SEP Caravan kicked off
As part of the year-long celebration of the 25th Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) Anniversary, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) has been conducting an information, education, and communication (IEC) caravan across the province. The IEC caravan is an activity organized by the PCSDS ECAN Education and Enforcement Division (EEED) in cooperation with the continue reading : SEP Caravan kicked off
Research Analyst of PCSDS EZM Coastal attends Nat’l MPA Forum
Carlos Alfredo A. Castillo, Research Analyst under the PCSDS ECAN Zone Management Coastal (PCSDS EZM Coastal), attended the Marine Protected Area (MPA) Forum organized by the MPA Support Network on February 16-19 in Cebu. Discussed in the forum were the following three self-assessment tools: Management Effective-ness Assessment Tool (MEAT); Socio-Economic Effectiveness Assessment Tool (SEAT); and continue reading : Research Analyst of PCSDS EZM Coastal attends Nat’l MPA Forum
Deputation training for Katala Foundation’s wildlife wardens held
Thirty wildlife wardens underwent a two-day Special Deputy Environment and Natural Resources Officers (SDENDRO) training in Barangay Iwahig, Puerto Princesa City. It was organized on February 6-7 by the Katala Foundation Inc. in cooperation with the PCSDS, through the ECAN Education and Extension (EEED). Said training was attended by the participants coming from the different continue reading : Deputation training for Katala Foundation’s wildlife wardens held
Shark, ray identification training conducted
A training on shark and ray identification was organized on February 11 at the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) Office to capacitate the enforcers and other technical staff of the PCSD and its partner agencies. Debra Abercrombie, a marine biologist from Stony Brook University and Abercrombie & Fish, who has been studying continue reading : Shark, ray identification training conducted
3,082 board feet of illegally gathered, possessed lumber confiscated
Enforcement authorities confiscated more or less 3,082 board feet of illegally gathered and possessed freshly cut Ipil, Amugis and Sakot lumber used for constructing five units of motor launch in Bgy. Sapa, Bataraza, Palawan on February 8. Persons allegedly involved were the following: Obong Mohamad, Dihing Alie, and Hayati Dugasan. The three violated Presidential Decree continue reading : 3,082 board feet of illegally gathered, possessed lumber confiscated
PCSDS Coastal Marine specialists gain insights from China’s mariculture
Three Coastal-Marine specialists of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff joined other Philippine delegates in a visit to the mariculture province of Guangdong, China on January 9-14. The representatives from the PCSDS were the following: John Francisco M. Pontillas, PCSDS Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN) Coastal Marine Supervisor; Glenda M. Cadigal, PCSDS ECAN Coastal continue reading : PCSDS Coastal Marine specialists gain insights from China’s mariculture
7 PH Cockatoos freed in Dumaran Island Critical Habitat
Seven Philippine Cockatoos or Katala as locally called were released back in the wild in Dumaran Island in northern Palawan on January 27. Five of these birds were rescued from starvation during the El Nino 2016 breeding season on the island itself and two were from Puerto Princesa City, according to the Katala Foundation Inc. continue reading : 7 PH Cockatoos freed in Dumaran Island Critical Habitat
Inclusion of livelihood projects, social entrep into PCSDS activities mulled
Consistent with the plan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) as a DENR-attached agency is mulling over the integration of livelihood projects and social entrepreneurship into its activities. This was shared by PCSDS Planning Officer Designate Ryan Fuentes following his attendance, along with PCSDS continue reading : Inclusion of livelihood projects, social entrep into PCSDS activities mulled
PCSDS ensures integration of ECAN into Busuanga’s CLUP
The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Busuanga is in the process of updating their Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) with the assistance of graduate students from the University of the Philippines School of Urban and Regional Planning (UP SURP). This is in consonance with the Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code that mandates continue reading : PCSDS ensures integration of ECAN into Busuanga’s CLUP
Support reef conservation, PCSD chair tells RFF industry
Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez has urged reef-fish-for-food (RFF) stakeholders to join the law enforcement authorities in their continuing crackdown on illegal fishing that destroys coral reefs and imperils the sustainability of their industry. Alvarez made the call on January 17, during the implementation review on the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Administrative Order No. 5 continue reading : Support reef conservation, PCSD chair tells RFF industry
Roxas ECAN Resource Management Plan affirmed
The Roxas ECAN Board endorses its’ ECAN Resource Management Plan during its meeting last September 13, 2016, at the DMO Meeting area, Roxas, Palawan. Mr. Ryan Fuentes, Head of the ECAN Planning Division of PCSDS presented the Plan before the Board. This will be endorsed to Sangguniang Bayan for approval. The Resource Plan contains the continue reading : Roxas ECAN Resource Management Plan affirmed
CLOSED SEASON, TAPOS NA!
