Save Palawan Movement

24/06/2025

14/05/2025

To those who won in the 2025 election thru vote buying, you know who you are..

14/05/2025

Today, we offer a prayer and a hope—

That the coming new administration (a woman—a nurturer) upholds its oath with integrity and leads with a genuine commitment to protecting the environment and the communities that depend on it.

May their promises turn into action, and their leadership be rooted in justice, sustainability, and the common good.

05/05/2025

🔴 LABANAN ANG PANANAKOT. IPAGTANGGOL ANG BOTO NG PALAWENYO.

Nagbabala ang Save Palawan Movement sa pagdami ng kubol—mga makeshift na barracks—na itinayo sa mga barangay sa Palawan.

Ayon sa mga ulat, may mga hindi kilalang kalalakihang nakapuwesto rito na nagsasabing sila’y “bantay” ng halalan, kahit wala namang opisyal na utos mula sa COMELEC o PNP.

Ang presensya nila ay hindi simbolo ng seguridad. Ito’y pananakot, panggigipit, at paghahari ng takot.

🛑 Hindi ito ang demokrasya. Hindi ito ang Palawan na ipinaglalaban natin.

‼️ Nanawagan kami para sa:

✅ Agarang imbestigasyon sa mga kubol
✅ Pagpapabuwag sa mga estrukturang wala namang legal na basehan
✅ Proteksyon sa karapatan ng mamamayan na bumoto nang malaya at walang takot

🗳️ Malinis, tapat, at payapang halalan ang pundasyon ng isang lipunang tunay na nagtatanggol sa kalikasan, karapatan, at kinabukasan.

👉 I-share ito. Magsalita. Paalalahanan ang bawat botante sa Palawan: Ang boto ay hindi binabantayan ng kubol, kundi ng mamamayang mulat, matapang, at malaya.

03/04/2025

PRESS STATEMENT
Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC)
Reaffirming Truth and Justice in Palawan’s Environmental Discourse
April 3, 2025 | Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

The Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) expresses serious concern over the narrative being promoted by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), which disproportionately blames kaingin (upland swidden farming) as the primary cause of environmental degradation in Palawan. This oversimplified framing lacks nuance and overlooks the PCSD’s own mandate and accountability in managing the province’s ecological challenges.

We do not deny that certain kaingin practices fall outside the bounds of traditional, sustainable swidden agriculture. Hindi rin po namin ipinagkakaila na may mga gumagawa ng pagkakaingin na hindi naaayon sa tradisyunal na paraan.

These destructive forms of land clearing—often rooted in poverty, land insecurity, and policy neglect—must be addressed. However, the responsibility for regulating these practices and protecting Palawan’s environment lies with government agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the PCSD, and local government units (LGUs).

It is misleading and unjust to place the blame solely on small upland farmers and Indigenous Peoples (IPs) who have practiced sustainable land management for generations. This scapegoating diverts attention from the real issues which are weak enforcement, inadequate resource allocation, and the exclusion of affected communities from decision-making processes.

Under Republic Act 7611 or the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) Law, the PCSD is legally tasked with promoting sustainable development in Palawan through participatory governance and the preservation of ecological integrity. Its failure to fully implement and enforce the SEP Law—especially in establishing guidelines for sustainable livelihoods and community-based forest management—has left communities vulnerable and ecosystems at risk.

We urge the PCSD to:

Fulfill its mandate by fully implementing the SEP Law;

Recognize, support, and protect traditional sustainable farming practices through research and policy integration;

End the criminalization and scapegoating of upland farmers and Indigenous communities;

Tackle the true drivers of environmental degradation, including unregulated extractive industries, unchecked land conversion, and poor enforcement of environmental regulations.

Palawan’s environmental future cannot be secured by marginalizing those who have long been its stewards. Real progress requires transparent governance, inclusive dialogue, science-based policy rooted in justice, and a deep respect for Indigenous and traditional knowledge.

