I N S I D E I N S I D E I N S I D E PCSD APRIL 2016 ...pcsd.gov.ph/.../uploads/2016/05/PCSD-UPDATES-APRIL-2016-ISSUE.pdf · Philippines University (WPU) in Aborlan, Palawan. Discussions

Envi advocates shift public’s focus on the protection of Victoria-

Anepahan Mountain RangesON EARTH DAY, April 22, environmental advocates from government agencies and non-government organizations took the opportunity to shift the public’s focus on protecting the Victoria-Anepahan Mountain Ranges (VAMR) through convening the stakeholders in a conference held at the Western Philippines University (WPU) in Aborlan, Palawan.

Discussions and presentations were jointly facilitated by focal persons from the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) and civil society organizations and institution, such as the Environmental Legal Assistance Center Inc. (ELAC), Palawan NGO Network Inc. (PNNI), Institute for the Development of Educational ENVI ADVOCATES>>PAGE 3

APRIL 2016 | ISSUE 4, VOL. 1

PCSDupdates

NAGSAGAWA ng Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign ang Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSD) hinggil sa nakatakdang pagpapatupad ng closed season simula Hunyo 16 hanggang Agosto 31 kaugnay sa paghuhuli ng reef-fish-for-food (RFF) sa lalawigan.

Ang nabanggit na IEC ay isinagawa sa Bgy Panacan, Narra, Palawan nitong Abril 14 sa pangunguna ni Rhoda Roque, District Manager ng PCSD District Management Office (PCSD-DMO South), kasama ang mga staff ng ECAN Education Extension Division, sa pangunguna ni Ma. Christina Rodriguez.

Ang isinagawang lektyur sa nasabing bayan ay bahagi lamang ng province-wide IEC na kasalukuyang isinasagawa ng PCSDS katuwang ang mga DMOs North, South, Central at Calamian upang ipabatid sa mga stakeholders ang nakatakdang pagi-implementa ng seasonal control sa RFF.

DAHILAN NG PAGPAPATUPADIpinaliwanag ng dalawa sa 33

partisipante ang mga probisyong nakapaloob sa Revised PCSD Administrative Order No. 5-2014 o ang “Guidelines for the Regulation and Monitoring of Catching, Culture, Trade, Transport and Export of Reef-Fish-For-Food in Palawan.”

Ang RFF ay mga klase ng isda na galing sa bahura na ginagawang pagkain ng mga tao na binibenta, buhay man o patay. Saklaw ng nabanggit na polisiya ang tatlong uri ng RFF: suno (Plectropomus leopardus), loba (Epinephelus coioides) at lapung baboy (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus).

Bukod sa mga petsang nabanggit sa itaas, ipapatupad muli ang closed

IEC>>PAGE 7Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa City | www.pcsd.gov.ph | [email protected] | (048) 434-4235

and Ecological Alternatives (IDEAS), Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme-Philippines (NTFP-EP Phils) and WPU.

LACK OF MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORKLevita Lagrada, Project Development

Officer 3 of PCSDS, talked about the

IEC UKOL SA CLOSED SEASON SA PAGHUHULI NG REEF FISH,

ISINAGAWA NG PCSDS

I N S I D E I N S I D E I N S I D E

Kalakip ng Administrative Order 5 ang probisyon ukol sa pagpapairal ng restriksyon sa sukat ng reef-fish-for-food (RFF) na mahuhuli. Sa tatlong species ng RFF na saklaw ng polisiya, tanging suno lang ang napaloob dito kung saan dapat di bababa sa 32 sentimetro at di lalampas sa 47.5 sentimetro ang maaaring hulihin sa ilang. Kuha ang larawang ito sa fish section ng New Public Market sa Bgy San Jose, Puerto Princesa City. (PHOTO//JESSIE CERENO/PCSDS EEED)

Expert talks on developing a climate-smart village

P.6

Balabac community beneficiaries...

P.5


PCSD2 updatesBiodiversity Conservation Program for the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm

In line with the celebration of the 46th year anniversary of Earth Day, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSDS), Department Of Environment And Natural Resources – Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO), City Environment And Natural Resource Office (City ENRO), Katala Foundation, Inc. (KFI), and Iwahig Prison And Penal Farm (IPPF) conducted a Memorandum of Agreement signing on April 22 at Lingnam Restaurant, Puerto Princesa City.