Open season ipatutupad simula Setyembre 1 Nagtapos na nitong Myerkules, Agosto 31 ang closed season para sa reef-fish-for-food (RFF) sa Palawan, bilang bahagi ng implementasyon ng Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) Revised Admin Order No. 5, S. 2014. Pinasalamatan ni PCSD Executive Director Nelson P. Devanadera ang lahat ng sumuporta sa naturang polisiya dahil continue reading : CLOSED SEASON, TAPOS NA!
PCSDS nagsasagawa ng Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Survey sa buong Palawan
Kasalukuyang nagsasagawa ng Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) ng Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) Survey upang malaman ang pulso ng mga Palawenyo hinggil sa likas-yaman at kalikasan ng lalawigan. Katuwang ang 92 enumerators, nasa 15,000 survey forms ang ipinimahagi sa mga respondents sa 22 bayan ng lalawigan at lungsod ng Puerto Princesa. Sa pamamagitan nito, makakauha continue reading : PCSDS nagsasagawa ng Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Survey sa buong Palawan
Sawa na kumain ng manok sa isang sabungan, nahuli
Isang adult-size na Reticulated Python ang nahuli sa isang sabungan sa Bgy. San Jose, Puerto Princesa City nitong umaga ng Martes, Agosto 31. Sinasabing ang nasabing sawa ay nakakain nang manok na panabong dahilan para mapansin ito ng mga tao roon, ayon kay Michael Ello, myembro ng Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) Enforcement continue reading : Sawa na kumain ng manok sa isang sabungan, nahuli
Pagprotekta sa ‘Dungon’ ng Palawan isinusulong
NI EDUARDO CABRERA Isinisulong ngayon ng isang grupo ng kabataan ang pangangalaga at pagprotekta sa isang species ng hayop na sa buong Pilipinas ay tanging sa Palawan lamang matatagpuan. Ang Keep Otters in the Wild ay proyekto ng isang grupo ng mga kabataan na layuning itaas ang kamuwangan ukol sa Asian Small-clawed Otter (Aonyx cinereus). continue reading : Pagprotekta sa ‘Dungon’ ng Palawan isinusulong
Basic GIS Training for PCSDS, other partners conducted
About 24 representatives from the various divisions of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS), as well as from the local Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office attended the Basic Geographic Information System (GIS) on August 18-19 at the conference room of the PCSD Building, Bgy Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa City. The continue reading : Basic GIS Training for PCSDS, other partners conducted
Highest protection for Philippine Pangolin sought
A proposal for the up listing of Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis) from Appendix II to Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was presented recently by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) at a CITES meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand on August 1-5. continue reading : Highest protection for Philippine Pangolin sought
PCSDS, patuloy ang info campaign ukol sa open-closed season ng RFF
Ni Maria Janelle Rebusada Sa tulong ng mga opisyal ng iba’t-ibang purok, sitio at barangay sa lungsod ng Puerto Princesa, patuloy na isinagawa ng Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) ang pagpapalaganap ng kaalaman patungkol sa iniimplimentang seasonal control sa panghuhuli, pagbebenta, pag-culture at pag transport ng mga buhay-buhay o reef-fish-for-food (RFF), alinsunod sa continue reading : PCSDS, patuloy ang info campaign ukol sa open-closed season ng RFF
ZCR policy specialist attends Green Industry Conference in S. Korea
Cherryl Kho, IEC and Policy Specialist of the Zero Carbon Resorts project of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS), attended the Green Industry Conference at Ulsan, South Korea last June 28-30. Topics discussed were about the Korean Green Growth Strategy, Low Carbon Transport and Energy, the Circular Economy, Green Industry Index and Science continue reading : ZCR policy specialist attends Green Industry Conference in S. Korea
