Pawikans to be released in Tayabas Bay

Lucena City – More than 1,000 endangered baby sea turtles (known locally as pawikan) are going to be released in their natural habitat in Tayabas Bay, until January 2021.

Authorities said the turtles will be returned to the sea in batches, stretching from San Juan, Batangas to Sariaya, Pagbilao, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Unisan, Pitogo, Macalelon, General :Luna, Catanauan, Mulanay and San Francisco towns in Quezon and Lucena City.

These coastal sites are the known nesting grounds of the green sea, olive ridley and hawksbill turtles; and the town of Sariaya is being touted internationally by the Quezon provincial government as the “home of sea turtles.”

These invaluable baby turtles are protected under the Philippine Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act or R.A. 9147.