PCSD Chairman's Report

"The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development in the Implementation of the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan" (The Chairman's Report) July 2004-June 2007 "

INTRODUCTION

We are fortunate that our province has vast expanse of environmental wealth and rich cultural heritage. However, the province's rich resources is now threatened by so much strain and intense pressure brought about by rapid population growth thus resulting to extensive extraction of the available resources accessible from our forests down to the seas. Let us join hands to address the environmental challenges besetting Palawan at present.

As we gather today to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the passage of the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) Act , we shall be part of another milestone in our continuous journey towards sustainable development we envision for our province. I commend each one of you who will take part in this forum as we together lay the ground "Leading the Road to Sustainable Development of Palawan."

In behalf of the PCSD, may I share with you what we have achieved through effective teamwork among the Council, the staff, the partner institutions and stakeholders in the implementation of the SEP for Palawan:

I. Background

The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) was created by virtue of Republic Act 7611, otherwise known as the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan Act. Operating under the Office of the President, the Council is mandated in the governance, implementation and policy direction of the SEP. The SEP for Palawan Act provides a comprehensive framework for all sustainable development initiatives in Palawan thus ensuring the protection and enhancement of the natural resources and endangered environment of the province.

In addition to its mandates under the SEP, the Council is tasked to implement the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (RA 9147), the National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act (RA 9072) and the Chainsaw Act (RA 9175), in the province of Palawan.

II. Highlights of Accomplishments

As the PCSD and PCSDS cope with challenges in the quest for sustainable development of Palawan, assessments and policy review initiatives were undertaken to ascertain that the organization is focused and attuned on the mandates and goals of the SEP. Collaboration with partner institutions has taken ground as more collaborative endeavors are now being implemented. Moreover, the PCSD and its Staff instituted refocusing of its direction in support to the call of action vital in the President's Ten-Point Agenda.

This report chronicles the accomplishments of the Council and its staff since I took my oath as Chairman of the PCSD in July 2004.

A. Accomplishments Viz-A-Viz Refocused Targets:

1. Policy Workshop

Policy assessment was undertaken to reconcile and rationalize policy directions of the Council as envisioned in the law. The review of functions was reconciled during the harmonization workshops wherein the objective is to thresh out gray areas in the roles of each concerned agency.

2. Organizational Diagnosis

An Organizational Development (OD) process was undertaken for PCSDS to enhance organizational performance to aid the Council in improving its effectiveness while enhancing the well-being of its internal stakeholders. A key output of the OD was a draft resolution defining and delineating the roles and functions of the key agencies in the implementation of Republic Act 7611 vis-à-vis Mangrove policy, Communal forest, Wildlife Act, Caves Act, Eco-tourism, Mining, Sand and gravel quarrying, Pebbles gathering, and Caves Act.

3. Completion of ECAN

The implementing mechanism of the SEP which provides for the graded system of protection and development control over the whole province of Palawan is the Environmentally Critical Areas Network. While pursuing complementation of economic growth and conservation, ECAN serves as the main guideline for all development plans, programs and projects to be implemented in the province.

Adopting the revised guidelines in implementing the ECAN, ECAN maps is 100% completed with the 24 municipalities completing their respective adoption process at the LGU level. The Council subsequently approved these maps which shall now serve as the basis for developmental activities in every municipality. Meanwhile, the ECAN Board as a multi-sectoral body was organized and reconstituted in every municipality to assist in the implementation of ECAN in their respective localities. The ECAN Boards are now operational in each municipality.

4. Establishment of the ECAN Coastal Resource Management (CRM)

Learning Centers Considering that Palawan is an island province where people and economy largely depend on its coastal marine resources and environment, the ECAN Coastal Resources Management (CRM) project is perceived to support the poverty alleviation program of the national government by empowering the direct resource users to manage and be accountable to the environment. Hence, ECAN-Coastal Resource Management project was initiated by PCSD in 2005 to address poverty through empowerment of the communities.

