E-book series para turuan mga bata tungkol sa WPS, inilunsad ng DENR

MANILA, Philippines — Naglunsad ang Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ng tatlong-bahaging children’s e-book series upang turuan ang mga batang Pilipino tungkol sa West Philippine Sea, yamang-dagat nito, at kahalagahan ng pangangalaga rito.

Inilunsad sa Quezon City ang unang aklat na “The Wonderful West Philippine Sea with Pawi the Sea Turtle (Pawikan)” kasabay ng paggunita sa ika-10 anibersaryo ng 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.

“The West Philippine Sea is food, home, story, and future. Its coral gardens breathe the life into our coasts. Its currents carry the livelihoods of millions. Yet reefs are fading, the fish are fewer, and plastic drips where turtles used to feed. If we do not act now, we will have nothing left to pass on,” sinabi ni DENR Assistant Secretary Rochelle Gamboa.

Para sa mga batang edad 6 hanggang 9, sinusundan sa illustrated e-book ang paglalakbay ni Pawi, isang green sea turtle, sa mga mangrove forest, seagrass meadow, coral reef, at coastal community.

Ipinakikilala rin nito sa mga mambabasa ang whale sharks, giant clams, reef fishes, at mga taong nangangalaga sa marine ecosystems, kabilang ang mga scientist, sustainable fisher, community volunteer, at coast guard.

Ipinaliliwanag din sa paraang madaling maunawaan ng mga bata kung paano naaapektuhan ng polusyon, labis na pangingisda, at pagkasira ng tirahan ang yamang-dagat at mga komunidad sa baybayin.

“We hope these books will help our children appreciate the beauty of our marine ecosystems, understand the importance of conserving them, and realize that they too have a role to play in protecting our national heritage,” pahayag ni Gamboa.

Nakatakdang ilabas sa Agosto ang ikalawang e-book na susundan ang kuwento nina Maria at kanyang lolo tungkol sa West Philippine Sea at bahagi nito sa likas na pamana ng bansa. Ilalabas naman sa Setyembre ang ikatlong aklat kasabay ng International Coastal Cleanup Day.

Sinabi ni Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna na nakabatay ang proyekto sa paniniwalang mas malamang pangalagaan ng mga bata ang mga bagay na natututuhan nilang pahalagahan.

“Through ‘The Wonderful West Philippine Sea,’ we hope to inspire children to appreciate this sea that has long sustained Filipino families, recognize it as an important part of our natural heritage, and understand our shared responsibility to protect its rich marine biodiversity for present and future generations,” sinabi niya.

May kasama ring coloring pages, species identification activities, at family pledge ang e-book na humihikayat sa mga bata na bawasan ang paggamit ng single-use plastics, itapon nang tama ang basura, magtipid ng tubig, at lumahok sa community clean-up drives.

“By meeting Pawi, children learn that protecting the West Philippine Sea also means protecting our food security, livelihoods, biodiversity, and shared heritage. We also want them to understand, in simple terms, why the 2016 Arbitral Award matters for our nation and our seas,” dagdag ni Cuna.

Pinagtibay ng 2016 ruling sa ilalim ng United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ang maritime entitlements ng Pilipinas sa loob ng exclusive economic zone nito.

Maaaring i-download nang libre ang e-book sa website ng DENR, habang mamamahagi ng printed copies sa mga coastal school, barangay hall, at partner organization.

Maaaring makipag-ugnayan ang mga educator at community leader sa DENR Strategic Communication and Initiatives Service sa [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) para sa mga kopya, storytelling session, at partnership.

“Every story has the power to open a child’s mind to new ideas and new possibilities. We hope that this story will help young readers see the West Philippine Sea as a living treasure that belongs to all of us and is worth protecting,” sinabi ni Gamboa. Santi Celario