Palawan Council for
Sustainable Development

165th Council Meeting update and highlights

(Report from: Alex Marcaida )

165th PCSD Meeting Updates! PSDTI, February 26, 2010. ======================================================

The meeting was cordial with fluctuating spur of emotions –high & low-pitch-moments but most of the time presentations were conversationally friendly. Well it has been like this ever since. Gov. Joel T. Reyes, the chairman, presided over.

Herewith are some updates of the 165th meeting

1. No Quorum: Due to previous commitments and unavoidable circumstances, only 10 members attended the meeting. They converted into an Executive committee. This implies that all motions are yet to be confirmed in the next meeting where majority of the members are present.

2. Oath of Office: The new WESCOM commander LtGen. Hernanie Perez took his oath as member representing the military sector. Gov. Reyes, the Chairman officiated the oath taking.

3. PCSD Updates: Dir. Josephine S. Matulac of PCSDS, acting Secretary to the PCSD, presented the activities undertaken by staff for the month of February.

This includes: • Caves Assessment in Bataraza. Initial interviews revealed that there are five (5) caves in the area: Gangub, Moore, Magtunao, Bodis-bodis and the Tabud cave. Two caves (Gangub and Moore) were assessed. Assessment revealed that there are numerous sub-caves/openings. Panuyon cave is one, which is currently being occupied by the Seventh Day Adventist Church as “worship area” since 1985.

In Palawan, it is the PCSD that governs management of caves. As in the case of users like the Seventh Day Adventist Church, it is important that a special undertaking with PCSD must be forged.

Due to limited time, not all of the caves had been scoured. Documentation on this is on-ongoing.

• Environmental Enforcement Board/Center in Rizal. The Board met and agreed to strengthen the EEC in Rizal. KSK re-committed their support for personnel and funds and likewise are the PCSDS and DENR. All other member agencies re-affirmed commitment given limited resources. A special meeting with LGU was planned to discuss gaps of the past operations and re-affirmation of the LGU in it’s support to the EEC.

The PCSD advised the EEBoard to review its strategies and evolve a more realistic and appropriate methods to improve accomplishments.

• The PCSDS also reported activities such as: attendance to meeting called for the Sustainable Tourism Development for Central Philippines where enforcement of ECAN Zoning is made part. Such meeting was called to present results of the study made by consultants which is an input for the proposed Program eyed for funding of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Reportedly, part of the priorities proposed for Palawan are 4 projects: the construction of the Coron-Busuanga Road (paving of segment from Guadalupe in Coron to Busuanga in Buluang - 35 kms (P 449.21M), the Junction Roxas-Taytay Road to San Vicente, 20 kms (308.1 M), the Bgy. Sabang Water Supply Treatment and distribution (P 40M) and the development Assistance to Tourism-related projects to enforce ECAN Zoning (P 100M).

• Special meeting of PCSDS and the Palawan Business sector: where a thorough discussion on “de-mystifying PCSD and its operations” took place. It was a great opportunity for PCSDS to clarify its mandate and be able to listen to positions and complaints of the business sector. It ended up with points of joint-action which include operationalization of a “one-stop-shop” to ease permitting processes, among many other future agenda for partnership.

• Participation to the upcoming climate change summit sponsored by the City Government, Tagbalay Foundation, Conservation Internationale, Western Philippines University and the PCSD. 4 Project applications for SEP Clearance: (Note: Status of whether approved or deferred or disapproved, please refer to this link ____)

There are 30 projects evaluated by the PCSDstaff as follows:

20 projects for issuance of SEP Clearance

3 gasoline refilling station
2 hospital
1 hotel
1 SLUP
1 commercial building
1 piggery
1 O & M Almaciga
5 (1 Gratuitous and 4 commercial G & S Permit aplications)
1 mountain quarry
1 Foreshore Lease Application
1 depot/warehouse/causeway
1 Wildlife Farm Permit (Butterfly)
1 hatchery and nursery project

11 projects for issuance of renewal PCSD Accreditation

9 renewal application for live fish trading
2 renewal application for live fish carrier

Additional projects included in the List of Projects for Council’s Action and approved by the Council are the following:

1. 2 small scale mining project of Fujian Sino Phil. Mining Corp.
2. 1 exploration project of Fujian Sino Phil. Mining Corp.
3. 1 kaliksi Island Resort Project

5. Committee Reports:

a. The PCSD Adjudication Board and Legal Committee reported the following (among others):

1. On the application for SEP Clearance of ECORESORT Development Corporation for their Kaliksi project in Puerco Island, Bgy. Tumarbong, Roxas, Palawan. Said applicant corporation is 99.99% foreign owned. The issue for resolution is whether or not the applicant may be allowed to undergo the activity under the Foreign Investment Act or under any other applicable laws. Considering the complexities of the issues involved, the PAB decided to issue an order requiring the applicant to secure a permit from the Department of Tourism considering that the project is in line with the program of said department.

2. On Citinickels application for SEP Clearance. Still pending before the PAB is the application of Citinickel for issuance of SEP Clearance on areas covered by the existing SEP Clearance issued to PGMC. The application was pursuant to the OMDC’s assignment of mining rights in favor of applicant Citinickel. During the deliberation, however, tackled was the supervening issue as to whether or not the subject areas are within the protected area under Proclamation No. 1815, which declared Mt. Mantalingahan as Protected Landscape under the NIPAS. For this reason, the PAB decided to conduct an ocular inspection in the area and to inform the applicant Citinickel and oppositor PGMC that no action is recommended on the application until the said supervening issue is resolved.

3. On the Letter of Elizabeth Josefsson of Pier Diver’s Lodge in Busuanga, Palawan requesting reduction of the fine of 50,000.00 imposed under AO 06 for operating without SEP Clearance.

This involves a former native house, which was subsequently converted into a commercial lodge and was operated without first securing SEP Clearance from the PCSD.

Ms. Josefsson is now asking for the reduction of the amount of fine imposed pursuant to PCSD AO 06 for operating without SEP Clearance. After a careful deliberation, the PAB resolved to recommend to the Council the granting of the request reducing the fine to Php25,000.00.

4. On the Application for SEP Clearance of the City Government’s Reclamation Project. The project involves the reclamation of coastal area covering 44,941 square meters located along the portion of Puerto Princesa Bay and within the political jurisdiction of Bgy. Mabuhay and Bgy. Pagkakaisa. The project calls for the clearing of shanties and houses of 538 squatter households.

The PAB decided to recommend to the Council the issuance of the necessary SEP Clearance on condition that the clearance will not be taken or construed as an authority for the proponent to cause the demolition of the affected households. Demolition of said households is the sole responsibility of the proponent and has nothing to do with the SEP Clearance.

The committee also reported on various cases heard by the PAB. The meeting ended at 6:30.

Next meeting is set on march 25, 2010 at PSDTI, Irawan, Puerto Princesa City.