PAWIKAN SANCTUARY

Located in barangay Nagbalayong, Morong, Bataan is the site of a community-based Pawikan Conservation

Program which started in late 1999. Manned by former poachers and turtle egg collectors who turned into marine

 turtle conservation advocates, the Program's mission is to secure the eggs laid during the nesting season

(between September and January) and transfer them into the hatchery to facilitate breeding and to contribute to

 the regeneration of the fishing grounds.

Many tourists go to this sanctuary during the nesting season and especially during the Pawikan Festival to

be able to get a chance to see turtles come up to shore at night to lay their eggs. During the Pawikan Festival,

tourists are even able to "adopt a turtle" and personally hold and release a baby turtle into the sea.

Bataan Beaches are known for nesting marine turtles (Pawikan) coming in the evenings. It is said that people

 from poor communities used to come to collect the eggs for food or trade, and sometimes hunt the female turtles

 to eat the meat, then sell the shells and skin to traders who resell them as illegal by-products

(stuffed pawikan,ornaments for guitars,comb, eyeglass frames,etc). Fortunately, Bantay Pawikan,Inc initiated a

community-based conservation program with the help of the provincial government and UNDF-GEF-SGP. Soon,other communities and groups followed suit, and their collective efforts ensured the protection of nesting marine turtles,

collection and hatching of eggs, and releasing all hatchlings back to the sea. To promote consciousness

on the importance of conserving the Pawikans, the Center welcomes visitors.