As part of its ongoing community outreach initiatives, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS), through its ECAN Education and Extension Division (EEED), actively partnered with the Palawan National School (PNS) Youth for Environment in Schools Organization (YES-O), Puerto Princesa City Water District (PPCWD), and PLEASE Incorporated to foster environmental awareness and promote sustainable practices among PNS students during the recently concluded three-day Environmental Awareness Symposium held from January 28 to 30, 2026. The event took place at the PNS Gymnasium and was attended by students and teachers from Grades 7 to 12.
Spearheaded by PNS YES-O Adviser Shierlene Calanday, the symposium aimed to deepen the participants’ understanding of environmental issues while inspiring them to adopt sustainable behaviors.
John Carlo Roquid of PCSDS-EEED shared valuable insights on fundamental ecological principles and practical actions that the youth should embrace to become responsible stewards of the Palawan Biosphere Reserve (BR). He introduced the students to the various programs and initiatives implemented by PCSDS as the on-site Management Authority of the Palawan BR. Roquid encouraged active engagement in promoting the BR’s three core functions: environmental conservation, sustainable development, and logistic support. His presentation emphasized a collective call to action to safeguard the Philippines’ Last Ecological Frontier.
Complementing this, Edilberto Magpayo of PLEASE Incorporated, a non-governmental organization dedicated to environmental conservation, elaborated on ecological principles and inspired the youth to become passionate advocates for environmental protection and sustainable development.
Annilie Lagan of the Puerto Princesa City Water District (PPCWD) provided updates on the current status of the city’s water supply and underscored the critical importance of water conservation and watershed protection.
This collaborative partnership among PCSDS, PNS YES-O, PPCWD, and PLEASE Incorporated exemplifies the impact of community outreach in cultivating the next generation of environmental stewards. Through these united efforts, the future of Palawan as a Man and Biosphere Reserve remains bright and hopeful in the hands of our young guardians of nature.
