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Determining Policy Implementation Level of the Republic Act 9147 (Wildlife

Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001) in the Province of
Palawan, Philippines

Article · December 2021

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Our Palawan
The Scientific Journal of Palawan Council for Sustainable Development
Research and Analysis
Sustainable Urban and Rural Communities

Determining Policy Implementation Level of the Republic Act 9147 (Wildlife Resources
Conservation and Protection Act of 2001) in the Province of Palawan, Philippines

Jazztin Jairum P. Manalo* and Rainier I. Manalo

ABSTRACT

The importance of protecting Palawan’s fragile natural

resources is evident. With the implementation of the
Republic Act 9147 also known as the Wildlife Resources
Keywords: Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 under the Palawan
Council for Sustainable Development for the Province of
Palawan, the environmental protection effort was
wildlife act
strengthened. This research determined the co-production of
environmental governance environmental services that contributed in the enforcement of
sustainable development the Philippine Wildlife Act in the province. Data were
enforcement gathered through qualitative in-depth interviews, supported
policy implementation by criminal docket review, and data cross-checking using a
policy effectiveness tool. Results showed that the efficient
decision-making processes, collaborative creation of
resolutions/agreements, regulatory and enforcement
collaborations, public education, compliance to permitting,
surveillance, apprehension, and monitoring were excellently
implemented and generally sustained. Collaboration and
participation of communities proved the importance of
citizen involvement. Mechanism for allocation of annual
financial obligations needs further enhancement for the local
government units. Major outcome of this study could be
recommended for future amendments of Wildlife Resources
Protection and Conservation Act.

*Corresponding Author: jpmanalo@ust.edu.ph

1
Department of Political Science, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines; 2Crocodylus Porosus Philippines
Inc., Pag asa, Kapalong, Davao del Norte, Philippines

©2021 Palawan Council for Sustainable Development 16

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 Manalo & Manalo /Our Palawan 2021 (7) 16-29

INTRODUCTION The stricter implementation of these

The islands in the Province of
Palawan are home to unique and endemic
wildlife. Its proximity to the island of Borneo
and its late Pleistocene association in
mainland Asia made its wildlife resources
more diverse. In 1990, the United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and
Organization (UNESCO) Man
Biosphere Programme (MAB) declared the
entire Province of Palawan as a Biosphere
Reserve.
In 1996, the creation of the Philippine
Agenda 21 (PA21) known as the National
Agenda for Sustainable Development for the
21st Century sealed its commitments to the
1992 United Nations Conference
Environment and Development (UNCED).
The PA21 serves as assistance to several
stakeholders to integrate
development in their decision-making
processes. The Philippines also entered into
important multilateral environmental
agreements (MEAs) - the United Nations
Framework Convention on
Diversity (UNCBD) in 1993; Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) in 1981; and
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory
Species of Wild Animals (CMS) in 1979.
This is consistent with the 1987 Philippine
Constitution which states that “The State
shall protect and advance the right of the
people to a balanced and healthful ecology in
accord with the rhythm and harmony of
nature.”
conventions for national legislation is
included in the provisions of the Republic
Act (RA) 9147 entitled “Wildlife Resources
Conservation and Protection Act of 2001.” In
the Province of Palawan, the Palawan
Council for Sustainable Development
(PCSD) has the jurisdiction for the overall
Cultural
implementation of this Act pursuant to
and the
Republic Act No. 7611 otherwise known as
the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for
Palawan Act. It becomes the main strategy to
strengthen the various environmental
protection efforts in Palawan.
Despite the intensive attention and
protection of the province to its wildlife
species, violators still exist, committing
on
wildlife crimes and destruction of intact
forest habitat for wildlife species and sources
of ecosystem services. It was implied by
sustainable
Rosenbaum (2011) that numerous animal
species are threatened with extinction, need
to be restored to vitality, protected through
human activities, and that environmental
policies should be implemented. There are
Biological
many policies that have been crafted by the
PCSD that aimed to prevent illegal wildlife
trade and strengthen habitat protection, but
these policies have by no means yet been
assessed, measured nor quantified for science
-based intervention.
This study also gave importance to
how common-pool resources such as wildlife
can be managed using the theoretical
perspective of Ostrom's (2000) Collective
Action. Primarily, this study validated the

