Back to Baguan Island Home of the Endangered Green Sea Turtles

Описание: On May 20, I will take a long sea voyage from the main island of Mindanao to a group of small islands known as the Turtle Islands Group which is just about 1-hour away by speedboat from Sandakan, Sabah.

It will be my second journey to the islands having gone there in March 2020, just before the COVID 19 Pandemic Lockdowns, by flying through Kota Kinabalu and a short land trip to Sandakan.

Actually, I was supposed to travel with a group of officials from the Dept. of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) led by Director Tess Camba in March this year but rough seas prevented me from making this trip.

At this time of the year, naval experts say, the Sulu Sea is calm and I will be joined in this trip by Western Command Chief Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, DICT and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

There will be three events which would be held in the islands on this trip - the Pawikan Festival which will be held in the main island of Taganak, the inaugural video message by President Rody Duterte using the satellite facilities established by the DICT in March and the turn over of the Baguan Island National Wildlife Sanctuary from DENR to the BARMM.

In my first trip to Taganak and Baguan Islands last year, I promised the local officials and the people that I would come back to fulfill the promises I made which included a satellite link to connect the island to the mainstream Philippine society and to help protect the Baguan Island Green Sea Turtles breeding ground.

With the help of the Office of the President, DICT, DENR and BARMM, these commitments will now be realized.

#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
#CrossingSeasTouchingLives!