On April 15, 2010, Batangas Industrial Park Corporation held the blessing of its new administration building at Phoenix Petroterminals & Industrial Park (PPIP), Calaca, Batangas. The blessing coincided with the MOA signing on the conservation of pawikan with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Education (DepEd), and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Calaca.

The blessing of the new PPIP administration building was officiated by Fr. Jaime Cunanan of Saint Raphael Parish of Calaca, Batangas. The employees of PPIP moved out from its old office/guesthouse to its new, bigger and more presentable office which is located near the entrance gate.

On the other hand, the conservation of pawikan started in Calaca in 2005 in coordination among private sector and different government agencies. Since 2005 up to April 2010, 891 eggs have been transplanted, 547 hatchlings have been released and 34 adult pawikan have been tagged and released to the sea. The MOA signing formalizes the collaborative efforts already being undertaken by DENR, DepEd, the LGU of Calaca and PPIP.

Before the MOA signing, audio-visual presentations were conducted by Leah Intia, Pollution Control Officer of PPIP and Dr. Antonio Manila, Assistant Director of DENR-PAWB.

The new PPIP administration building

Fr. Jaime Cunanan of Saint Raphael Parish of Calaca, Batangas officiating the blessing ceremony

Mr. Jose Manuel Quimson (left), General Manager of Phoenix Petroterminals & Industrial Park and Mayor Sofronio Ona, Jr., Municipal Mayor of Calaca, Batangas during the ceremonial ribbon cutting



Guests during the blessing of the new PPIP administration building and MOA signing on the conservation and preservation of pawikan

Shown during the MOA signing on the conservation of pawikan are (seated, from left to right) Dr. Antonio Manila - Assistant Director of DENR-PAWB, Mr. Nilo Tamoria - Regional Executive Director of DENR-CALABARZON, Hon. Sofronio Ona, Jr. – Municipal Mayor of Calaca, Batangas, Mr. Jose Manuel Quimson – General Manager of PPIP, Dr. Hermogenes Panganiban – District Supervisor, DepEd Calaca District and Hon. Lordilando Atienza – Vice Mayor of Calaca, Batangas; (standing, from left to right) Mr. Restituto Salazar of PENRO, Batangas, Mr. Ladislao David – AVP-PPIP, Hon. Deovic Ontangco – SB Calaca, Hon. Prima Dajoyag – SB Calaca, Ms. Gerlie Correa – Salong Elementary School , Hon. Robenson Sale – SB Calaca, Hon. Brigido Casanova – SB Calaca