The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) lacks the authority to directly stop construction projects inside restricted environmental zones and is pushing for stronger enforcement authority under a proposed amendment to the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) law.
PCSDS Executive Director Atty. Teodoro Jose Matta said the proposed amendment to Republic Act 7611, or the SEP for Palawan Act, seeks to give the agency authority to issue cease and desist and seizure orders against properties being built inside restricted zones under the Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN).
He described the current situation as a major limitation in enforcing environmental regulations in the province.
“Meron kaming [powers] pero this is with regards to wildlife. Pero pagdating sa clearance system, kung yung property na tinatayuan mo ng building ay nasa restricted zone, wala kaming authority to stop you, and much less confiscate the properties that have violated and to take control,” Matta said in a recent interview.
“So ang PCSD, kulang sa ngipin, at kailangan namin ng power para ma-enforce yung SEP, and these are the police powers we need. Pati yung pagkolekta ng penalties, kailangan pa namin pumunta sa RTC para mangolekta ng penalties, napakahirap. These are certain police powers that we need,” he added.
The proposed measure, House Bill 4303 or the Comprehensive Sustainable Development for Palawan Act, was filed by Reps. Jose Alvarez and Gil Acosta Jr.
It is currently under the House Committee on Environment and is expected to be tackled at the committee level next month. Matta said there is a possibility it may be transferred to the Committee on Laws for Local Application.
He also noted that Senator Loren Legarda has expressed interest in filing a counterpart bill in the Senate.
“So we’re hopeful that it will be filed (and heard) simultaneously and proceed with hearings para mas mabilis maipasa,” he said.
Beyond enforcement powers, the bill also seeks to strengthen the agency’s manpower structure. Matta said the PCSDS Enforcement Division has no permanent plantilla positions, a situation that affects continuity and accountability.
“And this will allow them to wear uniforms, although they wear uniforms now, magiging ang trato sa kanya is separate and distinct na from the rest of PCSDS. It’s basically strengthening our enforcement division especially with regard to manpower,” he explained.
The proposed measure also includes additional plantilla positions and a revised compensation package to attract and retain professionals such as scientists, planners, and foresters.
Matta said the current salary grade system is outdated and significantly lower than those offered by other government agencies and private institutions, leading to staff being recruited elsewhere.
“The experts that we need are actually being pirated. Kahit nga yung enforcement staff namin wala kaming permanent enforcement staff. After namin i-train ng two to three years, gumagaling na sila, pina-pirate na. So that’s where we stand internally right now. There are lots of challenges. Internally, it’s hard to keep good people in the agency,” he said.
“In fact, our resident chemist was recently pirated by a foreign university. Nagta-trabaho kami with a certain institution, then makikilala yung aming mga staff bigla na lang sasabihin ng foreign institution, dito ka na lang magtrabaho, mahirap naman yun,” he added.
Despite the challenges, Matta said the agency continues to function with support from the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
He said PCSDS has increased its regular staff from 75 to 99, but remains undermanned and under-equipped given that it covers about 1.4 million hectares across the province. For every municipality, he said, there are only around five personnel assigned.
For 2026, additional buildings and laboratory facilities are also set to be constructed as part of efforts to strengthen the agency’s operations.
