Palawan is the largest province in the Philippines with an area of 1,489,655 hectares equivalent to 31% of the total land area of Region IV or representing 5% of the country’s local territory. It is dubbed as the Philippines’ “Last Ecological Frontier”. It comprises 1,780 islands and islets with 1,959 kilometers of irregular coastline, with 9,900 sq. km. coral reefs (excluding Kalayaan Island), resulting in numerous coves and bays follow-on to 176 fishing grounds and most notable are Malampaya Sound in the municipality of Taytay, Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa City, Coron Bay, Bacuit Bay in El Nido, Sulu Sea, Kalayaan and Tubbataha as the largest fishing ground with 33,200 hectares.
About 1.5 Million hectares in land area thus geographically situated in a world known as the “coral triangle” and lies along the Sunda shelf where the rich biodiversity in the world can be found. However, nature of Palawan can be considered fragile from its attribute such as its narrow mainland, composed of small islands and steep topography, high erodible soils with small watersheds and short rivers and the soil geology is impermeable.
Due to Palawan’s uniqueness, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), declared it as a “Man and Biosphere Reserve” owing to its vast land area and topography divided by tall mountains ranges such as Mt. Mantalingahan, Mt. Gantung in the southern part and Cleopatra’s Needle in the northern part of the province with an average elevation approximately 1,100 meters. Palawan is also the home of three (3) major indigenous communities namely: Batak which can be located in the central and northern part, Tagbanua in the central, northern and southern part and Pala’wan in the southern part of the province.
Palawan comprises of the following biodiversity:
15 lakes, 42 ponds, 44 waterfalls, 72 natural springs, 9 mineral springs, 28 principal rivers, 43 streams and 165 creeks identified as potential sources of water for domestic consumption and irrigation.
Composed of approximately 690,000 hectares of terrestrial forest
With 42,500 hectares of mangrove forests, having 31 species and 90% of the known mangrove species in the country
Palawan has 13 out of the 16 sea grasses that can be found in the country 
8 of the 11 amphibians endemic to the Philippines are found only in
Palawan
279 species of birds are found in Palawan and 27 are endemic to the country
15 of the 25 marine mammals in the Philippines are found in Palawan
58 species of terrestrial mammals are recorded and 19 or 33% are endemic to the country and 16 are restricted to the Mantalingahan Range
Composed of 24 endemic reptiles and 69 species are found in the corridor
4 of the 5 marine turtles are found in Palawan
379 species of corals found in Palawan and 82% of the total coral species recorded in the country
2 World Heritage Sites:
Tubbataha Reef in the municipality of Cagayancillo
Puerto Princesa National Subterranean River in the City of Puerto Princesa
Source: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund Identification of Bio-diversity Hotspot.
Palawan is said to have abundant mineral resources such as marble, silica, limestone, nickel, chromites, copper, iron, pyrite, sulphur, guano and rock phosphates, mercury, gold manganese and oil, strategically located in the entire island province.
In 1991, the Philippine Congress recognizing Palawan’s environment as very critical passed a special law for Palawan through Republic Act 7611or The Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan Act, which became the fundamental law governing Palawan’s natural resources and its framework for development direction. Its strategy for implementation is the delineation of the Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN) composed of the terrestrial or forestlands, the marine or coastal area, and the tribal or ancestral lands. In the SEP manuscript, it was actually mentioned that: “many mine sites straddle major catchments or are dangerously close to ecologically fragile shore and in-shore of marine zones”.
Several studies conducted by local and international geological organizations have shown that the entire mainland Palawan is resting on granitic continental crust and part of the continental block that is geologically vulnerable. Thus, if mining activities in Palawan increases, it could pose serious negative impacts in catchments, shore areas and in the total topography of the province.
Cynthia Evangelista said,
July 4, 2009 at 6:57 am
I am interested in the conservation and protection of the Cycas Wadei and its habitat in the small island of Culion, a former leper colony in the Philippines. According to the IUCN 2009 Red List classification of the taxon, it was changed from Endangered to Data Deficient.
I started an initiative to save and protect the Culion Pitogo as it is locally known. I asked the support of the Culion on line Group, whose members were born in Culion or became connected to the island. I wrote a plea to the Mayor of the town to pass an ordinance to create the habitat as a protected area. The residents of the island joined me by signing the petition. I wrote to the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Chairman Governor Joel Reyes for assistance but received no response yet.
According to the World Wildlife Fund article titled “Palawan Rainforest,” the entire Palawan province was declared a biosphere reserve in 1990. Even the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization declared the province as “Man and Biosphere Reserve.” Palawan nestles 232 endemic species, one of the highest densities of unique species in the world. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species strictly prohibits commercial export or trade of the Cyvas Wadei. In 2005 the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines classified the flora as an endangered species. In President Arroyo’s speech during the signing of the General Appropriations Act of 2008 she stated “We must be careful stewards of our natural environment. Our environment is God-given. We must not abuse what God has created.”
