Village Connect
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has appealed anew to the public to protect the nesting site of marine turtles following the latest incident of egg laying of the critically endangered Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) in Sta. Ana, Cagayan Province.
The marine turtle laid eggs for the third time along the shoreline in Barangay Centro, about six kilometers from Palaui Island Protected Landscapes and Seascapes.
Citing a study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga said a sea turtle takes 20-30 years to mature and can lay several times during nesting.
“When a female sea turtle is ready to lay eggs, she returns to the nesting beach where she was born according to NOAA. This gives us more reason to pursue our goal to put up a marine scientific research station in the said town,” Secretary Loyzaga highlighted.
Following the order of Secretary Loyzaga, Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan reported that two coastal protection officers were hired by DENR in Cagayan province to work on the protection and patrolling of the nesting sites.
“We are expecting about a hundred hatchlings in two to three months so we appeal for the support of the coastal community, the local government, and law enforcement agencies to help the DENR protect the nesting sites,” Director Bambalan said.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Enrique Pasion reported that security officers of a resort in the said town found the marine turtle crawling on the shore before nesting approximately two meters away from the first recorded nesting area. The Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Office of Aparri and the Philippine Coast Guard immediately responded to the incident.
CENR Officer Joselito Razon confirmed that this was the same Leatherback turtle that earlier laid eggs based on the observed physical features. Razon led his personnel in tagging and releasing the turtle.
With the assistance of the municipal local government, sturdy netting protection and signage were installed to secure the nesting area and to keep away stray dogs and poachers. The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority has also committed to deploy a security guard to monitor the nest near the said resort.
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