As component of ECAN Sustainability Efforts of SEMP ECAN Zoning, CRM Learning Centers have been identified for each municipality of which six priority areas were selected to showcase the initiatives on ECAN-CRM. The priority sites were strategically distributed with 2 areas in the South particularly: Malinsuno Island in Balabac and Isugod, Quezon; 2 areas in the North namely, Port Barton, San Vicente and Bebeladan, El Nido; Maruyugon, Puerto Princesa for the Central District and Tagumpay, Coron for the Calamianes.

Community Based ECAN Zones Management Planning activities and delineation have been conducted in the six identified sites. Reef assessment for the identified fish sanctuaries have been undertaken and livelihood programs intiated through partner POs to reduce pressures on marine resources in the priority sites.

In Isugod, Quezon, a component of the CRM is the DBP financed 20-hectare mangrove plantation. The project site has been planted with 222,000 growing mangrove stands which are now a welcome sight in the area. Recently, the sea weed and sea cucumber projects were launched as part of the livelihood component of the CRM.

A component of the ECAN CRM is the Beach Ecowatch Program which will be pilot tested in Puerto Princesa. The MOA between PCSD and the City Government of Puerto Princesa for its implementation has been signed and a Technical Working Group for Beach Ecowatch has been created through an Executive Order issued by Mayor Edward Hagedorn. The latest development in the ECAN-CRM site is the launching of Community Based Nipa Plantation Project in Barangay Maruyugon on March 24, 2004 with the participation of barangay officials, residents, students, City Government representatives and PCSD Staff.

B. Regular Activities

1. Policy Formulation/Issuances

To address specific issues and concerns, the eight (8) functional committees of PCSD were reactivated, namely: Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources, Legal and Inter-governmental, Tribal Affairs, Research, Project Development & Evaluation, Tourism & External Affairs, Peace & Order and Finance.

Policy studies, review and policy workshops to address sustainable development concerns were conducted to provide the Council with thorough analysis of certain issues affecting the province to come up with policy issuances. The following are the policy initiatives and related policy issuances:

Live Fish. The Live Reef Fish for Food Industry (LRFFI) in Palawan has been a major concern of the Council and the Provincial Board of Palawan as the use of cyanide and overfishing in the industry are considered as threats to the industry. A policy analysis of the live reef fish for food industry was contained in the policy paper titled "Evaluation of policy options for the live reef food fish trade in the province of Palawan, Western Philippines."

The policy analysis served as basis for the crafting of the Palawan live fish ordinance in 2006, Provincial Ordinance No. 941, as amended, "Providing for sustainable and integrated regulation of live reef fish industry, imposing certain conditions for the catching, trading and shipment of live fish out of the province, providing penalties for violations hereof and for other purposes."

Mining. The PCSD/S in collaboration with the University of Asia and the Pacific and the Shell (now Malampaya Foundation) Professorial Chair for Sustainable Development conducted the "Workshop on Capacitating Stakeholders towards Responsible Mining in the Province of Palawan." A key output of the workshop is the initial identification of the various parameters and indicators of responsible/sustainable mining in the context of local priorities and concerns which is an important input to the crafting of a mining policy Palawan.

Ecotourism. The SEMP-NP initiative resulted in a "PCSD resolution allowing ecotourism activities in core zones and restricted-use zones." The resolution paved the way for soft impact tourism related activities in the core zone.

Tribal Ancestral Lands. The PCSD reaffirms its position based on its mandate to declare tribal ancestral lands under ECAN prior to any processing of applications for CADT. The Council has approved for adoption of the concerned agencies a Joint NCIP-PCSD Circular entitled "Harmonization of the Indigenous People's Rights Act (IPRA) and the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan Act" The circular defined and harmonized the institutional mandates of PCSD and NCIP pertaining to the process in the management of ancestral lands in Palawan.

Communal Forest. The Guidelines for the Identification, Establishment and Management of Communal Forests in Palawan has been drafted. The draft guidelines was forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan through for review.

Almaciga. A mini-workshop was conducted with the Palawan IP leaders to generate inputs for the crafting of the implementing guidelines for a PCSD resolution allowing Almaciga tapping by indigenous peoples (IPs) in the core zone in areas classified by the PCSD as tribal ancestral lands pursuant to section 11 of R A 7611, otherwise known as the SEP Act."

