The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) has officially approved the declaration of the 97-hectare mangrove area covering Barangays Tagusao and Sowangan in the Municipality of Quezon, Palawan, as a Critical Habitat for the Indo-Pacific Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) during its meeting held today, October 24, 2025, at the PCSD-OED Conference Room.
The newly declared Tagusao-Sowangan Critical Habitat aims to ensure the protection and conservation of the endangered Indo-Pacific Crocodile, along with other notable and vulnerable species inhabiting the area, such as the Spotted Wood Owl, Grey-faced Buzzard, Palawan Flowerpecker, and Large Flying Fox.
The establishment of this Critical Habitat was made possible through community consultations, mapping, and boundary delineation, supported by Barangay Resolutions No. 23 s.. 2022 (Sowangan) and No. 49 s. 2022 (Tagusao), as well as the Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 2024-041 of Quezon endorsing the proposal.
This declaration, pursuant to Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, reinforces Palawan’s commitment as a UNESCO-declared Palawan Biosphere Reserve, where conservation and sustainable development go hand in hand to maintain harmony between people and nature.
