Palawan Tropical Forestry Protection Programme

Programme Components

Protected Area Management

The revision of the strategic management plan for the Mt. Mantalingahan Management Area (MMMA) that has been renamed to South Palawan Planning Area (SPPA), thereafter, was completed, endorsed by the five Local Government Units (LGUs) and was approved by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) on 26 July 2001. It was also presented to the Provincial Board of Palawan for their information and support.

To further the planning efforts of the SPPA, four upland management areas were identified: Escapardo, Mantalingahan, Pulute-Malanut and Victoria Peak. Pulute-Malanut has been selected as a pilot area for detailed management planning.

South Palawan Planning Area (SPPA).The SPPA developed from the former Mt. Mantalingahan Management Area, to better integrate physical planning at a sub-provincial level. The Programme extensively consulted the public and local government then wrote a strategic management plan for SPPA, which was later adopted by PCSD.

It emphasizes the relationship between planning and socio-economic development, especially education and livelihood. SPPA policies are developed and implemented by a South Palawan Planning Council, created by a Provincial Executive Order.

SPPA's purpose is to harmonize planning among the five southern municipalities. It provides mechanism for coordinating comprehensive land-use plans, border issues, regulations and their implementation, as well as for a joint approach to things of common interest such as trunk infrastructure.

It provides high quality technical backup to municipal planning offices, pooling expensive resources such as computerized mapping systems, and strengthens the capability of municipalities to encourage economic and social development.

Irawan Catchment - Palawan Flora, Fauna and Watershed Reserve. Building on a resource-use assessment it made in October 1999, the Programme started gathering data needed for a detailed management plan for the Reserve. The Reserve is the main source of Puerto Princesa City's water for domestic and industrial use.

Planning for Special Areas in 2002. Thee Programme will develop strategies for managing Palawan Fauna, Flora and Watershed Reserve, and Pulute-Malanut Upland Management Area as a pilot upland of SPPA. It will map where people live througout SPPA more accurately than the present data allow in order to be able to extrapolate lessons learnt in the pilot area.

In Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, the Programme will consolidate existing data needed to revise its management plan, which covers only the Park's original data needed to revise its management plan, which covers only the park's original 3,901 hectares (revised borders now cover 22,202 hectares) but will not support revision of the plan itself until the Protected Area Mangement Board has reorganised the Park staff adequately.