Chainsaw Act. "A resolution amending the chain saw Act IRR" was passed by the Council. A series of round table discussions were pursued to review the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Chainsaw Act applicable to Palawan to aid the revision process. Meanwhile, the Joint PCSD-PCA MOA on registration of chainsaw has been formulated.

Pebbles. The guidelines for pebbles gathering and picking contained in a PCSD Resolution was approved by the Council.

Caves Act. The implementing rules and regulations for the Caves Act as well as the permitting system for the edible bird's nest gathering have been issued as basis for management of caves in Palawan including the resources therein.

To complement the functions of each concerned agencies in the implementation of the Caves Act, PCSD Admin Orders 03-08 and 03-08A were amended respectively paving the way for the LGU to handle the bidding procedure. In addition, the Guidelines on Guano Collection has been approved by the Council

Wildlife Act. In consonance with Republic Act 9147, relevant guidelines were formulated and approved by the Council to serve as guide for its implementation in the province. These are the "Guidelines Establishing the Disposition Program for Confiscated, Donated or Turned-over Wildlife and Providing Guidelines Therefor"; the "Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines"; and, "Prescribing the Requirements and Procedures for the Deputation and Designation of Wildlife Enforcement Officers (WEOs) Pursuant to Republic Act 9147, or the Wildlife Act

In order to properly guide all the concerned agencies in the province especially pertaining to the protection and conservation of Palawan flora and fauna species, the "List of Terrestrial and Marine Wildlife in Palawan and their Categories Pursuant to RA 9147" was established with due consideration of the existing IUCN and CITES Lists.

Mangrove . A number of polices and implementing guideline on the various aspects of mangrove management had been passed by the PCSD These include (1) a Resolution authorizing the PCSDS Executive Director to take immediate action to dismantle any structure obstructing the natural flow of tide and ensure the conservation and protection of mangroves, (2) Memorandum Circular on the Operational Guidelines in the disposition of confiscated mangrove tan barks, (3) "A resolution promulgating the rules and regulations governing the conservation and protection of mangrove areas in the province of Palawan and its related implementing guidelines contained in PCSD Administrative Order No. 11, series 2006.

Protected Areas. A number of resolutions to support the existing protected areas in the province were passed by the PCSD. Noteworthy are the resolutions concerning the Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary pertaining to its management and financial resource generation.. Policy support for the Tubbataha was adopted by the PCSD contained in a"Resolution endorsing the establishment of the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) and the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan (SEP) for the purpose of protecting it from destructive human activities and further enhancing its biodiversity."

2. SEP Clearance System and Compliance Monitoring

Relative to the implementation of the SEP Clearance System, about 1,309 projects were issued with SEP Clearance for the period starting July 2004 to June 2007. PCSDS collected roughly P1,484,086.58 from fees and charges on the project applications which were appropriately deposited to the National Treasury and the Special Trust Fund of PCSDS. After the SEP Clearances were issued to projects, PCSDS conducts on-site monitoring to ensure compliance to the conditions stipulated in the clearance issued for each project.

3. Environmental Monitoring (coordination, formulation and implementation of plans, projects and programs)

The sustainable management of our oceans and seas should be a priority the way we sustainably plan to manage our lands. Ecologically, our water bodies down to the coastal zones are highly impacted by land-based activities. PCSD recognized this concern and the need to address the matter by using strategies involving integrated ecosystem approach.

Along this effort, the PCSDS Environmental Laboratory was established to evaluate the water quality in the province. The laboratory has served private organizations, students and other government agencies as well.

As part of the Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation System, river monitoring in 6 major rivers in Northern Palawan and 20 rivers from Southern Palawan is being undertaken while seawater quality is likewise being examined particularly in the areas which are environmentally vulnerable due to human activities.

3.1 GIS

The ECAN-GIS is being developed as an income-generating service of PCSD. The GIS provides services for the mapping requirements not only of PCSDS but also other government agencies, LGU's, NGO's, academe, students and the private sector as well.

