The division of Palawan into three separate provinces could have adverse effects to its biodiversity, indigenous peoples’ communities and the general economic movement of Palaweños, the national social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines raised as it expressed its strong concern.
It added that the ecological protection and human development should be the primary consideration in the conduct of the plebiscite, Caritas Philippines said in a news release.
According to Bishop Gerry Alminaza, vice chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace, “We are one with the civil society organizations, the local Catholic Churches in Taytay and Puerto Princesa and the people of Palawan in the call to re-examine the scientific, cultural and moral foundations of the law, above all economic and political gains of the proponents and their business allies.”
The bishop added: “So that what happened at least 20 years ago when we opened Palawan forests to extractive industries, will not happen again in the globally significant island ecosystem.”
The move to divide the province started in 2017. The Republic Act 11259, or An Act Dividing the Province of Palawan into Three Provinces, namely: Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur, was signed into law on April 5, 2019.
As a requirement, a plebiscite was scheduled on March 13.
According to Save Palawan Movement’s Atty. Gerthie Anda, “The process, which did not include inclusive consultations, was clearly a political agenda, which will benefit mainly local political leaders and will entail huge economic costs to the people of Palawan.”
According to Fr. Antonio E. Labiao, Caritas Philippines executive secretary, “While we question the true intent of the law, we would like to respect the political process.”
However, he said, “We would like to urge the government, especially IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force], Comelec [Commission on Elections], the police and the military and the present political leaders in Palawan to make all necessary measures possible so voters are able to exercise their constitutional right to suffrage despite the limitations brought about by Covid-19 pandemic.”
He added: “We urge the government to ensure integrity, fairness, transparency, utmost observance of health protocols in the conduct of the plebiscite and that electoral violations will be avoided.”
Fr. Rey Aguanta, apostolic administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay, said in a statement that “the separation will only be putting Palaweños, especially the indigenous communities, further from the doors of government service as the law was mostly due to personal and vested political interests, and not to pave the way for genuine human development.”
He added that “spending millions of pesos for the election is not cost-efficient when the province still needs to provide for the Covid-19 vaccines and other basic social services for its constituents.”
Bishop Socrates Mesiona of the Apostolic Vicariate of Palawan also encouraged a “fair presentation of the issues concerning the plebiscite from the government through the news media, so the public will be able to have informed and principled decision on the matter.”
Palawan, known as the last ecological frontier of the Philippines, is a first-class province with stable annual revenues from tourism, rich marine and forest resources, and mineral reserves.
When separated into three provinces, each of the provinces’ share of the national wealth will considerably become smaller—not a good start for a province with 50 percent population already living in poverty, the news release said.
Image credits: Jonathan L. Mayuga