Subic stakeholders, employees join Biay Dagat 2022 coastal cleanup

Employees of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and close to 2,000 stakeholders of this premier freeport joined the coastal clean-up on Friday as a culminating activity of Biay Dagat 2022.

According to SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino, the SBMA Coastal Clean Up: Biay Dagat coastal clean-up is part of the agency’s effort to make Subic Bay Freeport attractive to tourists, and investors who intend to make it happen in the Philippines by infusing capital funds in Subic.

The participants conducted clean-up drives at the Waterfront Beach, Lighthouse Resort, Malawaan Beach, Triboa Bay Mangrove Park, Tago Beach, Nabasan Beach, Subic Bay Yacht Club (SBYC) Mangrove Area, Binictican Mangrove, and San Bernardino Road jetty area.

He added that some of the participants also conducted an off-shore cleanup, citing that these participants are called SCOOPsurero who were detailed at the  river mouths of the Subic Bay Freeport found in Matain, Kalaklan, and other nearby areas.

“The coastal clean-up is the culminating event of the Biay Dagat. We also conducted online lectures such as the importance and conservation of mangroves and corals, and the role of the public in marine conservation and preservation earlier this week, and a Pawikan online lecture was also conducted on Thursday,” he said.

An infomercial video making contest that started from August 26 and ended on September 19 was also an initiative of the SBMA to give more meaning to this year's ICC. Paulino said that contestants must adhere to the theme “Anong SilBay Mo?” that should focus on the importance of protecting marine biodiversity and the public’s role in protecting Subic Bay’s marine ecosystem.

The agency also took part in the International Coastal Cleanup 2022 on Saturday at the Lighthouse Marina Resort where more than 200 participants from various stakeholders here joined the coastal clean-up.

Lighthouse management, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Cubao West also launched a recycling machine that converts collected plastic trash into more durable everyday items such as chairs, trash bins, planting pots, and lumber. (MPD-SBMA)

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Coral garden nursery, pawikan preservation site to rise in Subic Bay Freeport

 

A coral garden nursery and pawikan preservation site will soon rise in this premier Freeport.

This is in an effort to preserve the nesting site of marine turtles and launch a coral garden nursery in the waters of Subic Bay, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and other stakeholders inside this premier Freeport signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) at the All Hands Beach Resort on Friday.

According to SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino, the sea turtle nest preservation and coral garden nursery construction is in partnership with DENR’s Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), PNP Regional Maritime Unit 3, Brighterday Subic Ltd. Inc., and the Sangkalikasan Producer Cooperative.

“The SBMA aims to restore balance in our ecosystem, which will also be beneficial to our tourism industry. We want to preserve the wildlife inside the Subic Bay Freeport while maintaining the area as the number one tourist destination in Central Luzon,” he said.

He said that All Hands Beach Resort is one of the tourist destinations in Subic Freeport that has maintained a good balance between tourism and eco-conservation. The top agency official said that his first mandate was to clean the Boardwalk Area.

“It is not just the responsibility of the agency to clean and preserve the ecosystem of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. This should also be the responsibility of the various stakeholders here,” he cited.

PENRO Zambales Director Marife L. Castillo said that the month of May is the Month of the Ocean and what better way to celebrate the month than to establish a coral garden nursery. The garden is a coral augmentation project that aims to proliferate corals within an area.

She said that the agency will provide assistance in monitoring and managing marine turtle hatcheries, solicit active participation of stakeholders in the project, rehabilitate degraded marine turtle habitats by enhancing recovery of mangroves and coral reefs, and installation of a wildlife enforcement officer.

Brighterday Subic Ltd. Inc., the company that owns and operates the All Hands Beach Resort  has collaborated with the SBMA and the DENR in the implementation of the marine turtle nesting site project inside its resort.

Brighterday Chairman Mark Dayrit said that the resort has already released around 8,000 sea turtle hatchlings since it opened in 2012. Under the MOA, the company will ensure the vigilant monitoring of pawikan sightings and coral augmentations.

Dayrit added that the company will also provide logistical support to the SBMA Harbor Patrol in the conduct of maintenance and protection activities.

Meanwhile, Sangkalikasan Producer Cooperative is set to conduct baseline assessment and monthly monitoring of reef buds. The cooperative will spearhead the actual conduct of monitoring, maintenance and protection of the site of the coral nursery garden.

