“Our long-standing Pawikan Conservation Program which started as a community-based initiative in Morong in 1999, has yielded an outstanding partnership between the government and former poachers when they became partners in conservation through our campaign initiatives… This [1PawiCAN] will also expand the current program to go beyond the conservation of Pawikan population in its infancy as well as address the challenge of transboundary cooperation and linkages with external support and donors.” This was part of Gov. Joet Garcia’s message during the Multiparty Memorandum of Agreement Signing for the establishment of 1PawiCAN held this morning, September 15 at The Bunker.

The 1Bataan Pawikan Conservation Alliance Network, or 1PawiCAN, aims to strengthen efforts for marine turtle conservation of different stakeholders by uniting them and creating a body from different areas in the province.

“Napakapalad natin that overtime, nagkaroon tayo ng mga partners at ngayon nga mas strengthened pa itong ating conservation efforts … for a more inclusive and holistic attempt for pawikan conservation,” Provincial Tourism Officer Alice Pizarro stated.

Among the signatories were representatives from the local governments of Mariveles, Bagac, Morong, and Limay, League of Municipalities of the Philippines- Bataan Chapter, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Congressional District of Bataan, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office through the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, Metro Bataan Development Authority (MBDA), Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, Brgy. Luz Conservation and Protection Group, Pag-asa Pawikan Protection and Conservation Center Corp., Morong Alliance for Marine Turtle Conservation, Bataan Peninsula State University, and Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (Bataan-Olongapo-Zambales Chapter).

For his part, PG-ENRO OIC Head Ralph De Leon said, “Isa po itong alyansa o partnership na magsisilbing mekanismo o catalyst para po mas mapagyaman pa ang ating programa para sa pawikan conservation and protection.

Through this network, there will be sharing of experiences, knowledge, skills, and resources for pawikan conservation and protection.

Ang 1PawiCAN ay magiging isang pamilya na pinagbuklod ng iisang hangarin na mapangalagaan ang mga pawikan pati na rin ang kalikasan, because we cannot conserve the species without protecting their habitats.”

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