Palawan Tropical Forestry Protection Programme

Geographic Information System

The GIS under the PTFPP produced the following:

Maps indicating PTFPP interventions in the eleven municipalities for distribution to the concerned LGUs;
Maps showing the geographical extent of the seven PCSDS DMOs;
CGPWS map;
proposed ECAN map for the coastal areas of Brooke’s Point; and
validated ECAN maps for the 12 priority catchments.

GIS hardware and software were installed in six municipalities and at the SPPIC. The memorandum of Agreement on the establishment of GIS in the seven municipalities and SPPIC was signed by the contracting parties.Two GIS staff of PCSDS in cooperation with the CI conducted training on how to work with Arc view and Natural Resource Database software. Twenty LGU staff and PSCD staff benefited from the said training. Three other TSD staff attended GIS training for the year.

Catchment Management Planning and Implementation

Series of community dialogues and Catchment Management Plan presentations were conducted in the municipalities covering the 12 catchments. The component prepared a Capacity Building Training Forum design and facilitated the conduct of the said activity participated by PCSDS and the CBFMA holders. The forum clarified the PTFPP areas subject for boundary demarcation as well as pressing issues on the implementation of PCSD policies affecting CBFM in Palawan.

Protected Areas

The component conducted information and education campaign, community consultations and dialogues regarding the proposed nickel mining operation in Brooke's Point. Related to this, a project proposal was packaged and submitted to EC in Brussels for funding. In addition, the component established linkage with local officials, communities and other authorities to report illegal activities within the SPPA. Field validation and survey of mangrove areas converted to fishponds within the Malanut catchment were conducted.

Agriculture and Livelihood

Activities of the component were closely linked with the catchment management planning and environmental awareness in the form of micro-projects, which aimed to enhance the economic status of target communities/beneficiaries. About 98 micro-projects were implemented, 20 of these were rectified and 5 projects were assisted.

Environmental Awareness

The component conducted environmental awareness campaign in the 12 catchments to include the airing of messages on ecological principles, waste management/recycling and PTFPP, release of articles for local media, production and installation of billboards, compilation of footages for the photo library/database and reproduction of various materials.

Environmental Education refresher and teacher’s training courses were conducted and support for the numeric and literacy programs in TLC was sustained.

Gathering of additional data for the Community Radio Station’s registration requirement, presentation of the draft CRS policy to the Community Media Council through workshop and the repair of the CRS and other equipment were completed. The draft MOA between PTFPP, PCSDS, DSWD, Barangay LGU and the para-teachers was formulated and the draft MOA for the sustainability program/plan for EE integration was also completed.

Institutional Strengthening

Majority of the PCSD Staff that were full-time detailed to the PTFPP during the extension phase worked under the institutional strengthening component. The specific organizations and institutions, i.e. LGUs, people’s organizations and NGOs were identified by the component as partners in sustaining PTFPP’s fixed and non-consumable assets as well as processes. The profile of these institutions and organizations was established and their financial as well as technical capabilities to become sustainable partners were ascertained. As reflected in the PTFPP Annual Work Plan, it also packaged and implemented a Capability Building Program based on the training needs assessment of potential and would be partners. The component sponsored training courses scouted from different training institutions through the hired-training specialist. About 55 training courses were conducted for LGUs, POs, PTFPP and PCSD Staff to strengthen and further enhance their technical and managerial skills in the fields of information technology, GIS, agriculture and livelihood, environmental/forest protection, finance and administration and project management. Representatives from various agencies and organizations to include DENR, BFAR, Law Enforcement Agencies and PCSDS-GMA were likewise provided trainings under the component.

Sixty-six Memoranda of Agreement between PCSDS and partner organizations/institutions have been prepared. To establish ownership of the land where the non-consumable assets were constructed, the staff secured the notarized deeds of donation for the parcel of lands. The component also recommended schemes for the management and disposition of fixed and non-consumable assets such as micro-projects, equipment, vehicles and others. A team was then organized to manage the inventory assessment, retrieval, custody and disposition of said assets.

The business and framework plans for the GIS and the PSDTI have been reviewed. The plans will ensure sustainable operation and maintenance of the facilities as envisioned in the extension phase of the Programme and the sustainable financing of existing and future activities of the PCSD in line with its sustainability mandate under the SEP.

The preparation of the financial report of the government counterpart to the Programme was also done by the component.