Pico De Loro: An ecological paradise in the making

MANILA, Philippines - The Pico de Loro cove in Nasugbu, Batangas is now home to 83 pawikan hatchlings (baby sea turtles belonging to the endangered Olive Ridley species) which were believed to have been hatched last November (female adult pawikans lay eggs 50 to 60 days before they become hatchlings), according to officials of SM Investment Corp., developer of Pico de Loro and 12 other coves in Nasugbu and its partner, the World Wildlife Fund.

Wesley Caballa, sports and recreation senior manager of Costa del Hamilo Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SM Investment Corp., said the most recent sighting was last Jan. 26 when 83 olive green baby pawikans were seen walking slowly to the sea.

It was a most heartwarming spectacle that greeted the staff of the Hamilo Coast.

The Hamilo Coast project covers 13 coves with a total land area of 5,800 hectares which SM Investment Corp. intends to convert into an eco-tourism destination as it teems with wildlife and biodiversity in its mostly-untouched and pristine green surroundings and virginal coastline.

Aside from pawikan, the coves contain biodiversity that includes 121 species of birds that were surveyed in one day; snakes and reptiles; wild boar; bayawak.

The brackish waters and mangroves are home to numerous schools of fish aside from the regular visitation of whales, dolphins, manta sting rays and giant clams that were implanted by the company in cooperation with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and local divers.

“This is actually the third time since last year that we saw pawikans in our project area. We started the development of Hamilo Coast in 2007 and the first recorded sighting involved 11 hatchlings in Pico de Loro on July 7, 2008 and the second in the Santelmo cove also of Hamilo Coast with 48 hatchlings and now the 83 hatchlings also in Pico de Loro. It is so exciting to see such pleasant distractions during our stay there,” said Joel Cruz, SM Investment Corp. marketing manager.

Another sighting was made last Sept. 15 involving an adult hunchback sea turtle measuring one foot in diameter which the staff of Hamilo in cooperation with fishermen properly identified (coded) and released to the sea.

SM plans to make Costa del Hamilo as an ecological paradise even with some medium rise condominium apartments, hotel, marina, beach walk and other modern-day facilities for the exclusive use of club members and condo unit owners.

“Even when we promote Costa del Hamilo to the condo unit owners, we will lay down the guidelines jointly with the WWF that no pets will be let loose in the area so they do not unnecessarily eat any wildlife specie especially sea turtles roaming the shorelines,” said Paolo Pagaduan, project manager of Hamilo Coast sustainable development project.

Expected for completion late this year, the first phase of Hamilo Coast will contain amenities like: low impact and low density residential condos; beach and country clubs with complete sports and leisure facilities; retail shops; resort hotels; forest park and marine sanctuaries; marina/yacht club and convention facilities.

The coves are being protected by the SM Investment Corp, WWF, the local government unit of Barangay Papaya, Nasugbu which will soon release an ordinance declaring the coves of Pico de Loro and Elayo as marine reserves (for limited fishing activities) and the Santelmo cove as a marine sanctuary, prohibited to fishing extraction.