As part of the activities for the prestigious search for the 55th Most Outstanding High School Graduate (MOHSG) organized by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Davao, Inc., 18 nominees from different senior high schools in Davao City visited the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park in Sitio Punta Dumalag, Matina Aplaya, Davao City for this year’s PawiCAMP.
JCI Davao, a long-time partner of Aboitiz Cleanergy Park organizes the annual PawiCAMP, a day camp dedicated to the protection and preservation of sea turtles (pawikan). JCI’s sister chapters, Daba-Daba and Duwaling, also participated in the mentioned activity.
Meanwhile, this year’s MOHSG search urges the youth to come up with projects that are in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Among the nominees is Ala, a Grade 12 student from Emar Human Environmental College, Inc.. “I actually live near the area but this is my first time hearing that there is an [ecological park] in the middle of the city. I am amazed that we still have environmental sites that students can visit face-to-face,” Ala said.
“I realized how careless some people are with their trash, not knowing that it will eventually end up in our seas. Improper waste disposal has such a big effect on the creatures living in the sea, no matter how small the size of the trash is,” Ala shared her realizations after hearing the story of the rescued sea turtle (pawikan) named Agdao, who died after ingesting plastic. It was turned over to the park but the veterinarians were unable to save the pawikan.
The Aboitiz Cleanergy Park, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Local Government of Davao, serves as a rescue center facility for the endangered sea turtles. The park is also a nesting ground for the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle.
“Our aim is to influence the youth and the community to be environmentally aware and to protect endangered species like the sea turtles. We also conduct annual mangrove planting and coastal clean-up activities as well as seminars with other institutions and the MOHSG participants,” Glenn Robledo, Vice President for Community Development of JCI said.
“This is part of our support to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal [14], which aims to conserve life below water,” Robledo added.
Davao Light and Power Co. Inc. (Davao Light), an AboitizPower subsidiary, manages the park with Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and continues to support programs that are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
