Punta Dumalag pawikan center reports 11,275 hatchlings released since 2014
A sea turtle hatchery and rescue facility run by Davao Light in Davao City says it has also treated 38 injured adult turtles and secured 110 nests over roughly a decade, according to a company press release.
The Aboitiz Cleanergy Park Pawikan Center in Punta Dumalag, Davao City, has released 11,275 sea turtle hatchlings and secured 110 nests since 2014, according to a press release from Aboitiz Power Corporation published by Philstar.
The center sits on what was once eight hectares of coastal grassland. It is managed by Davao Light and Power Co., an AboitizPower subsidiary. It was set up under a memorandum of agreement between Davao Light, the Aboitiz Foundation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region XI (DENR-XI) and the city government.
The facility serves mainly as a hatchery and rescue center for green sea, olive ridley and hawksbill turtles. According to the release, turtles in the area had been vulnerable to poaching and illegal fishing. Working with DENR-XI, the center says it has rescued and given veterinary care to 38 adult turtles since 2014. Staff also move threatened nests to the hatchery so the eggs can hatch in safer conditions.
The company said close to 28,000 visitors have joined tours, tree planting, coastal clean-ups and hatchling releases over the same period. Volunteers have planted nearly 39,000 mangroves. The release links this planting to a rise in recorded bird species, from five in 2014 to about 108 in 2026.
Fermin Edillon, head of Davao Light's Reputation Enhancement Department, said nearby residents now know to bring rescued turtles to the park. He said they have also learned to segregate and secure their trash so it does not reach the sea.
Davao Light President and COO Enriczar Tia said the park welcomes local residents, schools and organizations to join its tours and volunteer activities.
Philstar noted that the press release is not covered by its editorial guidelines.
Why it matters for Davao
Residents who find a stranded or injured sea turtle can turn it over to the Punta Dumalag center. Schools and community groups can also join its tours, clean-ups and planting activities.
This article was written by the DavaoNews desk with AI assistance, using reporting by Philstar. Facts come from the original report, which we credit and link below. Our editorial policy
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