Palawan government belies environmental group’s raps

The provincial government of Palawan has denied allegations of a community-based environmental group that illegal logging and illegal fishing have resurfaced in Puerto Princesa City and in other parts of the province.

"It is very easy to issue sweeping statements and paint a bleak and dark picture of the state of Palawan’s environment but that is far from the truth," said provincial information officer Rolando Bonoan Jr., in reaction to the accusations of Bantay Puerto Foundation.

Bonoan said the administration of Gov. Joel Reyes "is conscious of its responsibilities as far as the protection and conservation of Palawan’s environment is concerned."

"We have not been remiss in our tasks," he added.

Three weeks ago, Reyes, according to Bonoan, launched a reinvigorated environmental program, called Kilusan Sagip Kalikasan, which will enforce environmental laws and deter illegal activities that damage the environment.

Under the program, alternative livelihood activities for both upland and coastal villagers will also be pursued.

Meanwhile, Bonoan clarified that pictures used by Bantay Puerto Foundation supposedly showing the "slaughter" of caballero trees along the road leading to the public market in Puerto Princesa "do not actually represent the areas."

The caballero trees, he said, have not been cut down, as Bantay Puerto claimed. What were felled, he said, were not yet fully grown ipil-ipil and kakawate trees in a different site.

For his part, Puerto Princesa Mayor Dennis Socrates said he has directed his administration’s Ingat Kagubatan and Ingat Karagatan groups to vigilantly pursue illegal loggers and fishermen using illegal fishing methods.