Coastal communities in Candon City, Ilocos Sur have shifted from poaching endangered pawikan eggs for ₱30 each to guarding nests and hatchlings. The Philippines hosts five globally threatened sea turtle species—all on the IUCN Red List, with hawksbills classified as Critically Endangered. Habitat loss, illegal harvesting, bycatch, pollution, and climate change continue to threaten their survival.
Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna calls this transformation heartening, noting former poachers now serve as guardians. Driven by poverty, locals once took up to 80 eggs from two nests for quick income. Today, a partnership between the DENR, Candon City, and residents has reversed that trend. Aligned with President Marcos Jr.’s biodiversity protection goals, authorities enforce RA 9147 alongside Candon’s 2023 Ordinance No. 1090, which established the “Pawikan Parents” incentive scheme. Guardians earn PhP100 per hatched egg—up to ₱25,000 per nest—and coastal barangays get ₱5,000 for safe hatchling escort. Mayor Eric Dario Singson says rewards drove strong community cooperation.
Supported by DENR-CENRO Tagudin’s education and technical aid, locals like fisherfolk leader Reynaldo Galace Jr. now monitor tracks, secure nests, and report promptly. DENR specialist Dr. Ingrid Baglao commends local participation. The program successfully balances livelihood and ecology, proving conservation yields greater long-term benefits than exploitation.
