Sea Turtle 'Pawi' Teaches Children About Protecting West Philippine Sea

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has launched a new children's e-book series aimed at educating young Filipinos, aged six to nine, about the importance of protecting the West Philippine Sea. "The Wonderful West Philippine Sea with Pawi the Sea Turtle," a three-part e-book series, features a sea turtle named Pawi who guides young readers through the rich marine life and the dedicated individuals working to conserve the waters west of the Philippines. "By meeting Pawi, children learn that protecting the West Philippine Sea also means protecting our food security, livelihoods, biodiversity, and shared heritage," said DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna. "We also want them to understand, in simple terms, why the 2016 Arbitral Award matters for our nation and our seas." The illustrated e-books introduce young readers to marine species such as whale sharks, giant clams, and reef fish. They also highlight the people committed to their protection, including scientists, sustainable fishers, community volunteers, and Coast Guard personnel. Interactive elements like species-spotting activities and coloring pages are included, along with a family pledge encouraging simple environmental actions such as reducing single-use plastics, proper waste disposal, water conservation, and participation in community clean-up drives. The e-book is available online for free. DENR plans to release two more books in August and September, focusing further on the West Philippine Sea and coastal protection. Earlier, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) established an alliance of fisherfolk to counter misinformation regarding the West Philippine Sea. The Alliance of Fisherfolk for Truthful Information and Narratives on the West Philippine Sea (ATIN WPS) trains fisherfolk on factual and legal issues concerning the contested waters. In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidating China’s sweeping claims over much of the South China Sea and finding no legal basis for its claim to historic rights within the so-called nine-dash line. China has rejected the ruling and continues to refuse to recognize it.