Sea turtle freed

BY FELIPE V. CELINO

ROXAS City — An endangered sea turtle specie that was kept by a fisherman for five days was freed yesterday.

Camelo Alaban of Brgy. Cogon, this city, helped release the Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) back to the sea.

Alaban, who captured the sea turtle on morning of January 25, believed that the animal was swept by a strong wave toward the beach in Brgy. Cogon.

He said he immediately put the sea turtle on a fish cage for safekeeping, and informed the city officials and other concerned government agencies about it.

According to Sherly Villasor, forester I of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – Capiz, the sea turtle measures 66 centimeters long and 55 centimeter wide, and weighs about 15–20 kilos.

The sea turtle is getting weak, the reason why the city government decided to bring it back to the sea near the Olotayan Island.

Councilor Powell del Rosario also helped free the sea turtle. He is the chair of the Committee on Environment, and president of the Save Olotayan Inc., a private environmental organization.

Witnessing the release were City Agriculturist Salvador Borda, former Libas village chief now head of the city’s Bantay Dagat Solomon Alisais, and some town residents and members of the media./PN



   


City reactivates ‘peacekeepers’

ROXAS City — Top local officials in this city will strengthen barangay peace volunteers in the 47 villages here.

Vice Mayor Ronnie Dadivas said there is a need to organize and strengthen barangay tanods to augment the city’s law enforcement officers.

Reactivating barangay tanods and the barangay peacekeeping action teams (BPATs) can greatly help the Philippine National Police ensure peace and security in the respective barangays, he said.

He cited the critical role of tanods as force multipliers of law enforcement agencies as they also risk their lives and limbs to preserve peace and order in the locality.

Dadivas said they will finalize the plan of recruiting a maximum of 20 tanods per barangay and providing them capability training.

In addition, Dadivas will present to Mayor Alan Angel Celino the suggestions of the Peace and Order Council members to provide all barangay tanods with PhilHealth cards, accident insurance and honoraria.

“The utilization of barangay tanods and BPATs could greatly lessen the work of the police officers in maintaining peace and order in our community,” he said.

On the other hand, Interior and Local Government City Director Clyne Deocampo pointed out that with the reorganization and activation of barangay tanods, this city might win the annual search for outstanding tanod in the region.

Earlier, the DILG lauded barangay tanods or village watchmen for working on a purely voluntary basis to ensure public safety in the more than 4,000 barangays in Western Visayas. (Jemin B. Guillermo/PIA/PN