DENR-8 steps up marine turtle protection drive

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Eastern Visayas regional office (DENR-8) has intensified its campaign and drive to save and protect marine turtles found in the province’s waters.

DENR-8 director Leonardo Sibbaluca said that the intensified campaign is aimed at enhancing awareness in the grassroots level on the importance of preserving marine turtles and their natural habitats and a better understanding of Republic Act (RA 9147), otherwise known as Wildlife Act of 2001 and the penalties associated in violation of the said law.

The Wildlife Act states that any person who maltreats and/or inflicts injuries to species considered as endangered shall face imprisonment of three months and one day to six months and a fine of 20,000 to 50,000, Sibbaluca added.

Sibbaluca bared that he has issued a memorandum to his field officers in the region to step up efforts to protect marine turtles, locally known as pawikan and to make sure that fishermen and coastal area residents will refrain from catching and slaughtering the endangered species. (Restituto A. Cayubit)