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 Manalo & Manalo. /Our Palawan 2021 (7) 16-29

theoretical lens on the co-production Resources Office (ENRO), Puerto Princesa

process that emanates the shared City Regional Trial Courts, Municipal
contributions and resources of Circuit Trial Courts in the Municipalities of
implementing solutions. Quezon and Taytay and Environmental Non
-Government Organizations (NGOs). These
This research determined the level
Local Government Units were chosen due to
of implementation of the RA 9147 in the
the presence of Municipal Circuit Trial
province of Palawan. Specifically, it
Courts which contains several cases from
identified the different factors influencing
their criminal dockets about Wildlife Act
its enforcement to wildlife conservation
violations. This encompassed the terrestrial,
concerning collaborative governance
aquatic, and marine areas established under
between different stakeholders.
the Environmentally Critical Areas Network
On the other hand, this can serve as (ECAN), a graded system of protection and
a reference guide in generating policy development control, the main strategy of
recommendations to attain sustainable the SEP (Figure 1). A Policy Implementa-
development in improving the conservation tion Effectiveness Assessment Tool
of biodiversity for UNCED Agenda 21. The (PIEAT) developed and utilized for this
research will also provide additional study was derived from the Marine
information to the implementing bodies Protected Area – Management Effectiveness
thereby securing the fragile ecosystem Assessment Tool Ver. 01 Feb 2011 (DENR
services of the Province of Palawan for & DA, 2011). This serve as an assessment
better ecotourism destination, food security, guide in determining the level of
and human well-being. implementation effectiveness by defining
the assessment category and compliance
METHODOLOGY
indicators of partner implementing agencies
This study was conducted from in Palawan (Table 1). An overall scoring
November 14, 2017 to March 16, 2018 in system of the assessment category helped
the Province of Palawan under SEP specify a satisfaction passing rate or
Clearance No. EGP-011818-006 issued on “thresholds” that measured the level of
January 18, 2018. Data were gathered from implementation efforts exerted by
the government agencies such as Palawan institutions conducting wildlife enforcement
Council for Sustainable Development Staff activities.
(PCSDS), Department of Environment and Representatives from the offices of
Natural Resources (DENR), Department of DENR, DA-BFAR, and PCSDS but not
Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and limited to head of offices, managers, and
Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), Provincial supervisors from those institutions were part
and City Environment and Natural of qualitative in-depth interviews for an

©2021 Palawan Council for Sustainable Development 18

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 Manalo & Manalo /Our Palawan 2021 (7) 16-29

Figure 1. The terrestrial ECAN Zones of Palawan showing the study areas in Taytay,
Quezon and Puerto Princesa City. (Source: Palawan Council for Sustainable Development
Staff)

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 Manalo & Manalo/Our Palawan 2021 (7) 16-29

Table 1. Policy Implementation Effectiveness Assessment Indicators (2018).

