With more than 1,700 islands and islets, Palawan is looking to expand marine spatial planning across the province to coordinate the use and protection of its coastal waters as countries work toward a global target of conserving and effectively managing at least 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030.
Governor Amy Roa Alvarez raised the proposal during the fourth Palawan Marine Protected Area (MPA) Summit in Puerto Princesa City on October 21, citing San Vicente’s municipal marine spatial planning framework as a starting point for a provincewide approach.
“San Vicente has the first Marine Spatial Planning framework for our municipality, and our stakeholders are here today,” Alvarez said.
She said a shared plan could help municipalities and other stakeholders coordinate their marine protection efforts.
“So that we can move forward together with one vision for the whole of Palawan, not just for each individual municipality,” she said.
The proposed expansion comes as the Philippines works toward the global 30×30 target under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in 2022. The commitment calls for at least 30% of terrestrial and inland water areas, as well as coastal and marine areas, to be effectively conserved and managed by 2030.
The provincial government has yet to announce a timetable, budget or implementation mechanism for expanding marine spatial planning across Palawan.
Linking local planning to a global target
Marine spatial planning organizes activities in marine areas by considering ecological conditions, fisheries, tourism, conservation priorities and other uses of the sea. It can help governments identify areas for protection and coordinate decisions across municipal boundaries.
For Palawan, a provincewide approach would involve coordinating existing marine protected areas with other coastal activities and identifying priorities for managing marine resources.
Alvarez said the province’s extensive coastline requires cooperation among local governments, national agencies, nongovernment organizations and communities.
“Ang buong province ng Palawan has over 1,700 islands and islets, ‘di ba? So with our entire coastal area, we cannot manage the whole thing alone. We need everyone’s help,” she said.
Provincial Agriculturist Reniel Rocaberte linked marine conservation to food security, livelihoods and the welfare of future generations.
“Higit sa lahat, ito ay tungkol sa buhay ng mga tao, sa pagkain sa hapag-kainan, sa kabuhayan ng ating mga pamilya, at sa kinabukasan na nais nating maipamana sa mga susunod na henerasyon,” Rocaberte said.
The 30×30 target is part of a broader global biodiversity framework that calls not only for conservation coverage but also for effective management, ecological connectivity, equitable governance and respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Measuring effective protection
The target’s emphasis on effective management is relevant to the assessment of marine protected areas, which can vary in their resources, enforcement arrangements and management capacity.
DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau Assistant Director Mariglo Laririt said conservation efforts should be assessed beyond the number and size of designated areas.
“While these numbers are important, it matters very much whether these areas are effectively managed through science-based approaches and whether they are sustained by the communities whose lives depend on them,” Laririt said.
Assessing Palawan’s contribution to the 30×30 target would require information on existing conservation areas, their management arrangements, enforcement, ecological condition and community participation.
Marine spatial planning could help identify priority habitats and coordinate conservation measures across municipal waters. However, the provincial government has not yet specified which areas would be prioritized under the proposed expansion or how its contribution to the global target would be measured.
Including fisherfolk in marine management
Fishing communities are among those directly affected by decisions on marine resource use and conservation. Their participation can help inform management plans and account for the needs of people who depend on coastal waters for their livelihoods.
OIC-Provincial Fisheries Officer Mario Basaya emphasized the role of fisherfolk in conservation efforts.
“Our fisherfolk must not be viewed merely as beneficiaries of marine conservation programs—they must be recognized as partners, guardians, and stewards of our marine resources,” Basaya said.
Involving fishers and coastal residents in marine spatial planning can bring local knowledge into decisions about fishing grounds, conservation zones and resource management. The 30×30 framework also emphasizes equitable governance and recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Details on how community participation would be incorporated into Palawan’s proposed provincewide planning process have not yet been announced.
Coordinating conservation and the blue economy
Palawan is also preparing its Blue Economy Framework for 2027–2036, which is intended to cover marine conservation, food security, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, responsible tourism, blue carbon and community enterprises.
Marine spatial planning could help coordinate these priorities by identifying areas for different activities and areas requiring conservation measures.
Alvarez said provincial and municipal governments would need support from nongovernment organizations and other partners to sustain marine protection.
“Hindi talaga natin makakaya alone—especially just the province, kulang ang pondo; LGU, minsan kulang ang pondo. We all have to work together with all our NGOs as well to help sustain Palawan’s marine areas,” she said.
The governor cited funding constraints as a reason for cooperation among government and nongovernment stakeholders. No specific funding commitments for the proposed provincewide expansion were announced during the summit.