21/03/2025

Happy International Day of Forests! Today, we highlight the Philippines' diverse forest formations, their unique characteristics, and the threats they face. Protecting these ecosystems is essential for our country's environmental health and biodiversity 💚🌳

18/03/2025

Nakarating sa amin ang maraming sumbong tungkol sa pagpapapirma sa sur ng Palawan, gamit ang mga BHW (Barangay Health Workers), upang tutulan ang ordinansa ng Mining Moratorium. Wag sana malinlang ang ating mga kababayan (lalo na ang mga katutubo) at pagsamantalahan sila sa pamamagitan ng maling inpormasyon at konting tulong kapalit ng kanilang pirma.

13/03/2025

Ang makasaysayang araw ng pagpirma ni Gov. Dennis Socrates sa "50-year Extendable Mining Moratorium Ordinance" ng Palawan. Mabuhay ang mga Palawenyo!🎉

12/03/2025

POST UPDATE: We just learned that the Moratorium Ordinance has already been transmitted to the office of the provincial governor. We’re now awaiting official confirmation that the governor has signed it.

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PRESS STATEMENT
March 11, 2025

“Respect the People’s Will: We urge the Provincial Board to Transmit the Moratorium Ordinance for the Governor’s Signature Now”

The Save Palawan Movement (SPM), a broad alliance of civil society organizations, people’s organizations, faith-based institutions, indigenous peoples, youth, and environmental advocates, strongly urges the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) to finalize the mining moratorium ordinance and to transmit this to the Office of the Governor without delay.

The passage of this ordinance by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan was a historic moment for Palawan, a direct result of years of united advocacy, grounded in science, community experience, and people’s voices. The ordinance represents the collective will of thousands of Palaweños who took to the streets, signed petitions, joined public hearings, and marched in thanksgiving on March 5, 2025.

SPM has just learned that the ordinance has not yet been transmitted to the Governor’s Office, reportedly pending the comments of certain board members.

What is at stake?
Any unnecessary delay in the transmittal opens the ordinance to political maneuvering—even deliberate sabotage—especially as we approach the election ban period. This delay undermines the democratic process, the integrity of local legislation, and the overwhelming mandate from Palawan’s people.

We remind all members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan:

Your duty is to the people—not to mining interests.

The people have already spoken. The ordinance has been passed. There is no justifiable reason to delay its transmittal.

Our Call

We urge the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretariat and concerned Board Members to immediately transmit the ordinance to Governor Dennis Socrates, without further delay, and allow the Governor to act within his mandate.

We also call on Governor Socrates to stand firm in his leadership, in line with his original proposal for a moratorium and the spirit of the 2024 Palawan Mining Summit, which he himself convened.

Let this ordinance not be another casualty of election-related maneuvering, or of behind-the-scenes lobbying.

We fought long and hard for this. We will remain vigilant—and we will not allow political interests to trample on the people’s victory.

Transmit the Moratorium Now. Implement the Moratorium Now. Respect the People’s Will.

11/03/2025

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) was jubilant over the approval of Palawan's mining moratorium. Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, its president, commends the Apostolic Vicariates of Puerto Princesa and Taytay for their resolute stance against mining on the island but he also emphasizes that the credit for this victory belongs to the united efforts of various sectors and communities in Palawan.

The Palawan Provincial Board unanimously passed the ordinance on February 5, barring all new large- and small-scale mining applications

09/03/2025

Some people are saying "50 years" is not enough, it should be forever. Others are wishing "sana all", there should be a mining moratorium for the whole country. In Palawan, despite the moratorium on mining, there is still work to do to make sure the remaining forests can be saved. The path has always been challenging, yet we persist for the sake of a better tomorrow.🌍

ICYMI: Magpapatupad ng 50-taong pagbabawal sa bagong mining permits sa Palawan ngunit papayagang mag-operate ang mga minahang kasalukuyan nang may permiso, ayon sa isang environmental lawyer.

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