The AboitizPower that operates twin power generating plants in Mariveles town has concluded its three-year agreement with the Provincial Government of Bataan in the protection and conservation of “pawikan” or sea turtles.

In its statement on Monday, AboitizPower said during its three-year program, it transplanted 37,021 olive ridley eggs and released 35,632 hatchlings. This is equivalent to a 96.25 percent hatching rate, which can otherwise decline to 25 percent or less if the hatchlings are left to disturbances and predators.

Sagip Pawikan, a local non-government organization that provides safe nesting environment which facilitated better hatching survival was tapped by the provincial government in the conservation program with AboitizPower providing logistics.

Arnold Mendoza, president of Sagip Pawikan Sitio Fuerte in Morong town said volunteers were transformed into marine life protectors, gaining not only environmental awareness but also a deeper sense of purpose and pride.

Launched in July 2023, through a memorandum of agreement with Bataan Provincial Government, the program helped address the threats faced by endangered “pawikan” population along the province`s coastlines. It supports the power firm`s ‘protect marine life’ initiative under the United Nations framework of sustainable goals.

The Philippines is home to five of seven sea turtles species in the world– three of which, the green turtle, hawksbill, and olive ridley turtles nest on the shores of Bataan.

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