On the other hand, Regional Maritime Unit 3 chief Police Col. Fernando L. Cunanan Jr. said that aside from their usual mandate as police officers, part of their duty is to protect the environment.

He said that his unit has arrested thousands for illegal poaching, and 30 people involved in the illegal trade of wildlife. The official said they cannot do this without the help of the community, citing that to protect the community needs the involvement of each and every one.

The signing ceremony included the coastal cleanup drive wherein “Scubasureros” pick up trash in the waters near All Hands Beach Resort. (MPD-SBMA)

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LOOK: New batch of 'pawikan' hatchlings released

Hatchlings of the Olive Ridley specie of marine turtles (pawikan) head out to sea after being gently released by children at the All Hands Beach Resort in the Subic Bay Freeport on Saturday (Dec. 09).

A total of 120 newly-hatched turtles were released on Saturday, the first for this hatchling season, bringing to 3,877 the total baby sea turtles released from the area since All Hands initiated a pawikan hatchling release program.

Community Resources Officer Marife Castillo and SBMA Ecology Center manager Amethya Dela Llana, along with members of the local chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, release hatchlings of the Olive Ridley specie of marine turtles (pawikan) at the All Hands Beach Resort in the Subic Bay Freeport on Saturday (Dec. 09).

(AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Rescued ‘pawikan’ released in Subic Freeport on World Turtle Day

The Ocean Adventure Marine Theme Park here celebrated World Turtle Day last Tuesday (May 23) by releasing “George,” an Olive Ridley sea turtle that was found by a fisherman in Olongapo City eight years ago.

George was released at the Camayan Beach Resort under the supervision of animal experts from the Ocean Adventure Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (OARRC).

According to OARRC personnel, George was brought to Ocean Adventure in 2010 by Olongapo fisherman Rodrigo Poblete, who found the turtle at a beach when it was still a juvenile that weighed only two kilos.

Poblete kept the sea turtle as a pet for over a year until it eventually outgrew the kiddie pool where it was kept. Then Poblete turned over the sea turtle to the local government unit of Olongapo, which then referred him to the Wildlife In Need (WIN) Rescue Center.

WIN brought George to Ocean Adventure where he was rehabilitated and fed with the proper nourishment, and where veterinarians conducted monthly physical examinations to ensure his health.

And after several months of close monitoring, George was moved to a large natural lagoon where other rescued sea turtles were rehabilitated.

SBMA Administrator Wilma Eisma lauded the effort in saving the sea turtle, pointing out that it “certainly makes a huge difference in the preservation of the pawikan, which are known to lay their eggs in beaches at the Subic Bay Freeport.”

Eisma added that the SBMA has been working hand-in-hand with local government units and private organizations in rescuing endangered animals such as sea turtles.

The OARRC had so far accepted 62 sea turtles that were rescued in the Freeport and various towns of Zambales and Bataan. These included 19 Hawksbill sea turtles, 16 Green Sea turtles, and 27 Olive Ridley sea turtles.(JRR/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

“George,” a sea turtle rehabilitated at the Ocean Adventure Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is released to the sea on Tuesday by Ocean Adventure OIC Robert Gonzaga, Community Environment Officer Marife Castillo and SBMA public relation manager Armie Llamas. The release coincided with the celebration of World Turtle Day, which aims to provide awareness for turtles and tortoise and to encourage human involvement for their survival. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Triathletes help release pawikan hatchlings in Subic Bay

Participants in the upcoming Century Tuna 70.3 Triathlon take time off from training to help release into the sea Olive Ridley sea turtle hatchlings in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, ​last ​Wednesday morning, along with Environment Specialist Rhea Jane Mallari (center in blue shirt) of the SBMA Ecology Center.

Around 150 newly-hatched Olive Ridleys, which are among the endangered species of sea turtles or “pawikan”, ​have been​ released at Dungeree Beach, which will be the kick-off site for the Century Tuna 70.3 Triathlon on Sunday, March 6.

(AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Olive ridley sea turtle rescued by Olongapo fishermen

OLONGAPO CITY – Three fishermen rescued an olive ridley sea turtle on Friday at the lighthouse area in Barangay Kalaklan.

Roel Avia, Dennis Galvez, and Kevin Del Pilar found the 22-inch sea turtle at the lighthouse area Friday morning. The three teenagers turned over the marine animal to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Ecology Department.