The MOA is about the establishment of the IPPF Biodiversity Conservation Program (IBCP), the overall framework of cooperation among the parties and setting of their roles and obligations for the said program.

The IBCP’s overall goal is to conserve, protect and maintain the diversity and function of ecosystems and wildlife species in Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF). The other

objectives of the program are the following:

• To raise awareness of the importance and functions of biological diversity among all stakeholders;

• To rapidly assess biological diversity in the entire IPPF area;

• To identify, delineate and declare priority sites for protection (e.g. for watersheds, ecosystem, species);

• To identify and preserve priority sites for conservation and maintain their ecological functions;

• To improve potential income provided by protected ecosystems and species through mandatory establishment of CBST and other related livelihood programs and ecotourism;

• To prevent illegal settling, farming, resource extraction and poaching, through joint and coordinated monitoring and patrolling and other efforts;

• To facilitate and support prosecution of alleged illegal natural resource users and settlers;

• To conduct specific projects in coordination and

MOA SIGNING: (L-R) Ms. Emer D. Garraez, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Community Environment and Natural Resource Officer, Nelson P. Devanadera, Executive Director of Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff, P/Supt. II Antonio C. Cruz, Superintendent of Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm, and Ms. Indira D.L. Windmann, Chief Operations Officer of Katala Foundation, Inc.(PHOTO/AI NHI TRUDEAU/PCSDS EEED)

“The Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) is of outstanding conservation importance. Out of ca. 320 bird species found

in Palawan, 177 are recorded in IPPF (mountains are not checked yet; P. Widmann 2016 during 2nd

RTD). The area is also home to the globally third-most important Philippine Cocaktoo population, after Rasa Island and Pandanan/Bugsuk Islands. Due to its high number of different ecosystems

harboring a diverse flora and fauna of outstanding conservation

program, it is recognized that a sustained biodiversity conservation

is essential to ensure a balanced ecosystem within the area.”

SOURCE: IPPF Biodiversity Conservation Program:2016 Status

and Updates

IN THE KNOW

involvement of all the parties herein, and co-active participation of Brgy. Officials and residents;

• To share and provide resources, information (data, inventory) to specific projects established and formulated in furtherance of this MOA to all the numbers and parties herein.

The program will be in force and shall be effective for one year from the signing of the agreement of the parties involved. (Melo Ponce De Leon)

Ms. Indira D.L. Windmann, Chief Operations Officer of Katala Foundation, Inc., discusses the outstanding biodiversity that can be found within the jurisdiction of Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm. (PHOTO/AI NHI TRUDEAU/PCSDS EEED)


PCSDupdates 3

physical characteristics of VAMR, a key biodiversity area that covers the City of Puerto Princesa and the southern Palawan towns of Aborlan, Narra and Quezon.

Lagrada noted that VAMR is still highly forested, however there were agricultural lands and other land use area in the mountain range.

One of the issues and concerns she mentioned was the absence of a governing body and a defined management approach or framework for VAMR, allowing it for de facto open access.

What makes VAMR even more vulnerable is that, based on the Republic Act 7611 or the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) Act, there is no criminal liability to the offenders even though it operates or intrudes in what was declared as core zone or the area of maximum protection, noted Roger Garinga of IDEAS.

Garinga added that there are conflicting policies and competing programs currently in place, resulting to the inconsistent implementation of existing plans by mandated government agencies. For example, the 2002 rezoning of the Narra Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN) zone inadvertently allowed the subsequent conduct of extractive activities in what was supposedly a significant habitat in VAMR. In the case of Iwahig, the jurisdiction meanwhile lies on Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

Realizing the issues at hand, stakeholders believe that local officials need to be made more appreciative of habitat protection and of the purpose

Envi advoctes...<<FRONT PAGE

of their Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs) and other related plans.

While a lot of laws and policies were passed with regards to conservation and environmental governance, ELAC Executive Director, Atty. Grizelda Mayo-Anda, emphasized the fact that there is no specific policy that will safeguard VAMR alone.

She went on discussing the pros and cons of the three possible protection plan options for VAMR, which are the following: Protected Area, Inter-Local Government Unit Manage Area and Indigenous Community Conserve Area.

