Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte — In a continued push to protect the nesting grounds of marine turtles along the city’s coast, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Tubay launched a series of Communication, Education, and Public Awareness (CEPA) campaigns and community consultations from May 7 to 9, 2025.
The initiative, organized through CENRO’s Coastal Resource and Foreshore Management Unit (CRFMU), was conducted in six coastal barangays: La Union, Calibunan, Tolosa, Cabinet, Kauswagan, and Caasinan. It aimed to raise public awareness about marine turtle conservation and gather valuable community input for the proposed declaration of a Marine Turtle Critical Habitat.
This activity was also part of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Month of the Ocean (MOO) celebration, which this year emphasizes coastal stewardship and marine biodiversity protection.
Participants—composed of fisherfolk, women, senior citizens, and barangay officials—engaged in lectures, discussions, and film viewings, including the environmental short film “Hope”, which illustrates the life cycle of marine turtles and the threats they face. The sessions emphasized the ecological importance of marine turtles and their habitats and oriented attendees on the legal basis for establishing critical habitats under Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act and DENR Memorandum Circular No. 2007-02.
The consultations also provided a platform for community members to express their concerns on issues such as informal settlements within easement zones, illegal fishing practices, poor waste management, and limited livelihood options—factors that could threaten marine biodiversity and coastal health.
The conservation effort builds on documented marine turtle nesting and hatching events in Cabadbaran’s coastal areas from 2021 to 2023, underscoring the area’s significance as a vital nesting ground.
CENRO Tubay will compile the results of the CEPA activities and consultations and endorse them to the Sangguniang Panglungsod. The aim is to support the passage of a local ordinance officially declaring portions of Cabadbaran’s coast as a Marine Turtle Critical Habitat.
This step marks a significant stride toward ensuring long-term protection of marine turtles and sustaining the ecological balance of the city’s coastal ecosystems.