3.2 State of Palawan's Environment

Another modest milestone for PCSD was the publication of the book entitled "State of Palawan's Environment". The book featured the findings of the studies and monitoring activities conducted by the Staff as part of the Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation System (EMES). It contains the present condition of the terrestrial, coastal and marine resources of the province.

4. Environmental Education and Extension

Our sustained energy to persevere in our mandate is embedded in our moral and ethical responsibility as stewards of our environment. As Palawan's nature keepers, we have had several creative solutions and sophisticated programs that became "best practices" in the management of our resources. These things could not have materialized well without the complementary support which environmental education and awareness programs have performed in years.

Acknowledging its effectiveness, we therefore need to intensify further and build up conservation education as a support program integrated in all environmental and economic field of endeavors to improve natural resource management, mitigate environmental damages, aid development programs and reverse negative effects of development.

4.1 PCSD Konek

PCSD Konek 7007611 is a quick response campaign in partnership with SMART Communications Incorporated-Palawan. The concept of the project is to link PCSD and Staff to Palaweños through the short messaging system (SMS) more commonly known as "text". PCSD Konek is a support mechanism for monitoring of illegal activities in the province through quick response system.

In support to the operation of the PCSD Konek, the Multi-partite Quick Response Team (MQRT) was organized composed of 17 member-agencies and organizations in Palawan.

The Council has awarded 65 active officers and personnel of various enforcement agencies with commendation in recognition of their active participation in the successful apprehension of violators of the environmental laws in Palawan.

4.2 Palawan Sustainable Development Institute (PSDTI)

The Palawan Sustainable Development Training Institute, a facility funded by European Union under the Palawan Tropical Forestry Protection Programme was established to provide training programs and modules on sustainable development. Presently, it caters to the training requirements of the staff as well as other partner stakeholders and has housed several trainings, seminars, conferences and meetings.

5. Implementation of ECAN Zoning Component-SEMP NP

The ECAN Zoning Component Project, a pre-condition to tourism development in Northern Palawan has been completed.

As part of the ECAN Sustainability efforts, the Community Based ECAN Zones Management Planning was pilot tested in Pamantolon, Taytay. The output of the workshop is the ECAN Management Plan for the area and the manual of the planning activity which will be used as guide in the conduct of ECAN planning.

6. Management of Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary (CGPWS)

Partnership scheme with private groups was considered to improve the limited facilities and services requiring substantial investment to enhance Calauit as a prime tourism product. Along this context, a MOA was signed between the project and Calamianes Association of Tourism Establishments (CATE) for the improvement of facilities and other structures provided by the association for the sanctuary. These were part of the efforts and resources pooled from the private sector to help out promote Calauit as ecotourism destination.

Another MOA was signed with Department of Tourism for the P2.1 M funding for the construction of wharf, observation tower and water system in Calauit.

7. First Palawan Environmental and Economic Summit

PCSD organized the First Palawan Environmental and Economic Summit on January 27-29, 2005. The 3-day summit brought together the key leaders, decision-makers, planners, NGO's, and the private sector for a common goal of defining the road map of Palawan's development by balancing economics and environment.

The primary objective of the summit was to come up with priority development concerns considering the opportunities as well as address issues and meet challenges ahead. With the SEP for Palawan Act as the primary pillar of all developmental efforts in the province, the summit served as venue to highlight sustainable development practices as well as a forum to share insights and lessons learned on collaborative efforts.

CONCLUSION:

As an offshoot of the First Palawan Environmental and Economic Summit, a road map of Palawan's development was defined based on the premise that sustainable development must be undertaken through partnership and within the framework of the Strategic Environmental Plan considering the development initiatives namely: good governance for the collective good, capital development activities & innovations to maximize the value of environment and natural resources.

Considering current development in the province, an assessment in pursuing the road map to sustainable development is imperative to ascertain policy gaps and come up with appropriate policies to address current issues and concerns.

It is high time that we work on the final stage of shaping up the road map which will eventually lead us to our ultimate goal, that is - sustainable development of Palawan.

Good day to everyone.