Reference: DENR & DA, 2011)
POLICY
MONITORING CATEGORY
GOALS
RA 9147 IRR disseminated to Citizens
School Educational campaign
Community –based participatory campaign
Tri-media publication and advertisement*
Wildlife Act supported by the stakeholders and communities
Level 1 - Presence of agreements and resolutions
Adminis- Forging agreements between stakeholders
trative Ju-
risdiction Budget allocation by LGUs*
is Estab-
Permitting process installed
lished
(2005 – Regulatory staff designated
2007) Pilot testing of permits
Process flow for the issuance of permit devel- No. of days to issue permit
oped*
Protection of threatened species
Presence of threatened species list
Registration of threatened species*
General appropriation allocation for at least 2 Approved appropriation allocation
years*
Law enforcement management effectively strengthened
Trained and competent enforcement patrol
Existence of incentive system
Level 2 - Creation of multi-partite enforcement team
Regulatory Law enforcement plan adopted*
Body Regular patrolling and surveillance conducted
Strength-
ened (2008 Collaboration with enforcement agencies
– 2012) Creation of monitoring units
Violators documented
Cases filed*
Funds accessed*
Implementation management effectively sustained
Continued advocacy campaign
Permitting process reviewed and implemented
Supplemental resolutions and agreements is-
sued
Update on the registration of threatened species
Level 3 -
Sustained Law enforcement plan updated*
Implemen-
tation Cases convicted*
(2013 – Substantial management fund established
2017)
Improve collection of funds
Appropriate disbursement process implement-
ed
Work and financial plan adopted*
Critical Habitat process documentation*
Support to Wildlife Rescue Center*
OUTPUT
No. of Schools visited
No. of Community campaigns conducted
No. of tri-media published and adver-
tised
No. of resolutions and agreements
No. agreements signed
Approved work and financial plan
No. of staff designated
No. of permits issued for pilot testing
No. of list of threatened species
No. of threatened species
No. of people in enforcement team
Amount of incentives
No. of enforcement team
No. of law enforcement plan
No. of enforcement agencies participated
No. of monitoring units
No. of violators apprehended
No. of cases filed
Amount of funds dispersed
Changes in percentage of campaigns
conducted
No. of permits issued
No. of resolutions and agreements
Changes in the registered threatened spe-
cies
Resolutions adopting law enforcement
plan
No. of violators persecuted
Changes in amounts collected from fines
& penalties
Total Amount disbursed
No. of work and financial plan adopted
Percent change in protected habitat areas
No. of confiscated wildlife released to
the wild

*Threshold category

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 Manalo & Manalo/Our Palawan 2021 (7) 16-29

efficient data gathering process. The local benefit. The implementation by PCSD has
government units (LGU) environment offices, attained for the institution an “Excellent”
Palawan-based environmental NGOs, law policy implementation assessment rating
enforcement agencies, and volunteer groups together with its co-implementer, the DA-
have been associated as additional respondent. BFAR and DENR (Table 2).
Data were gathered from PCSDS Main Office All threshold categories were attained
database, DENR, and DA-BFAR Provincial by the PCSD. However, among these
Fishery Office. This was substantiated with institutions, only the DENR recognized that
the Regional Trial Court in Puerto Princesa the thresholds they did not achieve and opted
and Municipal Circuit Trial Court in Taytay not to implement were related to the
and Quezon, Palawan through their records permitting system, case filings, and fund
and criminal dockets. Outcomes of the data management since these are under the
collection were supported with literature responsibility of the PCSD. The DA-BFAR
reviews from scholarly articles, peer-reviewed Provincial Fishery Office (PFO) did not
journals, officially transmitted documents, implement the wildlife conservation law
published documents, and credible grey
enforcement plan threshold since it only
pieces of literatures. acted on the responsibilities delegated by the
PCSD. Collective action problems differ
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION regarding how costly or difficult it is to

The DENR-DA-PCSD devise physical or institutional means to

Joint
Administrative Order No. 01 Series of 2004 exclude others (Ostrom, 2002). Although the
supported with the adoption of PCSD implementation was centralized in the
Administrative Order No. 12, series of 2011 PCSD, a substantial support from other
enables the PCSD to coordinate wildlife mandated institutions was present.

protection activities with the DA-BFAR and Decentralization and devolution strategies
DENR. Collaborative efforts were evident are important in fostering the participation of
throughout the study as seen in the local units (Ackerman, 2004). These
cooperation of from collaborations are important for reducing
different actors
government, private, and non-government government costs and responsibilities.
organizations that helped the DENR-DA- Management Planning and Policy
PCSD in the overall implementation of the Implementation
Wildlife Act. With the efforts coming from The adopted annual physical and
external actors, entrepreneurs, and principal
financial plan presented in the PCSD’s
actors, Ostrom’s (1990) collective action annual general appropriations program,
theory has been observed to address a
included outcomes aimed at preventing the
common set of problems for their collective loss of Palawan’s biodiversity. It is

