PCSD RESOLUTION NO. 16-568

“AMENDING SECTION 21 PARAGRAPH 3 OF PCSD ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 05, SERIES OF 2014, ALLOWINGALL OWNERS AND/OR OPERATORS OF FISH CAGES, EXCEPT THOSE WITH APPROVED HATCHERIES AND ONLY FOR HATCHERY-BRED SPECIES, TO OPERATE AND DISPOSE OF THEIR REMAINING STOCK IN THEIR CAGES UNTIL MARCH 31, 2017.”

WHEREAS, R.A. 7611, otherwise known as the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan, took effect on 19 June 1992, section 6 of which provides that the SEP shall serve as the framework to guide the government agencies concerned in the formulation of plans, programs and projects affecting the environment and natural resources of Palawan;

WHEREAS, Section 2 thereof declares the policy of the State to protect, develop and conserve its natural resources towards which, it shall assist and support the implementation of plans, programs and projects formulated to preserve and enhance the environment, and at the same time pursue the socioeconomic development goals of the country; that it shall support and promote the sustainable development goals for the provinces through proper conservation, utilization and development of natural resources to provide optimum yields on a continuing basis;

WHEREAS, this same law provides that the SEP shall have, as its general philosophy, the sustainable development of Palawan, which is the improvement in the quality of life of its people in the present and future generations through the use of complementary activities of development and conservation that protect life-support ecosystems and rehabilitate exploited areas to allow upcoming generations to sustain development growth;

WHEREAS, Section 16 thereof provides that the governance, implementation and policy direction of the SEP shall be exercised by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD);

WHEREAS, on July 3, 2001, Republic Act No. 9147, otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, was passed into law to carry out the declared policy of the State to “conserve the country’s wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainability”;

WHEREAS, Section 4 of the same law provides that the Council shall be the lead implementing agency in the Province of Palawan pursuant to Republic Act No. 7611 or the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan;

WHEREAS, Section 18 of said law provides that, for non-threatened economically important species, collection shall only be allowed when the results of the population assessment show that, despite certain extent of collection, the population of such species can still remain viable and capable of recovering its numbers;

WHEREAS, on October 28, 2014, PCSD Resolution No. 14-508 entitled “Approving the Revised Guidelines for the Regulation and Monitoring of the Catching, Trading, Culturing, Transporting and Exporting of Reef-fish-for-Food in the Province of Palawan further Amending PCSD Administrative Order No. 05” was passed;

WHEREAS,Section 21, paragraph 3 of PCSD Administrative Order No. 05, series of 2014 providing for the Transitory Provision states, to wit:

xxx                   xxx                   xxx

“All owners and/or operators of fish cages, except with the approved hatcheries and only for hatchery-bred fishes, shall be allowed to dispose of their remaining fishes in their cages, but in no case to be beyond two (2) year from the effectivity of this Order.”

xxx                   xxx                   xxx

WHEREAS, in a letter addressed to the PCSD Chairman, Hon. Jose Ch. Alvarez dated November 4, 2016, Hon. Romy L. Salvame, Municipal Mayor of Taytay, Palawan requested that the Transitory Provision provided above be extended until March 31,2017;

WHEREAS,in today’s regular meeting, considering the predicament of all owners and/or operators of cages in the Province of Palawan, the Council unanimously voted for the extension of the allowable period for the disposal of fishes in their cages to be until March 31, 2017;

WHEREFORE,above premises considered, Section 21, paragraph 3 of PCSD Administrative Order No. 05, series of 2014, is hereby amended to read as follows:

xxx                   xxx                   xxx

“All owners and/or operators of fish cages, except those with approved hatcheries and only for hatchery-bred species, shall be allowed to operate and dispose of their remaining stock in their cages until March 31, 2017.”

xxx                   xxx                   xxx

RESOLVED FINALLY, that copies of this resolution be sent to all Local Government Units and other concerned agencies and parties for information and guidance;

RESOLVED FINALLY, that copy of this resolution be publishedin a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Palawanand likewise be deposited at the Office of National Administrative Register at the UP Law Center, Diliman, Quezon City.

RESOLVED AND ADOPTED this 18^th day of November 2016 in Puerto Princesa City, Philippines.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

I hereby certify that the above-quoted resolution has been duly adopted by the PCSD on the 18^th day of November 2016 in Puerto Princesa City, Philippines.

NELSON P. DEVANADERA

                                                                                                     Secretary

ATTESTED BY:

JOSE CH. ALVAREZ
Chair, PCSD