SBMA Deputy Administrator Atty. Chot Kabigting said that the teenagers turned over the sea turtle, fearing that the animal might get tangled up in fishing nets if released near the shore. He ordered the SBMA Harbor Patrol to release the sea turtle away from the fishing nets.

The Ecology Dept. tagged the animal and hopes to see it migrate again in Subic Bay next year.

“It was probably nesting here, thank goodness that there are fishermen like these teenagers, who are still taking care of our marine life,” Kabigting said.

SBMA environment management specialist Rhea Jane Mallari, who was about to monitor the giant clams in Subic Bay, led the release of the turtle a few meters from the shore of All Hands Beach Resort.

Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino lauded the efforts of the three teenaged fishermen, stating that people should take from them their effort in assuring the life of a marine animal.

“Nakakatuwa at meron pa palang mga mangingisda sa atin na magpoprotekta ng kalikasan. Dapat talagang tularan ng ibang mangingisda ang mga kabataang ito,” Paulino said.

The olive ridley turtle that the boys rescued was 69 cms wide, 64 cms tall and was around 40 to 60 years old. With many beaches surrounding the area, Subic Bay has been a favorite nesting ground for these endangered animals. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTOS:

[1] Fisherman Dennis Galvez (left) and an SBMA Harbor Patrol officer carry the olive ridley sea turtle that was found in Olongapo City on Friday. Galvez and two other boys, Roel Avia and Kevin Del Pilar, rescued the turtle in Barangay Kalaklan and turned it over to the SBMA Ecology Dept. (Jonas Reyes)

[2] SBMA Ecology Center manager Ruel John Kabigting (left) and SBMA environment management specialist Rhea Jane Mallari give a good luck pat to an Olive Ridley sea turtle before members of the SBMA Harbor Patrol release it back to the open sea on Friday morning. The sea turtle, locally known as pawikan, an endangered species, nearly got entangled in the nets of fishermen from Olongapo City, who later turned it over to the SBMA. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

http://www.mb.com.ph/olive-ridley-sea-turtle-rescued-by-olongapo-fishermen/

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SBMA urges stakeholders to guard pawikan nests

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia made a personal appeal to residents and visitors in Subic Bay Freeport Zone to be mindful of nesting places of sea turtles in the free port, and report any sighting and nesting to the agency’s Ecology Center.

“These are gentle creatures that need our protection, for without our help they would likely face extinction,” Garcia pointed out.

“So I’m making a personal appeal to everyone to support our marine turtle conservation program. The presence of these sea turtles or pawikan makes Subic a very special place,” he added.

Garcia said that the SBMA recently launched its “Guard My Nest” sea turtle conservation program to enjoin stakeholders’ participation in making Subic establishments more pawikan-friendly.

“This is why we discourage pavement constructions on the beach where the turtles lay eggs, and urge establishments to minimize lighting at night because this disorients the pawikan,” Garcia said.

“Most of all, we are asking everyone to help keep our beaches clean so that they remain suitable for nesting,” he added.

At least seven beach areas in the free port have been identified as nesting sites for marine turtles. These are the beaches at the Waterfront area, All Hands, Dungaree, Edgewater, Grande Island, Camayan, and Minanga.

“All of these areas, however, contain beach resorts and other commercial tourism establishments, which makes it really important for Subic stakeholders to join us in this campaign,” Garcia also said.

According to Angel Bagaloyos, officer in charge of the SBMA Ecology Center, one out of the six marine turtle species, the Olive ridley, visit Subic Bay to lay eggs, and mostly during the cold months from September to February. Sightings of two other species have been reported here, as well.

This nesting season, the SBMA Ecology Center has already recorded sea turtle nesting at All Hands Beach, with a total of 268 eggs laid; Grande Island, with a total of 835 eggs laid; and Camayan Beach, with a total of 314 eggs.

The eggs are expected to hatch starting this month, and until February, said Rhea Jane Pescador-Mallari, project coordinator of the “Guard My Nest” program.

To help protect the marine turtles, the SBMA Ecology Center tags visiting nesters to add to a global database, guards known nesting sites from predators, and, along with local stakeholders, releases hatchlings to help ensure their survival. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] An Olive ridley sea turtle comes to Subic Bay to lay eggs

[2] A marine turtle nest

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