Is it true that the Pawikan Center in San Jose, Antique is practically unstaffed or unmanned – a veritable white elephant despite its highly touted beginnings? Last we heard, the late San Jose mayor Elmer Untaran agreed that MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority) Region 6 use it as a satellite office, which some say is quite a departure from its avowed objective to shelter critically endangered sea turtles from destructive human action. An esplanade is being constructed along the coastline of Funda-Dalipe, widely known to be a pawikan nesting site. The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources officer did not take notice until local environmentalists sounded alarm bells on the project’s potentially deleterious effects on the area’s ecosystem. The esplanade project contractor is JE Tico Construction Co.

Pawikan Center in Antique a 'white elephant'?. (2025, May 5). Panay News, p. 7.