The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) has joined the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP), marking a significant step in strengthening science-based marine conservation and integrating the value of Palawan’s coastal and marine ecosystems into environmental planning and sustainable development.
The membership, announced on June 26, supports the use of ocean accounting to improve evidence-based decision-making and policy formulation in the province.
As the onsite management authority of the UNESCO-designated Palawan Biosphere Reserve, PCSDS has implemented the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan under Republic Act 7611 for more than 30 years. Despite this, much of the province’s marine and coastal ecosystems has remained outside formal economic accounting systems, limiting their consideration in development planning despite their vital role in biodiversity conservation and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Through GOAP, PCSDS joins an international network of governments and organizations, including the World Bank, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP), that promotes ocean accounting as a tool for linking ecosystem health, economic development, and human well-being.
“PCSDS recognizes the value of this partnership in advancing ocean accounting, strengthening evidence-based governance, and supporting sustainable ocean development through collaborative and internationally aligned approaches,” PCSDS Executive Director Atty. Teodoro Jose S. Matta said.
The partnership also supports the implementation of the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) Act. Under its implementing rules and regulations signed in May 2025, PCSDS was identified as one of the key institutions responsible for advancing natural capital accounting at the subnational level.
The announcement coincided with the 34th anniversary of the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan and reinforces efforts to ensure that the province’s coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, and other marine ecosystems are not only protected but also systematically measured to help guide long-term environmental governance and sustainable resource management.