6-yr Coastal, Marine Env’t Rehab Program for Palawan pushed
Aimed at building the resilience of Palawan coastal ecosystems, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) has proposed recently a six-year Coastal and Marine Environment Rehabilitation Program. The P1.08-billion proposed project aims to protect, enhance, and rehabilitate the province’s coastal ecosystems to build resiliency to climate change, according to PCSDS Coastal and Marine Section continue reading : 6-yr Coastal, Marine Env’t Rehab Program for Palawan pushed
PCSDS proposes 6-yr forest regeneration program to halt forest loss in Palawan
In a bid to reverse the long-term decline of Palawan’s forest, a proposal on introducing a six-year forest regeneration project has been conceived recently by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS). A total of 189,504 hectares has been proposed by the PCSDS for reforestation. The PCSDS is the technical implementing arm of the continue reading : PCSDS proposes 6-yr forest regeneration program to halt forest loss in Palawan
Aborlan ECAN Board joins planting of 10,000 mangrove propagules
The ECAN Board in Aborlan town joined the community members in the planting of 10,000 propagules of mangrove at Sitio Tagbarungis, Barangay Ramon Magsaysay. The said mangrove planting on June 24 was the highlight of the town’s 1st Arbor Day celebration, an activity in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for continue reading : Aborlan ECAN Board joins planting of 10,000 mangrove propagules
3,417 board feet of abandoned Apitong and Amugis lumber recovered
More or less 3,417 board feet of abandoned Apitong and Amugis lumber were recovered on Monday, July 11 at Purok Pagkakaisa, Barangay Tabon in Quezon Town. The said lumber was discovered at around 2p.m. by the Provincial Law Enforcement Task Force (PLETF) thru the joint elements of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) continue reading : 3,417 board feet of abandoned Apitong and Amugis lumber recovered
623 board feet of Ipil lumber confiscated in San Vicente town
More or less 623 board feet of Ipil lumber were confiscated from a certain Arnel Palasan at around 1:30 a.m. Friday, July 8 in Barangay Port Barton, San Vicente town. The apprehension was launched by the Provincial Law Enforcement Task Force through the joint elements of PCSD Enforcement Team and Bantay Palawan. Criminal and/or administrative continue reading : 623 board feet of Ipil lumber confiscated in San Vicente town
1,603 board feet of Ipil lumber seized in Quezon town
More than 1,600 board feet of Ipil lumber were confiscated from three separate individuals in Quezon town on Wednesday, July 6. The apprehension that yielded a total of 1,603 board ft. Ipil lumber was done at around 8:51 p.m. at Sitio Ikba, Barangay Isugod, by the Provincial Law Enforcement Task Force through the joint elements continue reading : 1,603 board feet of Ipil lumber seized in Quezon town
5 apprehended for violating ‘closed season’ of reef-fish-for-food policy
Five individuals were apprehended in Brooke’s Point town on Wednesday, July 6 for possessing hundreds of live and fresh Suno even during the implementation of closed season for the catching of reef-fish-for-food (RFF) in Palawan. Caught off guard around 8:47 p.m. at Barangay Oring-oring were FBca ASNA-1 Boat Captain Julhari Hamdain and his crew members, continue reading : 5 apprehended for violating ‘closed season’ of reef-fish-for-food policy
Saving the Almaciga Tree, Saving the Future of Palawan’s Batak tribe
It is an ordinary day to wake up with the comfort of nature for the Batak community living at Sitio Kalakwasan, Bgy. Tanabag in northern outskirts of Puerto Princesa City. But on Monday, June 6 they considered it momentous as it was the day they all started to work hand-in-hand to breathe new life into continue reading : Saving the Almaciga Tree, Saving the Future of Palawan’s Batak tribe
PCSD UPDATES MAY 2016 ISSUE
Download Now!
