Scientists and academic experts meeting under the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) are pushing for stronger, more integrated data systems to improve how environmental policies are monitored and evaluated in the province.
The call emerged during the 11th Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) Meeting held on June 19, 2026, where experts and institutional representatives reviewed existing tools used to track the implementation of Palawan’s Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP), the Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN), and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve commitments.
Established in 2015 under PCSD Resolution No. 20-708, the SAP functions as a technical advisory body composed of scientists and academics who provide recommendations on environmental and development issues affecting Palawan. The panel has been convening annually since 2016.
At the center of the discussions was the need to move toward an integrated monitoring framework that can generate measurable and verifiable outcomes, addressing long-standing gaps in fragmented reporting systems.
“The esteemed scientists also underscored the need for an integrated monitoring framework that streamlines reporting processes, strengthens data quality, and promotes collaboration among government agencies, academic institutions, indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders,” PCSDS said.
Participants also discussed improving indicator development, risk assessment systems, institutional capacity, and the use of emerging technologies to support evidence-based decision-making in environmental governance.
In a key development during the meeting, Dr. Rodulf Anthony Balisco of Western Philippines University was elected as the new chairperson of the Scientific Advisory Panel and presided over the discussions that followed.
“During the meeting, Dr. Balisco was elected as the new Chairperson of the Scientific Advisory Panel and subsequently presided over the discussions,” PCSDS said.
PCSDS Executive Director Atty. Teodoro Jose S. Matta, thanked the panel members for their input, saying the recommendations would help strengthen ongoing efforts to anchor Palawan’s sustainable development agenda on science-based and data-driven governance.
