The PCSD and its partners Geoscience Australia and University of Sydney, through the MRI Project, conducted a workshop to review and updated the Coastal-Marine Criteria of the ECAN in pursuance of the R.A. No 7611 on April 16-18, 2024 at the Hue Hotel and Resorts, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
This workshop gathered national government agencies, local government units, experts and stakeholders from relevant fields on coastal marine management and conservation to further improve the ECAN coastal-marine zoning guidelines and the corresponding policies that will be updated as guided by the outputs of the activity. Primarily, the workshop objectives were intended for the review of the proposed criteria from the draft 2016 revision of the PCSD Resolution No. 05-250 on the ECAN Zoning implementation and the draft 2024 proposed coastal-marine Core Zone Criteria commissioned by the MRI Project to the Australian βEarth to Ocean Consultingβ through Dr. Leanne Fernandes. Other relevant topics were also included during the workshop such as the appropriate treatment of the marine protected areas, ancestral domains/waters and other tenured areas vis-a-vis the ECAN coastal-marine zones guidelines by proposing revision on the criteria.
In contextualizing the workshop, presentations about the R.A. No. 7611, Marine Protected Areas in Palawan and ancestral waters were discussed among the attendees. Local MPA managers from Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape, and Apo Reef Park and representatives from LGUs of Culion, El Nido and Puerto Princesa also shared their experiences and best practices on marine zoning. Global practices on marine parks including zones, management and experiences in Australia were also presented, as well as geographic mapping for marine planning.
The MRI Project of PCSD, funded by the DFA and Trade-Australia started in 2022 through the leadership and supervision of Atty. Teodoro Jose S. Matta, MNSA, Executive Director of PCSDS. The MRI Project aims to forward Marine Spatial Mapping activities in the Province of Palawan and recently received an extension of project scope and implementation for another two years or up to 2026.