Whatever the protection plan the stakeholders may deemed appropriate, Mayo-Anda said that equally important is providing a mechanism that will allow indigenous peoples, LGUs, NGOs, civil society organizations (CSOs) and the Academe to protect the VAMR hand in hand.

Merlinda Hilario, head of PCSDS Tribal Ancestral Zone Management Component, meanwhile, highlighted the important role that the indigenous peoples play in protecting VAMR and maintaining ecological balance therein. She added that there is a strong link between the natural and economic system. “We have to understand this link, because it has something to do with the solution to the society’s problem,” said Hilario.

THREATS TO RICH FLORA, FAUNADr. Lita B. Sopsop, Dean of WPU’s

College of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Sciences (CAFES), discussed the findings of her unpublished study about the rich flora that can be found in VAMR’s Ibossi-Talakaigan, a watershed in Aborlan.

She said there are many rare and

endemic species living in Ibossi-Talakaigan watershed. In fact, the watershed of 400 hectares harbors a total of 324 plant species, of which 4% are endemic to the Philippines. The watershed also hosts 47 species of flora which are classified as “threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Current resource utilization however says that Ibossi- Talakaigan is not sustainable from ecological and socioeconomic point of view, and in effect it would wipe out endemic and rare species if the entire VAMR will not be protected, warned Sopsop.

Citing again her unpublished study, by 2029 the forest cover in Ibossi-Talakaigan watershed would decrease to three hectares a year if utilization will not be minimized. She also added that by 2031, 33% of floral species would be lost while 50% cover would be gone.

To prevent this from happening, she suggested for the immediate protection of Ibossi-Talakaigan watershed through upgrading its ECAN zone from “controlled use” to “core,” or through declaring it as protected area.

Prof. Alejandro Bernardo of WPU

PCSDPCSD Updates is a monthly publication produced

by the PCSDS ECAN Extension and Education Division

updatesMA. CHRISTINA D. RODRIGUEZ

EDITOR NELSON P. DEVANADERA, ADELINA B. VILLENA

EDITORIAL CONSULTANTSMELO PONCE DE LEON, KEITH ANTHONY S. FABRO,

AI NHI R. TRUDEAU WRITERS

KEITH ANTHONY S. FABRO LAYOUT ARTISTCELSO S. QUILING

PHOTOGRAPHER

IN PHOTO: Environmental advocates from various government agencies and non-government organizations, along with the participants of the conference on Victoria-Anepahan Mountain Ranges held last April 22 at the Western Philippines University. (PHOTO/AIZA NUNEZ/PCSDS ERED)

ENVI ADVOCATES>>PAGE 6


PCSD4 updatesPSFI’s Eco-Camp for out-of-school youth

IEC on climate change mitigation conducted

PSFI partnered with the Puerto Princesa Underground River Management Office (PMO), Barangay office of Cabayugan, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) for this youth eco-camp.

The PCSDS-ECAN Education and Extension Division (PCSDS-EEED) was invited by the PSFI on the second day to tackle climate change and global warming.

Ms. Melo Ponce De Leon, staff of PCSDS-EEED, was pleased to educate the participants about climate change and global warming. She also explained the importance of Palawan in the national development policies, the role of PCSD and the importance of having a Strategic Environmental Plan Law (R.A. 7611 or the SEP Act).

There were 54 participants who came from barangays of Cabayugan, Buenavista, Nasuduan, Marufinas, Tagabinet and Panggangan.

Meanwhile, PSFI also conducted the same activity with OSYs of barangays of Bagong Bayan, Simpokan and Napsan as participants last April 27-29 at Sitio Bual-Bualan, Barangay Simpokan, Puerto Princesa City..

According to PSFI Project Officer

THE PILIPINAS Shell Foundation Incorporated (PSFI) conducted a three day Summer Youth Eco-Camp for the out-of-school youth (OSY) with a theme, “Sa Usaping Pagbabago ng Klima, Kabataan May Magagawa Ka” in Bgy Cabayugan, Puerto Princesa City on April 20-22.

