External Affairs Department

The promotion and marketing of investment packages for funding, networking with national and international institutions/organizations, strengthening linkages with various institutions and organizations, providing technical assistance and support to the Palawan-based operating units were the main concerns of the Manila-based staff under the External Affairs Department.

On networking functions, the department liaises with the Congress and Senate, attends/represents the office in meetings in Manila, assists in follow up activities with the DBM, strengthens ties through coordination with DENR, DA, NEDA, DOE and other agencies, provides technical assistance to the operating departments in terms of research, data gathering and interaction with NGAs and NGOs.

The department also maintains Metro-Manila Operations by providing assistance to the PCSD Secretariat, acting as events coordinator for special caucuses in Manila and conducting initial screening of documents for SEP Clearance and Accreditation of Manila-based proponents.

For the year, the department in coordination with BFAR, PNP and the ATO enforced PCSD and ATO regulations on the trading and air transport of live fish from Palawan to Manila. The staff evaluated and approved flight plans of accredited air carriers on a daily basis.

The monitoring of livefish shipment from Palawan involved a total of 73,044 boxes with an estimated volume of 1,256,592 kilos. These were sourced from the following municipalities: Coron/Busuanga (51.57%), Taytay (19.92%), Cuyo (17.98%), Roxas (5.92%) and San Vicente (4.60%). Facts and figures on Palawan's live fish industy are reflected in the annexes.

Based on the monitoring reports, Sea Dragon, Philip See and L. Huerto posted the highest volume of live fish traded at 22%, 21% and 20% respectively.

The information on flight deviations and violations gathered by the monitoring team assisted the concerned departments in formulating appropriate policies on live fish trading in the province.

Meetings and data gathering from various government agencies, NGOs financing institutions were conducted in relation to the following:

Organization of the Veterinary and Medical Team for CGPWS
Drafting of various implementation protocols/IRR for Caves Act, Caves Classification, Wildlife Act, Bioprospecting, NIPAS IRR, CITES, Special Uses of Forestlands/ Foreshore Areas, Treasure Hunting, Establishment of Communal Forest and Biosafety
Compensation scheme regarding ROW in Buluang and Liminangcong Areas
Multi-Partite Monitoring Teams and MRFC for Malampaya Gas and RTNMC and CBNC
MOAC-Exercise Luzon, Palawan Expedition