Senator
Loren Legarda today joined the call to save the Philippine Marine
Turtles or "Pawikan" at the 2012 Pawikan Festival held at the Pawikan
Conservation Center in Morong, Bataan.
Legarda,
keynote speaker at the event, remarked that the Pawikan is one of the
oldest species that have survived to this day, and are among those that
live the longest.
“Pawikans
are majestic creatures found throughout the country. However, because
of poaching, theft of their eggs for commercial purposes, and
destruction of their habitat, they are in danger of becoming extinct,”
she said.
“There
is no denying that we have become the biggest threat to their existence
and to the existence of many other species of animals,” she added.
Legarda,
Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change and United Nations
Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change
Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, emphasized that the destruction of marine
habitats means great losses for many sources of livelihood, including
tourism, as well as depletion of food supply.
“I
laud the local government of Bataan for their initiatives to protect,
conserve, and rehabilitate the Pawikan population. Future generations
will be thankful for the concerted action they have achieved,” she said.
The
Senator also urged the people of Bataan to spread their advocacy to
other communities in the Philippines, saying that we can and should
reverse the trend, and stop those who are plundering the seas for their
own gain.
“The
environment is threatened by the times, by the pressures of modern
society, by our very species. But let this be a challenge to harness
science and involve our citizens. Let us take that one vital step
forward for a safe and green environment for all,” Legarda concluded.
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