A critically endangered hawksbill turtle rescued by a fisherman from barangay Pugaro is surrendered to the city agriculture office on July 10 and is set for release in the open sea of the Lingayen Gulf by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

 According to Emma Molina, city agriculturist, the turtle is supposed to be released on Tuesday (July 11) but was delayed due to a bad weather condition spawned by typhoon “Florita.”

 Molina said that the about 4-year-old turtle, locally known as pawikan, is considered priceless as it is listed among the critically endangered marine species and believed to be on the verge of extinction.

 Based on the official measurement of CENRO employees, the turtle is 15 inches long and 13 inches wide.

 City administrator Raffy Baraan and Marlyn Banda, community environment and natural resources (CENRO) chief of protected area and wildlife section, attached a corresponding metal tag in its flippers for reference purposes to its would-be captors.

 Baraan said that the city government will give a special citation award to the fisherman who saved the endangered turtle identified as Nonong Narvasa.

 ”The incident shows that the fisherfolks in the city really care about our marine resources,” Baraan said.

According to Molina, the hunting and killing of marine turtles as well as disposing their meat or any of their by-products is punishable by law pursuant to Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act or R.A. 9147.

 She added that the national law for the protection of sea turtles imposes imprisonment and penalty to those found guilty of catching, selling and slaughtering the endangered aquatic creatures.

 Some of the listed endangered turtles include the green turtle, loggerhead turtle, leatherback turtle and olive ridley turtle. (Leziel T. Cayabyab)

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz challenged all public servants to uphold at all times the value of integrity in order to achieve good governance and genuine reforms in the government during the observance of the 59th Agew na Dagupan on June 20 at the city plaza.

 ”If we want to become more progressive, economically viable and prosperous, then a public servant must nurture the value of integrity,” Archbishop Cruz, guest speaker at the commemorative program, said.

 In his speech, Cruz stressed that every government employee must be true, honest and dedicated to be worthy of the people’s trust and respect.

 The archbishop cited Dagupan City as an example of a local government unit that practices integrity in its governance.

 According to Cruz, he witnessed the transformation of the city from a devastated and seemingly hopeless city after the 1990 killer earthquake, into a progressive and well-developed city that it is today.

 ”Sixteen years ago, Dagupan City was wrecked but it has managed to become progressive and be back on its feet because of the integrity of the officials who have served this city,” he added.

 However, he pointed out that the ill notions about our country regarding corruption and poverty are brought by greedy and self-serving public servants.

 ”Sa dulo ng lahat ng kasamaang nangyayari sa ating bansa ay ang mga taong walang alam kundi magnakaw at baluktot ang paglilingkod,” Cruz said.

 He ended his speech by encouraging the youth to practice integrity early in their youth. Leziel T. Cayabyab