Palawan governor visits proposed site of Tubbataha state-of-the-art ranger station
Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez made an ocular inspection Wednesday at the proposed site of the state-of-the-art marine ranger station that will be built adjacent to the current station on the shallow part of the North Atoll of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP). The plan to build a modern marine ranger station to replace the continue reading : Palawan governor visits proposed site of Tubbataha state-of-the-art ranger station
PCSD UPDATES APRIL 2016 ISSUE
Download Now!
Conference on Palawan’s Victoria-Anepahan Mountain Range set on April 22
A conference that will tackle the ecological and socio-economic value of and effective management framework for Victoria-Anepahan Mountain Range (VAMR) will be conducted on April 22 at the Western Philippines University (WPU) in Aborlan town. The conference aims to: (1) present the status of VAMR and draw feedback from stakeholders; (2) identify key threats and continue reading : Conference on Palawan’s Victoria-Anepahan Mountain Range set on April 22
ED Devanadera attends 4th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Peru
Nelson P. Devanadera, Executive Director of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS), represented Palawan BR, Philippines to the 4th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves (WCBR) in Lima, Peru on March 14-18. Devanadera was also invited to present during the parallel workshop on tourism and highlight Palawan BR as an example of sustainable tourism continue reading : ED Devanadera attends 4th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Peru
Nearly 500 sacks of abandoned mangrove tanbark recovered in Bataraza
Nearly 500 sacks of abandoned mangrove tanbark were recovered by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) Enforcement Team just this March 2016 in the southern town of Bataraza, Palawan. On March 15, the PCSD Enforcement Team recovered a total of 234 sacks of abandoned mangrove tanbark in a temporary stock area at Sitio Sayab, continue reading : Nearly 500 sacks of abandoned mangrove tanbark recovered in Bataraza
Villena attends Wildlife Trafficking Investigation Course in Bangkok
Atty. Adelina B. Villena, Director for Operations of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS), attended a Wildlife Trafficking Investigation Course at the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Bangkok, Thailand last February 29 to March 11. Villena was selected by the United States (US) Embassy in Manila to attend the said course which continue reading : Villena attends Wildlife Trafficking Investigation Course in Bangkok
Alvarez to DOE: Rush approval of renewable energy projects in Palawan
Palawan Governor Jose C. Alvarez appealed to the Department of Energy (DOE) to fast-track the approval of the applications for renewable energy (RE) projects in the province, and also to immediately cancel service contracts that are non-compliant to give other renewable companies the chance to apply. Alvarez made his appeal known before the representative of continue reading : Alvarez to DOE: Rush approval of renewable energy projects in Palawan
PCSD UPDATES MARCH 2016 ISSUE
Download Now!
PPSRNP, City ENRO join Palawan Knowledge Platform
The Palawan Knowledge Platform (PKP) for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development – a multi-agency sharing mechanism that endeavors to facilitate, coordinate, maintain, improve and enhance biological and socio-economic data and information in the province of Palawan – welcomes its newest members, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) and the City Environment and Natural Resources continue reading : PPSRNP, City ENRO join Palawan Knowledge Platform
1,200 board feet illegally cut assorted lumber recovered in Southern Palawan
About 1,200 board feet of suspected illegally cut assorted lumber were recovered in the southern municipality of Bataraza, Palawan by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) Enforcement Team. The assorted lumber were specifically recovered by the enforcement team at Sitio Unggong, Barangay Tagnato in the said municipality at around 1:30 a.m. of March 31, continue reading : 1,200 board feet illegally cut assorted lumber recovered in Southern Palawan
The Palawan Turtle Rescue
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in Turtle Survival magazine (December 2015) by the Turtle Survival Alliance.
PCSD UPDATES FEB 2016 ISSUE
Download Now!