Eva Malabanan, the said activity was under the PSFI’s Turismo at Negosyo Dulot ng Ingat Kalikasan (TANDIKAN) thru sustainable tourism project which focuses on conservation. She believes that the said three-day eco-camp had raised the level of awareness of the OSYs with regards to human activities contributing to the occurrence of climate change and global warming.

Malabanan added that the eco-camp also aimed to encourage the OSYs

to think of alternative ways to survive such as engaging in sustainable livelihoods. It also aimed to create a youth association that will serve as “warden of nature” that will help their community in promoting environmental conservation. - With reporting from Ai Nhi Trudeau

Ms. Melo Ponce De Leon, staff of PCSDS-ECAN Education and Extension Division, was pleased to educate the participants about climate change. (PHOTO//AI NHI TRUDEAU/PCSDS-EEED)

IN PHOTO: The staff of Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. and the participants of the three-day Summer Youth Eco-camp. (PHOTO//AI NHI TRUDEAU/PCSDS-EEED)


PCSDupdates 5

The Integrated Livestock Farming Demo Module has been established at the Balabac National High School compound. The set-up will house goats, chickens and compost worms as stocks to be eventually marketed and distributed for grow-out. Initial construction work was also provided by a complementary project for Balabac under the regional Coral Triangle Initiative program, the ADB-RETA 7813. (PHOTO//AGUSTINA FELISA R. BASCO/ADB)

Balabac community beneficiaries begin pilot-testing of sustainable enterprises

ADB-JFPR-JODA PROJECT # 9160 LIVELIHOOD MODULES LAUNCH

The first set of fisherfolk beneficiaries has been signed in on the pilot-testing work on resource-friendly, community-based and market-driven enterprises. These include organic chicken and goat raising, improved seaweeds production and skills development on handicraft, cookery, carpentry, welding, and masonry.

The Project is creating models that will enable eight municipal barangays to raise household income and provide opportunities out of poverty, especially for the Molbogs engaged in fishing. The Molbogs are Balabac’s indigenous people and a priority of the Project.

The engagement was formalized in a livelihood modules launch & community beneficiary contract signing held on March 18, 2016 at the Balabac National High School. This is also part of the Balabac Foundation Day celebration. The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) headed by Director Josephine Matulac of the ECAN Planning, Policy & Knowledge Management Department was present

AFTER TEN MONTHS of social preparation, consultation on selection criteria and initial technical design of suitable livelihood options, the Project JFPR 9160: Developing Sustainable Alternative Livelihoods in Coastal Fishing Communities in the Coral Triangle: Philippines (Balabac, Palawan) locally known as the Kabuhayang Alternatibo ng mga Mandaragat ng Balabac (KAMBac) has moved into the next phase of its community engagement.

to lend continuing support to the partner-stakeholders represented by the following: Municipal Agriculturist Manuel Redison, SB Agricultural Committee Chair Hon. Vicente Cerdan and Balabac National High School Principal Antonio Pungyan. Religious leader Hji. Jamael Kasim was also present to witness the event organized by the project implementation team from the Center for Environment Sustainable Development (CESD) headed by Livelihood Specialist Engr. Martin de Leon.

The gathering introduced to the LGU and the community, the partnership between the project and the representative households from barangays Agutayan, Catagupan, and Indalawan. It also highlighted the complementation efforts with the BNHS for

their K-12 agriculture and fisheries curriculum and their start-up organic vegetable and animal demo module. BNHS will serve as one of the project’s hubs for community learning.

JFPR 9160 or KAMBac Project is a shared commitment of the Local Government Unit of Balabac, the PCSD with the CESD with funding from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFRPR) through the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Japan Official Development Assistance (JODA). (ADB Press Release)

The initial batch of Project beneficiaries were selected based on consultations and the conducted community survey among more than 300 fishing households across 8 barangays. In attendance for the contract signing were: Galina Montica (Agutayan), Turingan Annahati (Catagupan), Edgar Balledo (Indalawan), Ramea Jerez (Catagupan) and the recently-engaged local KAMBac Project Field Assistants who will facilitate the process at the community level. (PHOTO//AGUSTINA FELISA ROQUE BASCO/ADB)


PCSD6 updates

the emphasis would be on high end coconut products such as coconut water, oil, sugar etc.

