Purpose
- These rules prescribe the procedures and guidelines for the implementation of Republic Act No. 7611 (SEP for Palawan Act).
- Aim to ensure compliance with the Act and achieve its objectives.
Declaration of Policy
- The State commits to protect, develop, and conserve natural resources.
- Supports environmental plans that align with socio-economic development.
- Promotes sustainable development through proper conservation and utilization.
- Imposes a total commercial logging ban as a forest conservation measure.
- Establishes institutional mechanisms, including fiscal programs, to support implementation.
- Encourages participation from all sectors of society in natural resource management.
Scope of Application
- Applies to SEP implementation in Palawan.
- Guides local governments, residents, national and non-government agencies involved in plans affecting Palawan.
Interpretation and Construction
- Any doubts in interpretation are resolved in line with the Declaration of Policy.
Definition of Key Terms
- Palawan: Philippine province with defined geographical coordinates.
- Sustainable Development: Improvement in quality of life balancing development and environmental protection.
- Natural Resources: Life-support systems and useful products such as minerals, forests, wildlife, etc.
- Tribal Land Areas: Territories traditionally occupied by cultural minorities.
- Environmentally Critical Areas: Ecologically fragile terrestrial, aquatic, and marine areas needing special protection.
- Participatory Processes: Inclusion of key development sectors from grassroots to national government in planning.
- Conservation: Wise use assuring regeneration and continuous benefit.
- Ecology: Interactions among organisms and their surroundings.
- Commercial Logging: Cutting trees from old growth/residual forests for profit.
- SEP: Strategic Environmental Plan.
- ECAN: Environmentally Critical Areas Network.
- EMES: Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation System.
SEP as Framework for Development
- SEP is the framework guiding government agencies in plans affecting Palawan's environment and resources.
- Incorporated into the Regional Development Plan of Region IV.
- Local governments and agencies must coordinate and align projects and budgets with SEP.
- Local governments ensure NGOs and private sector plans conform with SEP objectives.
Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN)
- ECAN is a graded system of protection and control over Palawan's environment.
- Objectives include forest conservation with a total commercial logging ban in maximum protection areas, watershed protection, biological diversity preservation, tribal people protection, sustainable yield maintenance, rare species protection, research and education, tourism.
- ECAN includes terrestrial, coastal/marine zones, and tribal ancestral lands.
- Reclassifications allowed based on scientific studies and complementary laws.
Terrestrial Component
- Includes mountains, ecologically important lowlands.
- Subdivided into:
- Core Zone: Maximum protection; human disruption prohibited except minimal traditional tribal uses; areas above 1,000 meters, natural forests, endangered habitats, culturally significant sites.
- Buffer Zone: Lands from 100-1,000 meters; regulated use. Subdivided into:
- Restricted Use Area: Limited non-consumptive activities; altitude 500-1,000 m.
- Controlled Use Area: Outer barrier; controlled mining, logging (non-profit), tourism, research allowed; altitude 100-300 m.
- Traditional Use Area: Edges of intact forests with stabilized traditional land use.
- Multiple/Manipulative Use Zone: Modified landscapes where intensive use like agriculture, infrastructure, tourism allowed.
Coastal/Marine Component
- Covers coastline to open sea.
- Management philosophy based on local community access and responsibility.
- Subdivided into:
- Coastal Core Zone: Sanctuary areas free from human activity (rare species, coral reefs, mangroves).
- Multiple Use Area: Areas for compatible human activities like artisanal fishery, tourism, mariculture, education.
Tribal Ancestral Lands
- Areas traditionally occupied by cultural minorities, both land and sea.
- Zoning considers cultural needs through consultation and cultural mapping.
- Managed under same graded control system as other zones with stronger cultural emphasis.
Management of Resources Outside ECAN
- Council designs management systems for resources outside Environmentally Critical Areas.
- Includes coastal resources, catchment areas, timber, mines, lowlands development, tourism planning.
Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation System (EMES)
- EMES established to generate reliable data for SEP concerns.
- Includes laboratory for water and soil analysis, community listening posts, and Philippine Environmental Impact Assessment integration.
Environmental Research
- Council Staff's Scientific Committee conducts surveys, monitoring, research.
- Research covers physical, biological, policy, and socio-economic issues.
- Translates research findings into action-oriented recommendations.
Environmental Education and Extension
- Programs include information campaigns, training (formal and informal), and community mobilization for participatory process.
Community Support
- Council Staff conducts regular public consultations.
- Establishes grassroots planning systems involving affected communities.
Administrative Machinery: Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD)
- Composed of government officials, representatives from NGOs, business sector, military, and local government.
- Private sector reps serve as organizational heads with residency, moral character, and service track record requirements.
- Powers include: policy formulation, rule promulgation, plan integration, personnel appointment, funding arrangements, contract negotiations, license approval or suspension recommendations, and legislative endorsement.
- May create committees.
- Members serve by virtue of their position or a one-year term.
- Hold regular monthly meetings with quorum rules.
- Compensation includes per diems and allowances with specified caps.
- Elects Chairman and Vice-Chairman with defined powers and duties.
Council Officers and Roles
- Chairman presides over meetings, enforces rules, negotiates funding, signs contracts, and promotes local participation.
- Vice-Chairman assists and acts for Chairman if absent or incapacitated.
- Executive Director serves as Council Secretary.
- Council’s seat is in Puerto Princesa City.
- Official seal symbolizes progress, sea, forest, fertile soil, and people.
Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS)
- PCSDS is the professional support staff independent of other agencies except the Council.
- Absorbs assets and functions of Palawan Integrated Area Development Project Office.
- Functions include planning, research, rulemaking, technical assistance, resource management, enforcement, and funding sourcing.
Executive Director Duties
- Oversees PCSDS operations and administration.
- Implements Council policies.
- Signs contracts for internal operations.
- Represents Council in government dealings and legal proceedings.
- Signs appointments subject to civil service laws.
Council Staff Employment
- Subject to civil service laws with security of tenure.
- Employees absorbed from previous office continue duties.
- Members’ personal office employees hold office at pleasure of their appointing member.
Core Staff Services
- Employs Legal Officer, Technical Assistant, Secretary to support Council.
Transitional Provisions
- PCSDS continues coordination and monitoring of related development projects.
Separability Clause
- Invalidity of parts does not affect remaining provisions.
Effectivity
- Rules take effect 15 days after filing with the University of the Philippines Law Center.