PAWIKAN CONSERVATION PROJECT (PCP)
Objective: To conserve the endangered marine turtles (E.O. No. 542, June 26, 1979) and sea cows or dugongs (DAO 55, October 21, 1991)
Location : Nationwide (for marine turtles and dugong)
Pilot Site: Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi (for marine turtles)
Project Components:
* Resource Management and Protection Program - Establishment of marine turtle sanctuaries and hatcheries; regulation of marine turtle egg collection; and inventory of marine turtle by-products.
* Research and Investigation Program - Conduct of habitat surveys, population studies, hatchery operations, and other researches on marine turtles; monitors and evaluates reports of Field Action Officers (FAOs) and NGOs.
* Information, Education and Extension Services Program - Disseminate relevant information and create greater awareness and consciousness among the general public about marine turtle conservation; development of information packages (print and audio-visual aids).
International Commitment: Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area - joint management with Malaysia
International Award/ Recognition: Recipient of the 20th J. Paul Getty Wildlife Conservation Prize of World Wildlife Fund (cash prize is US$ 25,000.00), which was awarded in April 21, 1997 for establishing the TIHPA.
Accomplishments (1982-2000):
Marine turtle “pawikan” conservation
* Established 9 marine turtle sanctuaries (Tawi-Tawi=2; Palawan=5; Caluya=2) and 6 marine turtle hatcheries (Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi);
* Issued 2,402 permits to gather marine turtle eggs in 4 islands of Turtle Islands;
* Recorded 21,678,109 egg production and 15,359,392 eggs conserved in the Turtle Islands;
* Surveyed 1,058 establishment engaged in the marine turtle trade and conducted inventory of marine turtle by-products;
* Conducted habitat survey in 546 coastal areas (in 208 towns and 46 provinces) nationwide; consolidated areas/sites of confirmed sightings;
* Tagged 9,172 turtles in the Turtle Islands; 1,294 turtles were reportedly tagged by FAOs;
* Monitored 114,940 nesting incidence in Baguan, Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi;
* Transplanted 1,906,039 turtle eggs in 2 marine turtle hatcheries in Baguan, Turtle Islands;
* Released 898,486 hatchlings that emerged from the Baguan hatcheries;
* Monitored 3 other critical marine turtle nesting sites – Lian and Nasugbu, Batangas (olive ridley nesters); Morong, Bataan (olive ridley nesters);
Panikian Is., Pitogo, Zamboanga del Sur (green and hawksbill nesters);
* Conducted researches involving conservation and propagation of the endangered marine turtles (headstarting; reproduction/fecundity of marine
turtles; diseases of marine turtles (fibropapilloma); abnormalities of marine turtle hatchlings; hatching success, emergence percentage and incubation period of marine turtle eggs; sex ratio of marine turtle hatchlings in shaded and unshaded hatcheries; genetic analysis of marine turtles);
* Monitored 11 marine turtle strandings in Turtle Islands;
* Developed and distributed information packages such as posters, primers, bookmarks, brochures, flyers, postcards, billboard signs, documentary film, radio plug, colored slides, flip charts, photo exhibits, etc.; T-shirts, baseball caps (as tokens to supporters);
* Conducted lectures/seminars on the marine turtle conservation in 546 coastal barangays/schools in 208 municipalities in 46 provinces; radio and television interviews;
* Conducted orientation-workshop on marine turtle and dugong conservation for field personnel of 11 DENR Regional Offices;
* Conducted the “1st ASEAN Regional Symposium Workshop on Marine Turtle Conservation,” “1st Symposium Workshop on Marine Mammal Conservation” and “1st National Dugong Symposium-Workshop.”
International and Regional Efforts
A. Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA)
Established the TIHPA on May 31, 1996. The TIHPA is the world’s 1st Transfrontier Protected Area for Marine Turtles and the only major rookery of green turtle in the ASEAN Region. The TIHPA is composed of 6 islands from the Philippines (Baguan, Langaan, Taganak, Great Bakkungan, Lihiman, and Boan) and 3 islands from Malaysia (Selingaan, Gulisaan, and Bakkungan Kechil).
The bilateral agreement was signed by Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon and Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
On-going activities:
* Green turtle satellite telemetry project
* Website on marine turtles Http://www.oneocean.org/ambassadors, was awarded the “1999 Philippines Most Outstanding Web Site for Environment, ” winner of the “Golden Web Awards 2000-2001,” and finalist in the “ANVIL Awards.”
B. ASEAN Sea Turtle Conservation and Protection
Dugong and other marine mammal conservation
* Issued DAO 55 dated October 21, 1991 protecting the endangered dugongs;
* Conducted habitat survey on dugongs in coastal areas nationwide since 1992;
* Conducted information and education campaign thru lectures, distribution of information materials, film showing, press releases, and radio and television interviews;
* Conducted joint dugong research and information campaign in the entire province of Palawan in 1986 and 1992 and in the provinces of Davao and Saranggani in 1998;
* Captive breeding of a female dugong in coordination with Toba Aquarium of Japan in 1986. The captive dugong was donated by President Corazon C. Aquino to Emperor Hirohito of Japan in November 1986, and was transported to Japan in April 15, 1987;
* Rescued, rehabilitated and successfully released 14 dugongs since 1993;
* Proposed the establishment of Green Island Bay, Roxas, Palawan and Taytay Bay, Palawan as dugong sanctuaries;
* Creation of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Marine Mammal Conservation (IATFMMC) on Dec. 16, 1993 and appointment of 12 Task Force members per PAWB SO No. 13 dated Feb. 08, 1994;
* Joint survey on cetaceans in Southwestern Sulu Sea, Phil. and Northeastern Sabah, Malaysia;
* Established network for the protection of marine mammals;
* Developed and distributed information packages on dugong and field manual on the rescue and salvage of stranded marine mammals;
* Monitored marine mammal strandings;
* Proposed the establishment of Pamilacan Island as a marine mammal sanctuary;
* Conducted survey of marine mammals in Malampaya Sound in Taytay, Palawan, Babuyan Islands, and Pamilacan Island in Baclayon, Bohol.
PCP DATA (1984 – 2000)
No. of permits issued :2,402
Egg production in Turtle Islands (TI) : 21,678,109
Eggs conserved in TI :15,359,392
% Eggs conserved in TI : 71%
No. of establishment surveyed :1,058
No. of turtles tagged per region :1,294
No. nesters tagged in TI :9,172
Recorded no. of complete nests in Baguan, TI :114,940
No. of hatchlings released from Baguan Is. hatchery :898,486
No. of areas/sites surveyed : 546 sites (208towns/46 provinces)
No. of declared marine turtle sanctuaries : 9 in 3 provinces
No. of hatcheries established in TI : 6
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