“A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE MT. MANTALINGAHAN PROTECTED AREA LANDSCAPE “

WHEREAS, the South Palawan Planning Council (SPPC), formerly called the Mt. Mantalingahan Management Task Force, was organized by virtue of Provincial Executive Order No. 10, series of 1998 and Provincial Executive Order No. 24, series of 2001, to enable the local government units to undertake measures to protect, conserve and manage the natural resources and promote socio-economic development in Mt. Mantalingahan area;

WHEREAS, throughfyough technical assistance from the Palawan Tropical Forestry Protection , a management strategy for Mt. Mantalingahan Range was formulated pursuant to its declaration by PCSD on March 30, 2001 as special management area within the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan Act;

WHEREAS, in 2003, SPPC sought further support from the Conservation International towards the establishment of Mt. Mantalingahan as protected area;

WHEREAS, presented before the Council on March 23, 2007 is the proposed Mt. Mantalingahan Protected Landscape, which aims to promote and conserve its natural resources and improve the quality of life of the communities therein through sustainable development;

WHEREAS, the proposed coverage of the protected area within the municipalities of Bataraza, Brooke’s Point, Sofronio Espanola, Quezon and Rizat in southern Palawan;

WHEREAS, after the Council Staff has reviewed and evaluated the submitted documents, the Staff recommends its approval, subject to the following conditions: (1) redefinition of the boundaries of the proposed protected area to include all identified core and restricted use zones within the Mantalingahan Range based on the ECAN Zones Map of the concerned municipalities, (2) in the detailed management zoning, consider the LGU-adopted and PCSD-approved restricted use and controlled use zones, and not merely the existing uses as identified by the local communities, (3) the management plan to be prepared should provide for the treatment of ancestral land claim and the IP’s within the protected area; and (4) harmonize the relevant provisions of the SEP, NIPAS, and 1PRA laws in the establishment of the protected area to ensure the effective management thereof;

WHEREFORE, upon motion duly seconded, the Council resolves, as it is hereby resolved to approve the proposal to establish the Mt. Mantalingahan Protected Landscape, subject to revision with the end view of incorporating the aforementioned conditions;

RESOLVED FINALLY, that copies of this resolution be furnished the honorable municipal mayors of the Municipalities of Bataraza, Brooke’s Point, Quezon, Sofronio Espanola and Rizal, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Conservation International.

I hereby certify that the above-quoted resolution has been duly approved and adopted by the PCSD on 27^th July 2007 at Puerto Princesa City.

Certified True and Correct: ROMEO B. DORADO Secretary

APPROVED : MARIO JOEL T. REYES Chairman

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