PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) -- The Sangguniang Panlalawigan proposes to conduct Earth Month as an intervention of the provincial government in environmental problems of tourism areas in Palawan.

Board member Roseller Pineda said that the proposed ordinance No. 016-24 aims to not limit the efforts during Earth Day on April 22 but stretch those to a month-long period. It will help to further discuss pressing environmental issues, particularly in the tourism areas of Palawan.

He aims to schedule it by the month of September, when the number of travelers is observably low.

“Iyon ang pwede natin paraan para makapag-intervene tayo sa mga problema na kinahaharap ng tourism areas sa Palawan—Nangyayari ngayon sa Palawan ‘yong ganong sitwasyon (Boracay) na laging may threat ng rehabilitation ng tourism areas,” he said.

It could also be an additional solution to problems faced by El Nido aside from the establishment of a sewage treatment plant (STP).

Pineda cited the experience during the pandemic when marine species were on a break from human activities.

The earth month will not just be a celebration but a time to have a consultation with stakeholders and discuss measures such as reducing fecal coliform levels. It will also temporarily regulate water-related activities on islands for a month, he added.

Pineda acknowledges that it still needs consultation with tourism-related stakeholders to push through the month-long intervention.

“Palagay mo 11 months ang continuous business, but for the month of September, dapat ang activity ay mawawala. Purely ayusin, fix ang problem, ano pa mga problema na nakita natin, activate ng stakeholders. Ang participation dapat makita rin natin,” he said.

He believes that giving a month of break from human activities every year would be helpful to resolve environmental problems faced by tourism areas in Palawan.

The proposed ordinance was approved for the first reading during the regular session of Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Tuesday. (RG/PIA MIMAROPA - Palawan)