It has been noted that the habitat has been fenced and claimed by private individuals. Animals grazed on the land. There is no Fire Marshal or Fire Department to safeguard the habitat against forest fires. The pitogos make exotic ornamental floras so they had been uprooted from the habitat and moved somewhere. People are unaware of their endangered status. There is no protection or conservation program in place to conserve the Cycas Wadei by the government or other private groups. If nothing is done the Cycas Wadei will be extinct sooner or later.
What else can we do to save the Cycas Wadei?
Respectfully,
Cynthia Evangelista
90-25 185 St.
Hollis, New York 11423
Mickel Ollave said,
July 18, 2009 at 10:38 am
Hello Ms. Cythia
Good day!..
I’m Mickel Ollave 23, an ordinary youth from Palawan with a deep concern for our environment especially Palawan, i haved read your comment dated July 4 2009 regarding the protection and conservation of Cycas wadei which manifest your concern about the environment. We have both the same interest to protect and conserve with what is left and what is becoming threatened to become extinct. Actually i’m in a process of establishing an NGO that will advocate to protect and conserve Palawan rich Biodiversity through youth and community empowerment. Due to some factor/s, courage to pursue, ideas, people to support, resources and financial it’s hard for me to realize my endeavor.
I am writing this hoping that we will be possible partners in initiating and realizing our effort and dreams to conserve and protect Palawan rich biodiversity..
Hoping to hear from you..
Godbless and Thank you!..
Environmentally yours,
Mickel Ollave
Zone 3 Purok Abanico Bgy. San PEdro
Puerto PRincesa City
Palawan Philippines 5300
Feel free to contact me…
Mobile #: +639107154516
Email: miCam2112@yahoo.com
Mickel Ollavr said,
August 8, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Hello mam cynthia!
Good day!..
First of all i want to thank you for your effort to call me all the way from New York and sorry for my “carabao english” during our conversation in the phone..Is just that i’m not pretty well in oral English.I find it hard to communicate orally using english..I’m more comfortable and a little well in written English..hehe..soorry po..Anyway i’ll be willing to volunteer on whatever activity you’ll be planning to do here in Palawan especially in Culion..And for the brochure you’re producing/printing there, i’ll be willing to offer time and effort to distribute it here, please send me brochures..
And (Pakapal na ako ng mukha..hehe) i also wanted to grab this oppurtunity to solicite help, whatever help you could extend to us..I’m also an active member of our Catholic community (Holy Infant Jesus chapel under SAN PEDRO PARISH) in our BArangay here in PuertoPRincesa City PAlawan as a Chapel Youth Coordinator and a choir member. Presently we are in process of rebuilding/reconstructing our Chapel due to its delapidated condition.We are now having fundraising projects. But still not enough.
Whatever help (e.g ideas on fundraising, in-kind donations( steel bars,cement bags, nails and any construction materials you could give..
Thank you and GODbless!!!
Regards to your Son Mickel and to all your family members..
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver”.
2 Corinthians 9:7
Cynthia Evangelista said,
August 9, 2009 at 11:24 pm
Cycas Wadei: Can it be saved?
“In this day and age, however, we have come to realize that conservation no longer has the luxury to single out one species and focus all efforts on saving it,” wrote Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan CEO/Vice-Chairman, Board of Trustees WWF Philippines as a response to my quest on how to save the Cycas Wadei of Culion, Palawan Philippines. I emailed other organizations like the Cycads Society, the Cycads Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, World Wildlife Fund, Department of Energy and Natural Resources of the Philippines and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Chairman and Palawan Governor Joel Reyes. I reached out to the Medical Director of Culion General Hospital Dr. Arturo Cunanan, Vice-Mayor Dr. Paul Evangelista, other local government officials and other concerned citizens of Culion, Palawan, where the Cycas Wadei is endemic. I tirelessly searched the net if there is an ongoing program for the Cycas Wadei. I finally initiated a campaign in New York City to save the Cycads Wadei of Culion, Palawan through the help of my friends on Culion Online Group.
The Culion Pitogo, as it is locally known, is found in the cogonal areas of Quezon, Dita and Patag of the historic leprosy segregated colony in Culion, Palawan. Oblivious to the residents that the cycad is endemic and endangered to their idyllic island, they are also unfamiliar to its looks and beauty. The creation of Culion as a municipality was signed by the former President C. Aquino in 1992 but the shift in administrative governance and authority from the Department of Health to the local government came into realization in 1998. Culion is back in a spotlight not as a leprosarium but an ideal and peaceful residential haven. The residents were allowed to apply ownership of lands and properties.
With the sudden rise in population, the Pitogo habitat locations were fenced as residential areas. The other habitat locations became grazing lands for the animals after deliberately burning the dry cogons. Unfortunately this picturesque haven has no fire department or fire marshal to boast. Unabashed extraction of the Pitogo was engineered by the few individuals who were aware of the horticultural elegance and value of the plant and brave enough to ignore transport restrictions by the CITES and Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureaus of the Department and Energy and Natural Resources.
