GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 21 September) — A conservation group has warned that killing, possessing, or trading pawikan (marine turtles) endangers the survival of these species, which are classified as either endangered or critically endangered under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order 2019-09. One Pawikan Initiative, a youth-led group dedicated to protecting marine turtles, issued the advisory on September 19 following the arrest of three individuals in Maasim, Sarangani, for slaughtering a pawikan on September 13. The group emphasized that such acts are punishable under Republic Act 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, with penalties including six to 12 years of imprisonment and fines of up to ₱1 million. They stressed that protecting pawikan is both a legal obligation and a moral responsibility for a sustainable future. The suspects were apprehended by the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape’s Protected Area Management Office, alongside the PNP Maritime Group, Maasim police, and local government. One Pawikan Initiative also highlighted the health risks of consuming pawikan meat, which can cause chelonitoxication, a potentially fatal food poisoning with no known antidote. Authorities recovered a carapace and cooked pawikan meat during the operation. DENR–12 Regional Executive Director Atty. Felix S. Alicer condemned the act, stating it threatens the ecological balance of Sarangani Bay, which is home to four marine turtle species: the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta), and critically endangered Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). Despite hatchery programs releasing nearly 39,000 hatchlings since 2015, illegal hunting, habitat loss, plastic pollution, and climate change continue to threaten these species. Authorities and conservation groups urge the public to report wildlife crimes and support conservation efforts to protect biodiversity and ensure the sustainability of coastal ecosystems and fisheries. (Guia A. Rebollido/MindaNews)
