Meet Pawi, the sea turtle teaching kids about West PH Sea

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Tuesday launched a children’s e-book series aimed at teaching kids aged six to nine about the importance of protecting the West Philippine Sea.

“The Wonderful West Philippine Sea with Pawi the Sea Turtle” is a three-part e-book series that follows Pawi’s journey as he introduces young readers to marine life and the people working to protect it in 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," DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said.

"We also want them to understand, in simple terms, why the 2016 Arbitral Award matters for our nation and our seas,” he added.

The illustrated book introduces young readers to marine life such as whale sharks, giant clams, and reef fish, while highlighting the people dedicated to protecting them, including scientists, sustainable fishers, community volunteers, and Coast Guard personnel.

It also features species-spotting activities, coloring pages, and a family pledge encouraging simple environmental actions such as reducing single-use plastics, disposing of waste properly, conserving water, and joining community clean-up drives, the DENR said.

The e-book is available online for free.

The DENR is also set to release two more books in August and September, both of which will discuss the West Philippine Sea and coastal protection.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) earlier launched an alliance of fisherfolk aimed at countering false information about 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.— MCG, GMA News