Technical Services

Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation System (EMES)

The Technical Services Division (TSD) implements the Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation System ( EMES ) which is one of the major support mechanisms in implementing the SEP Law. For the year, water resources analysis was undertaken in 16 river stations in the province. Stream flows as well as certain parameters like dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature were measured in-situ in each of the river stations. Water samples were collected and brought to the PCSDS Environmental Laboratory for physical and chemical analysis and where corresponding reports were prepared. Daily rainfall data had also been collected from six rainfall stations established in the province, the results of which were furnished to the LGUs or concerned agencies as reference for planning purposes. To respond to the requests of the World Wildlife Fund and the Palawan State University, the Philippine Western University and the Southern Polytechnic Colleges of Palawan students for water quality analysis, laboratory tests were performed on 145 water samples and appropriate laboratory reports were prepared. Furthermore, to support the on-going government program of addressing the problems on the use of cyanide in the live fish industry, about 23 fish samples and 12 water samples were tested in the PCSDS laboratory to detect the presence of cyanide. Laboratory tests were also performed on 30 water samples collected from the coastal areas of Roxas municipality. Since its operation, the PCSDS Environmental Laboratory has analyzed 1,521 water samples coming from private organizations, students and government agencies.

Another significant accomplishment of the Division is the conduct of the Coastal Resource Assessment (CRA) in the different municipalities. The activity’s main objective is to come up with baseline information on the present and different status of marine habitat which is used as major inputs by the Local Government Units in the formulation of their municipal Comprehensive Land & Water Use Plans (CLWUP). As of 2004, the assessment was executed in 19 from out of the 23 municipalities comprising the province. The findings of the CRA including the resource condition maps for mangrove, sea grass and corals as well as the recommended ECAN coastal marine maps of Quezon and Rizal were presented to the municipal officials. The said CRA reports and maps were later submitted to the concerned LGUs.

The Coastal Resources Monitoring (CRM) is a follow-up survey of the CRA. Ideally, this activity is done every 4 to 5 years after the initial CRA has been conducted. In early 2004, the CRM was done in the municipality of Roxas particularly by the staff of the PTSD in close coordination with the concerned DMO and municipal government. The CRM was carried out to determine the changes on the condition of the different marine habitats such as mangrove forests, sea grass beds, coral reefs and reef fishes and at the same time conduct water quality analysis of water samples taken in the area. The CRM results were compared with that of the assessment reports in 2000 to assess any significant improvement or deterioration on the stature of the municipality’s marine ecosystem.

Based on the current situation of the coastal area, the CRM provides updated management information essential for planning and decision making. It also serves as a tool for policy formulation to ensure sustainability and equity on the use of the marine resources. After the assessment and monitoring surveys, a technical report is prepared showing areas of protection. The team also prepares and presents to the municipal and barangay LGUs the resource condition and recommended ECAN coastal marine maps to give them a better understanding of the present scenario of their coastal areas. The presentation of the survey output is usually attended by the mayor, other municipal officials, academe, NGOs and POs for comments and suggestions.

For Roxas, the report on the results of the CRM covering mangrove, sea grass, coral reefs and reef fishery was already finalized. The corresponding resource condition maps were likewise prepared and copies of these documents were already furnished to the LGU.

In addition, CRM in San Vicente was completed. The reports will be used as input for the inclusion of the municipality in the priority sites for ecotourism development. The sea grass and coral assessment reports for the CRM of the municipality of Aborlan have also been prepared for submission to the LGU.

The TSD counterpart staff to the SEMP- NP joined the consultants in the conduct of marine, flora and fauna survey in the municipality of San Vicente. They also attended the presentation of the consultant’s report in El Nido and Culion. The comments on the reports presented were prepared and submitted to the consultants.