his enthusiasm to the partnership of the LGUs.
GNPD is dedicated to developing long-term, dependable environmental and social development initiatives relevant to nurturing and supporting the community and environment to co-create positive change and empower progress.
Initiating and sponsoring the benchmarking event between Bataan and La Union helps solidify its P.R.O.G.R.E.S.S. roadmap: Protect marine life, Reforest land, Optimize wealth from waste, Generate livelihood skills and income, Rehabilitate social infrastructure, Elevate Educational opportunities, Safeguard quality health access, Strengthen Disaster Resiliency.