In Palawan, Batugal announced that FCDF is planning to implement the project in the Municipality of Rizal in Southern Palawan with tribal communities as beneficiaries. He revealed that they have already found investors who agreed to develop a total of 10,000 hectares for coconut plantation in the said town.

The project, which will kick off in May 2016, will last up to 25 years and can be renewed for another 25 years, Batugal said, adding that it will benefit around 2,000 households coming from three tribal communities/barangays in Rizal. Asked why they have chosen the said municipality, he described

Expert talks on developing a climate-smart village in Palawan

DR. PONCIANO Batugal, Director of the Philippines Coconut Authority (PCA) and the President and Board Chairman of the Farmers Community Development Foundation International (FCDF), gave a lecture to the Palawan Council for Sustainable Staff (PCSDS) about developing a climate-smart village.

Batugal delivered the lecture entitled, “Developing a Climate Change Preparedness Model to Reduce Poverty in Calamity-Prone Municipalities of the Philippines,” last April 8 at the PCSD Conference Room, PCSD Building, Bgy Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa City. This is part of the Ating Alamin Program of the PCSDS.

He said the model, which introduces agro-climate interventions, was successfully tested in towns of Guiuan and Salcedo in Eastern Samar which was devastated by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. The project was spearheaded by FCDF, a non-profit and non-stock organization through the financial support of Oxfam, a globally renowned aid and development charity.

Now, he said, the FCDF is planning on replicating the climate-smart village model in the coastal areas where

the tribal communities and the local government unit from barangay up to the municipal level as “proactive and supportive.”

As to complying the requirements with the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), he said they already secured the necessary requirements. “We also promised that we will provide technical and financial assistance for the concerned

focused his presentation on the Avifaunal diversity in the Talakaigan forest, which is also considered as an Important Bird Area (IBA).

Based on the 2009 Bird Survey, there were a total of 937 recorded birds in Talakaigan. These birds are classified into 72 species, of which 11 are endemic to Palawan.

He said there are two species which are sought after by the local buyers: the Philippine-endemic Blue-Naped Parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis) and Palawan-endemic Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa). The going rate for its nestlings in the area is P500 each or as dictated by the buyers, he added.

Excessive poaching, meanwhile, resulted to localized extinction of the critically-endangered Philippine

Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia) in the watershed, he noted.

Talakaigan is also home to a number of other faunal species endemic to the province, such as Palawan Stink Badger (Maydaus marchei), Palawan Porcupine (Hystrix pumila), Palawan Pangolin (Manis culionensis), Palawan Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes nigripes), Palawan bearded pig (Sus barbatus ahoenobarbus), Palawan Bearcat (Arctictis binturong whitei), among others.

Bernardo affirmed Sopsop’s warning, saying that if the forested area of VAMR will get diminished due to deforestation brought about by illegal logging, mining and forest fire, the endemic species will be the most affected.

Those issues and concerns have pushed Bernardo to recommend the conduct of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign to the target community to promote awareness

on wildlife diversity, its importance to our ecosystem and the human activities that pose danger to the wildlife.

He said the protection of the area’s wildlife could be achieved best through organizing a community-based wildlife conservation and protection task force that is coupled with sustainable livelihood. He added that regular wildlife monitoring in the area would also help. He suggested as well the strict enforcement of relevant forestry laws to stop the conversion of forested areas into oil palm plantation and others. - With reporting from Ramil Cyril Dacillo

Envi advoctes...<<PAGE 3

EXPERT TALKS>>PAGE 7

Dr. Ponciano Batugal, President and Board Chairman of the Farmers Community Development Foundation International (FCDF), explains the diagram of the agro-climate interventions they introduced in the pilot municipalities of Guiuan and Salcedo in Eastern Samar. (PHOTO//Celso S. Quiling/PCSDS EEED)


PCSDupdates 7season simula Oktubre 16 hanggang Disyembre 15. Gayunpaman, ipapatupad naman ang open season o ang panahon ng paghuhuli ng RFF simula Setyembre 1 hanggang Oktubre 15 at Enero 1 hanggang Hunyo 15. Ang mga nabanggit na petsa ay nakaangkla sa mga pag-aaral ukol sa panahon ng pangingitlog ng RFF.

