Palawan paiigtingin ang proteksiyon sa mga pagong

NILAGDAAN ni Governor Jose Alvarez nitong Miyerkules ng hapon ang memorandum of agreement (MOA) na nagtatatag sa Philippine Marine Turtle Protected Area Network (PMTPAN) sa Palawan.

Layunin ng kasunduan na magkaroon ng ligtas na tahanan ang mga pagong sa SuluSulawesi Seascape, na saklaw ng National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act, lahad ni provincial information officer Gil Acosta Jr.

“This aims to have a sheltered sanctuary for marine turtles, which are considered to be endangered,” ani Acosta.

Kabilang sa network ang El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area (ENTMRPA) at Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) sa lalawigan para maproteksiyunan ang mga pagong.

Ayon sa Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines (MWWP), limang uri ng pagong sa bansa ang itinuturing na kritikal na ang pagkaubos, kaya kailangan maproteksiyunan ang mga ito.

Ang endangered species ay ang green turtle (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), at leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea).

Ang hawksbill sea turtle ang tanging kritikal na ang lagay na naoobserbahang unti-unti nang dumarami sa TRNP, ayon sa management nito.

“Named after their beak-like mouth that is used for crushing, biting and tearing off their favorite food – the sponges – hawksbills are otherwise highly valued for their shells,” anang TRNP.

“In Tubbataha, hawksbills are protected and happy. Divers observe these charismatic marine animals reaching into crevices of coraf reefs, searching for food and feeding on sponges, algae and marine invertebrates. In so doing, they free up space for settlement of other organisms, such as reef-building corals and support healthy reef growth,” dagdag pa ng TRNP.

Naging saksi sa paglagda ng MOA sina Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Felizardo Cayatoc, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff Executive Director Nelson Devanadera at ang mga kinatawan ng GIZ-Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape Project at Conservation International.