A total of 192 sea turtle (pawikan) hatchlings were released into the sea last February at the SagiPaWeCan Center in Sitio Fuerte, Morong, Bataan, in a joint conservation initiative led by local officials, community volunteers, and GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co. (GNPD), a subsidiary of AboitizPower.

The release was spearheaded by Sagip Pawikan Sitio Fuerte President Arnold Mendoza, Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) Officer-in-Charge Raphael De Leon, Morong Vice Mayor Leila Linao-Muñoz, GNPD Resident Site Manager Joseph Paolo Mendoza, and Morong Mayor Cynthia Linao-Estanislao.

The hatchlings, which emerged from their nests at the protected site, crawled to the shoreline and swam out into the open sea—an essential step in their life cycle. The activity is part of the Sagip Pawikan conservation program, which aims to protect endangered marine turtles and their nesting grounds along the coast of Bataan.

GNPD, which operates a 1,336-MW coal-fired power plant in Mariveles, Bataan, has been an active supporter of local environmental programs, including marine life preservation and coastal resource management. Through its partnership with Sagip Pawikan and local government units, GNPD provides funding, technical assistance, and logistical support to improve hatchery operations and conduct regular coastal patrols.
As part of the same effort, Mendoza also led a midnight patrol at the hatchery to monitor nesting areas and deter poaching—one of the main threats to marine turtle populations.

Officials say the continued collaboration between the public and private sectors is crucial in sustaining conservation efforts and raising community awareness about marine biodiversity.

The pawikan conservation program in Bataan is recognized for its community-based approach and its success in increasing hatchling survival rates through protected nesting and release initiatives.

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