NEWS

By Rachel Ganancial | Philippine Information Agency | February 14, 2025

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) – The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) plans to run the first phase of the carrying capacity study on mining operations in southern Palawan by the second quarter this year to help identify the limits to mining in the province.

PCSD spokesperson Jovic Fabello said the Council has commissioned the University of the Philippines-Los Baños School of Environmental Science and Management (UPLB-SESAM) to conduct the study.

The fund of P5 million for the first phase of the study will come from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) of P5 million for the first phase.

The result of the scientific study will guide decision-makers such as in the implementation of the mining moratorium and other policy formulation.

“Ang carrying capacity studies ay site-specific, hindi siya buong Palawan, hindi pwede buong south. Pwede sigurong magsimula sa Brooke’s Point area kasi ‘yon ang area in question ngayon. Maraming aspects ‘yan, may environment, social, economic,” he said.

In this study, PCSD will focus on the impact on soil or the environment and on how many places still have the capacity for mining operations. The first phase of the study will run for eight months.

A couple of years ago, PCSD had already made initial talks with UPLB, wherein the latter’s initial price stipulated for conducting the study reached P20 million. However, the amount will still not be enough for the whole study to be completed, Fabello added, expecting that the study would reach up to four phases.

PCSD emphasized the need for all agencies to work on facilitating the study.

The carrying capacity studies have long focused more on Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) and other tourism sites. The conduct of a study for mining operations remains timely, especially at a time when the province is discussing a 25-year moratorium on endorsing mining applications, he said.

The study will benefit Palawan’s mining and other extractive industries. PCSD aims to also facilitate its proposed carrying capacity study on non-metallic mineral quarries for each municipality.

“Sa ngayon nagrereklamo tayo, bumabaha. Gusto ng mga pultiko i-dredge ang ilog pero ano ba talaga ang problema? Gusto natin tingnan ‘yon kaya dapat malaman din natin. But for mining, makikita natin–tingin ko kasi sa Brooke’s tama na ‘yong existing, tingin ko lang personally pero tingnan natin kung ano ang makikita ng scientist na magka-conduct ng CarCap,” he said.

PCSD was established through Republic Act No. 7611, known as the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for the Palawan Act. It issues a Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) clearance, which is needed for the DENR to release an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for a mining permit.

After completing the first phase in eight months, PCSD will need about P15 million to continue the study, which is expected to run for about four to five years if the funding is secured.

The Council expects to solicit financial support from the provincial government of Palawan through the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund. The result of the study will also generate data on soil, people, and activities on the ground that would be helpful for disaster risk management, Fabello added.

Source: Philippine Information Agency

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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