PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) -- The declaration of Lawak Island as a critical habitat strengthens the claim of the Philippines on its sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), says the provincial government of Palawan.

Palawan Gov. Dennis Socrates believes that the declaration on the bird sanctuary is just the beginning of the intervention at the provincial level to protect the environment and assert sovereignty in the territory.

“Simula lang ito, declaring it as a critical habitat is the beginning of other interventions to protect the environment, bird sanctuary. At the same time, DOTr has appropriated funds for the construction of a port sa Lawak Island na ang implementer ay ang provincial government,” he said.

[This is just the start, declaring it as a critical habitat is the beginning of other interventions to protect the environment, bird sanctuary. At the same time, DOTr has appropriated funds for the construction of a port on Lawak Island, whose implementer is the provincial government.]

The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) declared Lawak Island in Kalayaan as a critical habitat through PCSD Resolution No. 22-827 during the 293rd PCSD Regular Meeting on September 8, 2022. It was adopted by the Kalayaan LGU through Municipal Ordinance No. 95-2023, dated May 30, 2023.

The PCSD Resolution No. 13-481 contained guidelines for the establishment and management of critical habitats through a memorandum of agreement between the council and Kalayaan local government.

The ceremonial signing of the Lawak Island Critical Habitat (LICH) was attended by the Provincial Government of Palawan, PCSD, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-CENRO, and the municipality of Kalayaan in partnership with USAID-SIBOL.

Socrates considers that the provincial government should also come up with additional interventions. The Palawan government will be the implementer of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) port project at Lawak Island for tourists.

“We will make sure that the construction, existence of the port at Lawak Island will not disturb the birds na doon nananahan. Actually, migratory sila, doon pumupunta periodically,” he added.

[We will make sure that the construction, existence of the port at Lawak Island will not disturb the birds inhabiting there. Actually, they are migratory birds, they go there periodically.]

There is no discussion yet between the DOTr and the provincial government on the budget needed to implement the port project.

Some of the projects considered to be constructed in the municipality of Kalayaan include a school building and a covered court, which might be sourced from the special education fund of the provincial government. 

Socrates said it is half of the real property tax collected in Palawan.

“Dahan-dahan din dapat, ang importante kahit symbolically ay maipakita natin na atin ito. Somehow, mayroon tayong effective efforts to protect, develop little by little whatever there is to develop,” Socrates said.

[It should be done gradually; what is important is that, even symbolically, we can show that this is ours. Somehow, we have effective efforts to protect and develop little by little whatever there is to develop.]

Despite challenges in asserting the claim, Socrates views it as "historically interesting" to be involved in it. 

Kalayaan Mayor Roberto del Mundo also expressed his gratitude for the attention given to Lawak Island and the recognition of its ecological significance. 

“Ang pagdedeklara natin sa Lawak island ay napakaganda dahil napakaraming ibon don talaga— ang West Philippine Sea ay atin kaya nararapat na atin itong pangalagaan at protektahan,” he said.

[The declaration on Lawak Island is good because there are really lots of birds there—the West Philippine Sea is ours, so we should protect and conserve it.] (RG/PIA MIMAROPA - Palawan)

BANNER PHOTO FROM SPRATLY ISLANDS, KALAYAAN TOURISM FACEBOOK PAGE