Ateneo graders, teachers hold clean-up of pawikan sanctuary

Students of the Ateneo de Davao University grade school, their parents and teachers combined forces with barangay officials of the Punta Dumalag to conduct a coastal clean-up activity at the Pawikan (turtle) sanctuary in Punta Dumalag, Davao City in the morning of last Saturday, October 24.
Spearheaded by Level Six officers headed by Mr. Priscilla N. Razon, the clean-up was under the auspices of the Ateneo Grade School Community Association (AGSA) in cooperation with Barangay Punta Dumalag, Matina Aplaya under barangay chairman Jimmy D. Poliquit.
According to Mrs. Grace Ordonez, AGSA Level 6 class representative, the clean-up was conducted from 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon. It was  joined by some 250 individuals – 99 students with some of their parents and 12 teachers.
Aside from cleaning the pawikan sanctuary and surrounding, the participants also planted some 500 mangrove tree seedlings in a bid to help rejuvenate the surrounding ecosystems.
The project is designed to raise awareness of young people about the importance of caring for the environment and protecting the ecosystem, according to an AGSA press release.
The AGSA wishes to emphasize the need to act now to save the environment, reduce global warming and help local communities to be more proactive in preparing for natural calamities, it said.
Responsible for managing the coastal clean-up project, aside from Mrs. Razon, are Mrs. Jonas Piore, AGSA vice president; Mrs. Karen Oreta, secretary; Mrs. Alice Tiu, assistant secretary; Mrs. Lani Lee, treasurer; Mrs. Grace Maestre, assistant treasurer; Mrs. Nina Borromeo, auditor; Mrs. Marichu Cobol, assistant auditor; and Mrs. Yvette Sunga, press relations officer.