Since 1997 there were no inventories done for the flora nor was any program created to protect and propagate it. As Tom Broome wrote on Cycad Conservation Website, ” There are many people throughout the world that are doing their part to promote the cycad conservation in their own way. No matter what your forte may be, we can all do our part in the task to conserve the cycads. If we all work together, and do what is best for the cycads, world cycad conservation can become a reality.” It does not matter if you are hundred of miles away, you can still help in your own little way to save one cycad or many.
Cynthia Marquez-Evangelista
Glen A. de Castro said,
August 12, 2009 at 9:43 am
Dear Ms. Evangelista:
I am Glen de Castro, working as an interim executive director of an NGO called TagBalay Foundation in Puerto Princesa. Together with other conservation groups in the province, we are currently developing activities aimed at protecting not only the city but the whole province as well. If you want, we can include you in the loop in developing concepts and project ideas in Palawan. One could be specifically focused on Cycas Wadei. We can also link you up with other groups here like Haribon Foundation, Conservation International and of course, other local NGOs (if PNNI hasnt done it yet
.
Send me an email if you are interested in becoming part of the loop and we’ll share with you our other plans (glen.adc@gmail.com). thanks.
glen
john lisboa said,
August 13, 2009 at 6:17 am
Dear Mr. Glen,
i’m john, friend of ms cynthia also born in culion
) and the importance of our own biodiversity.. in addition to this we also planning to launch an education campaign for the mentioned plant cycas wadei of culion. we’ll go from school to school barangay to barangay to give more infos and ideas of saving the flora and fauna in general… with the help of our local leaders even doctors and priests and even students. distributing posters and banners plus flyers and stickers to awaken our kababayans.. our own ways of celebrating bayanihan spirit to save protect and preserve our treasure called environment… called endangered species of culion.. our own idea of doing this move.. small step to get involve to this diversity… and our slingshot of reversing the giant global warming or greenhouse..
culionaire as we boast ourselves lol..
thank you very much for invitation for this loop (:sorry for my own initiative:)
it’s great honor to link with you
especially on the cause and campaign for saving, preserving and protecting the environment and palawan at large as the last frontier of the country…
we have our own, may i call movement of propagating our nearly endangerd specie called cycas wadei in culion locally known pitogo. this is our crusade now. educating our people of the importance and identity of the specie as our pride or even the identity of our long stigma.. but we are grateful to have great endemic species in our place including the calamian deer as already declared endangered.. we also have the manis culionensis locally known as ‘balikon’ or common name pangolin and for obvious facts that we cannot see them anymore in the wilferness is obviously endangered and our reason to alarmed. so in our little and simple ways of saving these endemic species, we launched a campaign through cyber net of saving the cycas wadei or culion pitogo. we also made some requests to our local gov’t to issue an ordinance of making the grassland or cogonal areas of Quezon, Dita and Patag as reserve and protected area of pitogo. in this we would like to link with you so that we’ll be more effective and empowering each other in the midst of all complexities around us. it’s amazing cause we’re getting involve even we’re oceans away from each other. but our hearts were never been detached to this lovely place we called lost paradise – culion
more power to you and hope that we’ll get to know more about these cause and the movements you have there. we will always support this campaign.. our own blood compact in special way…
cheers
john lisboa
culionaire
ps. hope you’ll help us also in all our (impossible) dreams for culion
(: again sorry for my own initiatives
Alex Mercado said,
August 13, 2009 at 6:56 am
The Culion Pitogo is worth saving for it symbolizes hope, tenacity, resilience and hospitality of the people in the idyllic island of Culion. As we await the passing of the local government ordinance, we invoke the community support through public education on conservation, protection and propagation of the flora. As we partner with our friends from all over the world through the cyberspace, our auspicious attitude will embellish our passion to make Culion ecofriendly and an exciting place to see. With the island exuding the elegance of the Pitogo, its people pamper visitors with hospitality. Come and visit Culion.
Tabana said,
September 12, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Hello!
I just arrived yesterday from Coron, Palwan. I must say it is a beautiful place, but unfortunately I heard from the loacals that the Boracay group of companies bought an island near Banana Island and that they will put up a casino. Hopefully, that will not push through with that because this will destroy the water through the oil spills of the boats and garbage that will go there. Have they not learned a lesson from Boracay?
Cynthia Evangelista said,
October 7, 2009 at 2:28 am
On Wednesday, October 7, 2009 @ 8:00 am, the Culion Palawan Municipality local government Committee on Environment will hold a meeting to discuss the proposed ordinance on Cycas Wadei and its environment. Community development strategist and TED Fellow Javier Alpasa S.J., Medical Researcher and Hospital Administrator Arturo Cunanan MD., LGU SB member and author of the proposed Pitogo ordinance Mr. Espina, Legal expert and Environmental Protection activist Ronald Carandang JD, PCSD and DENR representatives and other selected respectable community leader elites and environmental advocates will take on the Cycas Wadei and the specifics. A local and perchance a state ordinance in the offing.
Let us unite in prayers for a better future of Isla Culion and everything and everyone
that is in it. A chance for the Cycas Wadei to be protected.
Join me in wishing them wisdom, empowerment and guidance.
Cynthia Evangelista
New York City, USA