Ayon kay Rodriguez, ang naturang polisiya ay inaprubrahan ng PCSD upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga reef-fish-for-food na makapagparami at maabutan pa ng susunod na henerasyon.

Lumalabas kasi sa isinagawang pag-aaral ng PCSDS at ng iba pang mga institusyon na papaunti nang papaunti ang huli nito dahil na rin sa overfishing at sa di-sustenableng uri ng pangingisda gaya ng cyanide fishing at iba pa na siyang nagiging sanhi naman ng pagkasira ng mga korales na nagsisilbing tirahan ng nabanggit na isda.

RESTRIKSYON SA SUKATKalakip din ng polisiya ang

probisyon ukol sa pagpapairal ng restriksyon sa sukat ng RFF na mahuhuli. Sa tatlong species ng RFF, tanging suno lang ang napaloob dito kung saan dapat di bababa sa 32 sentimetro at di lalampas sa 47.5 sentimetro ang maaaring hulihin sa ilang.

Kapag hinuli kasi ang malalaking suno, nababawasan ang potensyal ng mga species na ito na makapagparami pa, ayon kay Rodriguez.

Sa tantiya ng mga siyentipiko, ang isang suno na may sukat na 40 sentimetro ay kayang makapangitlog ng 350,000 itlog, habang ang 50 sentimetro naman ay kayang makapagprodyus ng isang milyon kapag panahon ng kanilang pangingitlog.

Sinasabi rin sa mga pag-aaral na ang suno na mas maliit sa 33 sentimetro

ay kakaunti lang ang naiproprodyus na itlog, habang ang iba nama’y hindi pa makapangitlog dahil hindi pa nagma-mature.

MGA KINAKAILANGANG PERMITIpinaalala rin ni Rodriguez na

kinakailangang kumuha ng Wildlife Collectors Permit (WCP) ang sinumang mangingisda na manghuhuli ng RFF.

Wildlife Special Use Permit (WSUP) naman ang kukunin ng mga traders, habang Wildlife Farm Permit (WFP) para sa mga gustong mag-culture nito, dagdag pa niya.

Local Transport Permit (LTP) naman aniya ang kailangan kung ibabyahe ang RFF mula Palawan patungo sa kahit anumang lugar sa Pilipinas. Kung ito ay ilalabas ng bansa, kinakailalangan namang kumuha ng Export Permit.

Ang lahat ng nabanggit na permit ay may katumbas na halaga at validity, at

<<FRONT PAGE

maaari lamang makuha sa PCSD.

KARAMPATANG PARUSAAng sinumang lumabag sa

alinmang probisyon ng polisiyang ito ay may karamptang parusa, ayon kay Rodriguez.

Ang lahat ng permit ay non-transferrable at kung sino man ang mapatunayang nagpahiram ng kanyang permit sa ibang tao ay mahaharap sa anim na buwang suspensyon o di kaya’y kanselasyon ng permit.

“Sa suspensyon, ito ay nangangahulugan ng anim na buwang hindi pwedeng mag-trade, mag-collect, mag-benta at mag-transport ng RFF,” ani Rodrguez.

Sang-ayon pa sa polisiya, maaari ring ipasara ang negosyo/establisyemento ng mga lalabag na traders, o di kaya’y maaari ring sampahan ng kasong kriminal bilang paglabag sa RA 9147 o Wildlife Act.

Para sa karagdagang impormasyon, mangyaring humingi ng kopya ng AO5 briefer sa PCSDS-EEED o di kaya’y sumangguni sa PCSD DMOs. Maaari rin kayong sumadya sa tanggapan ng PCSD sa Bgy Sta. Monica, Lungsod ng Puerto Princesa o tumawag sa aming telepono (048) 434-4235 o mag-email sa [email protected]

IEC ukol sa closed season...

Dinluhan ng mga mangingisda at mga nagbebenta ng reef fish sa Bgy. Panacan, Narra ang lektyur nitong Abril 14 patungkol sa nalalapit na implementasyon ng closed season para sa paghuhuli ng reef fish sa lalawigan. Ang nasabing seasonal control ay unang ipatutupad simula Hunyo 16 hanggang Agosto 31. (COURTESY//AI NHI R. TRUDEAU/PCSDS EEED)

Expert talks on developing...<<PAGE 6

communities to obtain a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT),” he added.

