𝐏𝐂𝐒𝐃 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐙𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐥 𝐍𝐢𝐝𝐨 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐎-𝐖𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐁𝐑 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚; 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐂𝐒𝐃𝐒.

𝐊’𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐢, 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 – Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) Vice Chairman and Board Member Hon. Ferdinand Zaballa presented yesterday, September 5, the pressing tourism issues besetting the environment of Palawan Biosphere Reserve such as El Nido, at the 11th Meeting of the UNESCO World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves (WNICBR).

In his presentation entitled: “Water Woes in Paradise: Unveiling the impacts and challenges of Tourism in Palawan Biosphere Reserve, Philippines,” Mr. Zaballa presented how the rise of El Nido tourism has resulted in economic benefits, but also poses grave environmental threats. However, he also underscored the collaboration and preventive mechanisms undertaken by the PCSD, Provincial Government of Palawan, the local government of El Nido, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Tourism (DOT), and other national government agencies, in collaboration with the private sectors, to curb it.

He specifically underscored the importance of regular coastal water quality monitoring, and the strict implementation of Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN) zoning by the PCSD and its stakeholders, pursuant to Republic Act 7611, which play a critical part in the conservation and protection efforts for the welfare of the El Nido biodiversity.

To collaborate and explore possible solutions to environmental woes facing the other Biosphere Reserves in other parts of the world, Mr. Zaballa also immersed himself with other representatives of different nationalities and backgrounds, paving the way for collaboration and togetherness in attaining shared environmental goals, reflective and consistent with the thrusts of WNICBR.

He also answered clarifications such as the role of the national government in solving the El Nido environmental problems, and the collection of environmental fees from tourists and locals in the municipality.

In 1990, UNESCO declared the province of Palawan as one of the Biosphere Reserves. As such, it is one of the science-for-sustainability sites and models of sustainable development in the region.

PCSD is the recognized Management Authority of the Palawan Biosphere Reserve.

The 11th Meeting of the WNICBR, which runs from September 3-8, is a convention of various representatives of UNESCO-designated biosphere reserves from all around the world, underscoring the significance of knowledge-sharing of the unique approaches and methods in strengthening coastal conservation among participating countries.

The event is being organized by the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Secretariat, the Great Sandy Biosphere Reserve (Australia), the Jeju Biosphere Reserve and the MAB National Committee of South Korea, the Menorca Biosphere Reserve Agency, and the National Parks Autonomous Agency (OAPN) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Environment of Spain. #PCSDNews#PCSDUpdates

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(K’Gari, Fraser Island, Australia – Kahapon, ika-5 ng Setyembre, ibinahagi ni Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) Vice Chairman at Board Member Hon. Ferdinand Zaballa, ang mga pangkalikasang isyung kinakaharap ng Biosphere Reserves sa Palawan katulad ng El Nido, sa 11th Meeting ng UNESCO World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves (WNICBR).

Sa presentasyon ni Hon. Zaballa: “Water Woes in Paradise: Unveiling the impacts and challenges of Tourism in Palawan Biosphere Reserve, Philippines,” ibinahagi niya ang mga benepisyo na dinala ng Turismo sa El Nido; maging ang mga problema na rin nito.

Subalit mariin din niyang ipina-alam ang mga hakbang ng PCSD, Provincial Government of Palawan, the local government of El Nido, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Tourism (DOT), iba pang national government agencies at pribadong sekto, upang solusyunan ang mga nasabing problema.

Ipinaalaam din niya ang importansiya ng tuloy-tuloy na coastal water quality monitoring ng PCSD, at ang pagpapatupad ng Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN) zoning nito, alinsunod sa Batas Republika Bilang 7611 o ang Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan Act, na importante sa pangangalaga at konserbasyon ng biodiversity ng El Nido.

Nakihalubilo rin si G. Zaballa sa iba’t-ibang representante mula sa iba pang Biosphere Reserves sa mundo, upang malaman ang kanilang sitwasyon; alinsunod sa layunin WNICBR. Isinagot din niya ang mga klaripikasyon sa gampanin ng gobyerno upang wakasan ang mga problemang pangkalikasan sa El Nido, at ang pangongolek ng “environmental fees” mula sa mga turista at lokal sa nasabing munisipalidad.

Idineklara ng UNESCO ang Palawan bilang isa sa mga Biosphere Reserves sa Pilipinas noong 1990. Dahil dito, ito ay binagsagan ng isa sa mga science-for-sustainability sites at modelo para sa sustainable development sa rehiyon, na patuloy na pinangangalagaan ng PCSD (Management Authority).

Ang 11th Meeting of the WNICBR ay isang pagpupulong ng mga “UNESCO-designated biosphere reserves” mula sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo, nag-uusap at tinatalakay ang mga problemang pang-tubig ng mga Biosphere Reserves, upang mapatibay ang pangangalaga dito.

Ito ay kasalukuyang inorganisa ng UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Secretariat, the Great Sandy Biosphere Reserve (Australia), the Jeju Biosphere Reserve and the MAB National Committee of South Korea, the Menorca Biosphere Reserve Agency, at ng National Parks Autonomous Agency (OAPN) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Environment of Spain, mula ika-3 hanggang ika-8 ng Setyembre.)