Students from different schools across Bataan participated in an interactive discussions and educational games designed to provide them with information on the various species of pawikan, their nesting behavior, the threats they face, and how communities can help protect fragile coastal habitats.

These activities were part of the Pawikan Environmental Forum, organized by the Provincial Tourism Office in partnership with the Provincial Government–Environment and Natural Resources Office, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Bataan, Department of Education Schools Division Offices of Bataan and Balanga City, and the Morong Bataan Resorts & Tourism Stakeholders Association Inc. The forum ran from November 17 to 21 aimed at strengthening awareness among Bataeño youth on the importance of marine turtle conservation.

The initiative highlights Bataan’s growing commitment to environmental protection, particularly through ordinances passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Bataan. Notably, the Pawikan Protocol Ordinance passed in 2022 prescribes strict rules and guidelines for human interaction with marine turtles during nesting and hatching seasons and mandates measures to address threats to nesting sites. In 2024, the SP also passed an ordinance declaring the pawikan as the flagship species of Bataan, reinforcing both the symbolic and ecological significance of these marine turtles.

The educational forum will culminate in the annual Pawikan Festival, a celebration of Bataan’s marine heritage that emphasizes the importance of conservation. This year’s festival is scheduled on November 29 at the Pawikan Conservation Center in Morong and will be attended by local officials led by Governor Jose Enrique “Joet” Garcia III, environmental groups, tourists, educators, students, and various stakeholders and partners from the community.

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