PCSD, protecting Palawan BY BMPLUS | JULY 14, 2021

When Republic Act 7611 or the Strategic Environment Recently, the ECAN maps of Palawan’s municipalities of
Plan (SEP) for Palawan became a law, the province Quezon and Bataraza, known to be economically
acquired a strong foundation for clear policies on the dependent on mining, were submitted for amendment.
protection of the environment – Palawan being touted as
The requested updates in the zoning classifications of
the country’s “last biodiversity frontier”.
the maps are seen as can potentially allow the
SEP then created the Palawan Council for Sustainable expansion of mining activities in the areas.
Development (PCSD) giving the local government of
Upon scrutiny of all factors presented, the updates to
Palawan direct jurisdiction over its natural resources.
ECAN map will be approved by the PCSD if the council
The agency is seen driving the efforts to uphold and deems them consistent with what are prescribed in SEP
implement sustainable development in Palawan, taking law and other current guidelines.
advantage of newly-available scientific data, while
While some dissent against mining is expected, the fact
establishing a system that controls, protects and
that environmentally sound mining practices (or
develops Palawan’s natural resources.
responsible mining) exist should also be considered.
Two contentious national issues push the role of PCSD
According to Sec. Harry Roque, Presidential
under the microscope – one, that some of the province’s
Spokesperson, a recent visitor to Rio Tuba Mining in
fishing grounds, particularly in Kalayan, form part of
Palawan, “in a period of economic struggle, responsible
the West Philippine Sea; PCSD is highly involved in
mining should be treated as a promising economic
addressing the security and development concerns on
contributor that can bring development especially to the
the West Philippine Sea as it believes that the matters
local communities where economic stimulus is needed
relating to the WPS are crucial to the well-being of
the most.”
Palawan, as well as national security and development.
Roque says, that when done responsibly and within the
The second contentious issue that PCSD has to address
bounds of existing laws, mining is socially and
arise from the new policy pronouncements on mining
economically beneficial both to the local and national
agreements.
economy.
The PCSD’s position of balancing interests between
Based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority
economic growth and sustainable use of our natural
(PSA), Philippines is one of the world’s richly-endowed
resources is an extraordinary feat laudable in the midst
countries in mineral resources.
of health crisis and economic frailties.
In fact, the national government recently acknowledged
According to Atty. Teodoro Jose Matta, Executive
the significant economic benefits of the mining industry
Director of PCSD, “on Palawan’s shoulders lie that task
when it issued Executive Order No.130 on April 14,
of showing how to strike a balance between the desired
2021, effectively lifting the moratorium on mineral
social and economic growth and the preservation of the
agreements.
country’s natural resources.”
If there is one place where the proper balancing of
Atty. Matta explains that PCSD develops methods in
interests should be done, it is in the Province of
order to achieve this “balance”.
Palawan.
One method is the Environmentally Critical Areas
And the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development
Network (ECAN), which provides a graded system of
is determined to achieve just that.
protection and development control over the terrestrial,
coastal and marine components of the province.