By Leilanie G. Adriano (Staff Reporter)
Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte—Coastal villagers at Brgy. Caparispisan, this town, cheered with glee as they watched a female green sea turtle measuring 102 centimeters long and 97 centimeters wide crawl its way to the sea on Jan. 14, 2021.
Henelyn Alterado, president of the lifeguard association in this town said in a phone interview that a fisherman spotted the green sea turtle nestling in a beach front owned by the family of Pagudpud mayor Rafael Benemerito at about 3:00 am on Jan. 14, 2021.
"The fisherman immediately reported what he saw to a village chief tanod and relayed it immediately to local authorities,” said Alterado who is also an active member of the Pagudpud Pawikan Conservation Group.
Following the conduct of a training on Pawikan conservation, Alterado said more and more villagers are now becoming more aware of their responsibilities towards nature particularly on saving these endangered species.
Since November last year, the newly-formed Pagudpud Pawikan Conservation Group, where the Pagudpud lifeguard association is an active member, is currently monitoring and guarding at least four nests of sea turtles in Pagudpud town.
The first nest with 400 sea turtle eggs is located at the Pawikan hatchery in Saud village. These are expected to hatch next week after a female green sea turtle was spotted in the area last Nov. 24, 2020.
The Pawikan hatchery is installed at the municipal beach park to host endangered species.
Marine sea turtles often lay their eggs from dusk till dawn and the peak season is from November to March.