A total of 104 pawikan (marine turtle) hatchlings safely made their way to the sea after being discovered along the coastline of Barangay Bacauan, Miag-ao town, during the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm “Opong” last week. The Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanology – Quick Response Team (IMFO-QRT) of the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), led by Research Associate Precious Nikola Gaurana, responded to the report on September 27. The initial sighting was made by UPV employees and local residents Rey Nuneza and John Michael Moleta, who found two hatchlings on the evening of September 26.

Defacto, L. C. (2025, September 30). 117 'pawikan' eggs discovered in Miag-ao, 104 hatchlings released. Panay News, pp. 5, 15.