CADT “refers to a title formally recognizing the rights of possession and ownership of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples over their ancestral domains identified and delineated” in accordance with

the Republic Act No. 8371 or “The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997.”

Aside from Rizal town, Batugal added they are planning to expand the project in the municipalities of Quezon, Aborlan and Coron which will also benefit tribal minorities. - With reporting from Ai Nhi Trudeau


PCSDupdatesFOR THE SECOND YEAR in a row, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development and the Department of Community of Environment and Resource Management under the College of the Human Ecology of the University of the Philippines - Los Banos have partnered to conduct ECAN Planning Workshops in several townships in the province of Palawan. This is in line with mandate of the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan Act or R.A 7611.

The SEP Law calls for the establishment of a graded system of protection and development control over the whole of Palawan. This includes its tribal lands, forests, mines, agricultural areas, settlement areas, small islands, mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass beds and the surrounding sea. This system is called the Environmentally Critical Areas Network or ECAN, and serves as the main strategy of the SEP Law.

This year, the target study areas are the City of Puerto Princesa, the Municipality of Coron, and the Municipality of Busuanga. Participatory ECAN Resource Management Planning workshops were conducted in the said localities with the active participation of their respective local government units.

The objectives of the workshops are to (1) validate the existing drivers and pressures in each ECAN Zone (Core Zone, Buffer Zone and the Multiple

use Zone), (2) validate/recommend/propose actions to address specific drivers/pressures, (3) set priorities to be proposed for inclusion in the City/Municipality’s agenda through its Annual Investment Plan (AIP) and Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP), and (4) validate conformity of ECAN zones with current use

According to the Executive Director of PCSDS, Mr. Nelson Devanadera, the PCSD would like to mainstream ECAN and have all policies and decisions made by all agencies concerned to be science-

based, particularly in the development aspect of each locality.

“To understand and appreciate the SEP framework and the ECAN strategy and their importance to spatial use planning, we have to have an overview of sustainable development, biodiversity and ecosystem values of our target area. We also

need to emphasize on the importance of ECAN in relation to critical ecological, economic, socio-cultural and institutional challenges in Palawan,” said Devanadera.

The first workshop was conducted in Puerto Princesa City on April 15, the second was in the Municipality of Busuanga on April 25 and the last was in the Municipality of Coron on April 26.

“The intention of the workshops is to present a blue print that all similar developments in Palawan would be able to follow, to have it integrated in the comprehensive land and water use plans of the city and of all the municipalities, and also to strengthen the power of the ECAN Boards,” said Mark Ace dela Cruz, PCSD staff from the External Planning Section.

The information gathering was conducted by the graduating students of the College of the Human Ecology of UPLB. The students were divided into three groups and assigned to different areas. One group was assigned in Puerto Princesa City, another in Coron, and the third in Busuanga. For several weeks, they have visited and interviewed key government agencies to gather existing and valuable data. These data were then presented in the workshops and used as the bases of the ecological profile of their study area.

ECANizing PALAWANPCSD conducts participatory ERMP workshops in Puerto Princesa City, Coron and BusuangaBy Melo Ponce De Leon

PCSDS Exec. Dir. Nelson P. Devanadera gives the overview situation of sustainable development and biodiversity and ecosystem values in Puerto Princesa City during the ERMP workshop held at the New City Hall last April 15. (PHOTO//AI NHI R. TRUDEAU/PCSDS EEED)

Call for Papers:3rd PALAWAN RESEARCH

SYMPOSIUM 2016(National Research Conference on Sustainable Development)

September 15, 2016Puerto Pincesa City

For further details you may contact or visit us atECAN Knowledge Management Division, 2F PCSD Bldg.,

Bgy Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa CityEmail: [email protected] or [email protected]

Tel No: (048) 434 4235 or 09175391925Website: www.pkp.pcsd.gov.ph for templates of abstract,

extended abstacts or posters

I N S I D E I N S I D E I N S I D E PCSD APRIL 2016 ...pcsd.gov.ph/.../uploads/2016/05/PCSD-UPDATES-APRIL-2016-ISSUE.pdf · Philippines University (WPU) in Aborlan, Palawan. Discussions

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