Over 1,000 board feet of assorted lumber seized in Bataraza
About 1,021 board feet of assorted lumber without any permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) were confiscated by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) Enforcement Team on Monday, March 14 in Barangay Puring, Bataraza, Southern Palawan. The confiscated lumber was caught in the possession of illegal logging suspects Arthur Simpliciano, continue reading : Over 1,000 board feet of assorted lumber seized in Bataraza
400 sacks of abandoned mangrove tanbark recovered in Bataraza
About 400 sacks of abandoned mangrove tanbark were recovered by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) Enforcement Team in a temporary stock area at Sitio Sayab, Brgy. Tagnato, Bataraza, Palawan at around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 15. Surveillance revealed these tanbark sacks are regularly shipped out to Malaysia by different groups in Southern Palawan, continue reading : 400 sacks of abandoned mangrove tanbark recovered in Bataraza
World Pangolin Day 2016: Efforts to protect Palawan pangolin continue
The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS), the implementing arm of multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary body PCSD, continuously pursuing its initiatives to protect the Palawan-endemic Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis), which faces very high risk of extinction due to illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss caused by agricultural expansion and slash-and-burn farming. In an effort to continue reading : World Pangolin Day 2016: Efforts to protect Palawan pangolin continue
YEAR IN REVIEW: PCSD’S ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2015
Year 2015 has come and gone and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) has undeniably made the most of it! Last year was definitely a success as the PCSD Staff managed to review the impacts of R.A 7611 or the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan Act. Numerous remarkable achievements were also recorded in continue reading : YEAR IN REVIEW: PCSD’S ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2015
NEWSBITS: 222nd PCSD REGULAR MEETING
WHEN TO REMOVE CROCODILES FROM THE WILD? Dr. Terry Aquino, Biodiversity Management Bureau consultant of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-BMB), sat down with environmental authorities in Palawan and drafted a “Criteria for Removing Crocodiles from the Wild” during a consultative meeting on crocodile conservation last August 8, 2014. Conditions, which are all continue reading : NEWSBITS: 222nd PCSD REGULAR MEETING
Living with the crocodiles
BALABAC, PALAWAN – In coastal communities in Balabac, an island town in the southern tip of Palawan – Indo-pacific crocodiles or commonly called Salties are “king.” They make locals tremble in fear. When doing recreational swimming or fishing along the river or sea, everybody remains vigilant as, anytime, this creature may relentlessly consider them as continue reading : Living with the crocodiles
Palawan LGUs enjoined to promote conservation through flagship species
The local government units (LGUs) in Palawan are enjoined to identify flagship species that shall serve as emblem of conservation in its respective localities. Pursuant to Section 35 of RA 9147 or the Wildlife Resources and Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 which commits the LGUs to “initiate conservation measures for endemic species in their continue reading : Palawan LGUs enjoined to promote conservation through flagship species
Puerto Princesa’s Hundred Caves as eco-tourism site
How can this city of natural wonders conserve its Hundred Caves? The answer is simple and clear: Develop it for eco-tourism. A five-year management plan for the protection and conservation of Hundred Caves, a potential eco-tourism site in Barangay Tagabinet, Puerto Princesa City is now up for approval and adoption of the Palawan Council for continue reading : Puerto Princesa’s Hundred Caves as eco-tourism site
PCSDS gears up for SEP’s Silver Anniversary
The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS), the implementing arm of the multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary body PCSD, is preparing for the celebration of the silver anniversary of RA 7611 or the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan Act of 1992 on June 19, 2017. In connection, a resolution directing the creation of the organizing continue reading : PCSDS gears up for SEP’s Silver Anniversary
Stakeholders craft 5-year COMMPLAN
To popularize the sustainable development (SD) advocacy in the province, a Communication Planning Workshop for Palawan was conducted on January 26-27 at the Palawan Sustainable Development Training Institute (PSDTI) in Bgy Irawan, Puerto Princesa City. As the R.A. 7611 or the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan Act puts it, sustainable development is “the improvement in continue reading : Stakeholders craft 5-year COMMPLAN