MORONG, Bataan: Sen. Loren Legarda pledged to support Bataan City’s conservation program on sea turtles during the eighth year of the Pawikan Festival held adjacent to the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) in Morong, Bataan.

“Bataan is blessed for having pawikan laying and hatching eggs right here and so I am ready to help in the form of legislation, provision of support to enhance facilities, livelihood for fishermen and alternative livelihood for those who may still continue in poaching of pawikans, ” the senator said.

In a speech before a big crowd almost filling the 3,000-square meter Morong Conservation Center in Brgy. Nagbalayong, Legarda lauded the local government units in the province “for having environmental programs.”

She recommended the establishment of an auditorium with audio-visual facility to showcase the pawikan programs. “I am willing to help in the documentation,” Legarda said, adding, however, that she will wait for proposals because Bataan officials and the volunteers manning the center “know best.”

The senator joined in the release of 100 day-old pawikan hatchlings on the sand to the sea.

Representatives Herminia Roman and Albert Garcia of the province’s first and second districts, respectively; Mayors Cynthia Estanislao of Morong, Jose Enrique Garcia 3rd of Balanga City, chairman of Bataan Tourism Council Foundation and other local officials joined the activity.

Estanislao said that 52,000 pawikan hatchlings have so far been released, since the operation of the conservation center started eight years ago.