The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) hosted a screening of the documentary film Fragile Frontier, which explores the aftermath of Typhoon Odette and the impact of climate change on the Palawan environment.
PCSDS Executive Director Teodoro Jose Matta said the film aims to urge action on environmental conservation, protection, and socio-economic change.
“Those are the only things na very basic na kailangan natin i-focus in the next 10 years in order to reverse climate change. We should act now,” Matta said.
The documentary showed the impact of Typhoon Odette in 2021 on Palawan’s environment, particularly in the northern part of the province and in Puerto Princesa City.
A government-assisted reforestation program is still ongoing to rehabilitate the thousands of hectares of forest that were damaged. However, development has only reached less than 10 percent due to challenges such as limited resources, competing priorities, and the level of community involvement.
The Council anticipates substantial forest recovery within 10 years—provided there are no human activities in the area, such as settlements and kaingin or slash-and-burn farming.
Fire brigades have been mobilized and are undergoing forest fire prevention and training efforts to avoid a repeat of the 2022 forest fires. The Council has also tightened its enforcement of zoning regulations, according to Matta.
“Iba na ang klima ngayon, kailangan natin paghandaan talaga. It’s going to get worse, and we really need to be prepared,” he said.
The documentary also highlighted the effects of changing climate conditions on two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.
The UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines (UNACOM Philippines) sees rising sea levels and shifting climate patterns as key challenges in protecting Palawan’s environment.
The world heritage sites are not just protected zones on a map but also reflections of culture, history, and identity.
“Fragile Frontier is a message in motion that invites us all to listen, reflect, and most importantly to act,” said UNACOM Secretary General Ivan Anthony Henares. (PIA)
