NAIC, Cavite – Pawikan conservation center released 78 Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtle hatchlings to their natural habitat on Saturday, November 26, 2022, in Barangay Labac here as the breeding season starts.

Councilors Ate Tere Puno and Eimeren Nazareno, together with Naic Tourism Head Lady Anne Lopez, led the release of hatchlings to their habitat.

According to Barangay Labac Chairman Roger Bilugan, more hatchlings are scheduled to be released to the sea in the next few days, even though many were affected by Typhoon “Paeng” last October 30.

In the aftermath of Typhoon Paeng, the coastal villages of Naic town in Cavite, especially here in Labac were one of the areas that were severely damaged by the severe tropical storm, with a knee-high sea water level rise to the beach.

More than 300 Olive Ridley sea turtle eggs were affected in the nesting area of the total of 2,000 eggs at the hatchery facility had to be cultivated to save from the wetting of the sand in their breeding ground, and some were broken due to “Paeng.”

“Kagabi lamang po ay may tatlong Pawikan ang dumating upang mangitlog dito sa facility, dalawa may tag na, meaning nanggaling na siya dito para umitlog at (yung) isa bago lang na walang tag,” Bilugan said in an interview.

“Ang mga tag po ay nagsisilbing aming mga palatandaan na ito ay nanggaling na dito, na may nakalagay na date,” Bilugan added.

The egg takes 60 days in the hatchery before it finally hatches and is returned to its natural habitat in the ocean.

Meanwhile, “One Pawikan” donated 30 tonner bags to create a revetment wall to hold and lessen erosion of the nesting areas and central hatchlings.

The Labac Conservation Facility was established to protect its eggs which are now an endangered species not only in Bgy. Labac, but also the coastal towns of Noveleta, Rosario, Tanza, Maragondon, and Ternate.

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Dennis Abrina