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 Manalo & Manalo/Our Palawan 2021 (7) 16-29

Table 2. Summary results of Policy Implementation Effectiveness Assessment Tool (2018).

important to know that one essential part of
the implementation was the presence of an
effective and updated permitting process. A
total of 3,011 permits were issued from
2013 to 2017, including 65% the Wildlife
Collector’s Permit (WCP). The 65% of the
permits issued were for Reef Fish-for-Food
(RFF) in collaboration with the DA-BFAR.
Other permits issued were Wildlife Special
Use Permit (33%), and Gratuitous Permit
(1%) for research.
In 2000, the multi-partite partnership

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of the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Administrative Order No. 12 were

Conservation Center (PWRCC) was handled by the Wildlife Management Sub-
formalized in PCSD Resolution 00-168 as Committee of the PCSD Environment and
the official depository/custodian of Natural Resources Committee (ENRC)
confiscated or seized flora and fauna and created under Resolution 08-361 and 08-
other paraphernalia. No exact records on the 362. The Environment and Natural
number of confiscated and released wildlife Resources Offices (ENRO) in local
species in the province of Palawan were government units and DA-BFAR-PFO
obtained. However, the most commonly were among the members of the
confiscated wildlife were marine turtles, Committee. This was supported by Berkes
forest turtles, Palawan hill myna, blue-naped (1987) who said that the survival and
parrot, and long-tailed macaque. Confiscated prospering of these resources systems and
aquatic wildlife were turned-over to the the rules used were achieved through
recognized aquatic wildlife rescue center of regulation. Policy makers should have
DA-BFAR before releasing it back into the broad agencies for monitoring the
wild. Approximately, about 90% of performance of local units in terms of
confiscated marine and forest turtles were their utilization of natural resources as
rehabilitated and released in Palawan. well as compile accurate information that
According to PWRCC, there is a need to is available to users to increase their
have clear programs and guidelines for the knowledge (Ostrom, 2000).
disposition of confiscated wildlife, especially
The law enforcement plan of the
on confiscated terrestrial birds and
PCSDS was stipulated in its annual
mammals. Shared experiences indicate that
general appropriations target and its
poverty is the usual reason for marginal
annual operations/physical plan. It was
communities engaging in wildlife collection
noted that before the enactment of RA
and trade. These centers are considered as
9147, the issuance of PCSD Resolution 00
infrastructures with which Ostrom (1996)
-158 created the multi-partite monitoring
implied that the actual construction of
team for the enforcement of Executive
infrastructure facilities has usually been
Order No. 247 in 2000. Led by the PCSD
undertaken by public agencies or private for
- Environment Enforcement Team (EET),
profit contractors.
the engagement of institutions was passed
The DENR-DA-PCSD agreed to through the constitution of a multi-sectoral
collaborate with other enforcement agencies enforcement team together with the
and form agreements for the creation of the DENR and DA-BFAR. The DENR
PCSD- Environment and Natural Resources conservation projects with the PWRCC
Committee. Matters regarding PCSD and Philippine Cockatoo Conservation

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 Manalo & Manalo/Our Palawan 2021 (7) 16-29

Project (PCCP) also provide basic immersion activities, capacity building

information on the rehabilitation
confiscated wildlife and threat-based
monitoring. The issuance of
Administrative Order No. 12 continuously
serves as the basis for updating the
enforcement plans.
LGU ENROs have
wildlife conservation targets in their annual
program and plans, except the Provincial
ENRO. The implementation of programs
and projects within the declared protected
areas in Palawan was based on the
approved work and financial plans of their
respective Protected Ares Management
Board (PAMB). Viable habitats of these
threatened wildlife species outside the
declared protected areas were protected
through the establishment of Critical
Habitats. These practices confirmed the
findings of Nie (2004) that the decisions of
the institutions to collaborate must depend
on their willingness to compromise with
other stakeholders. According to Ostrom
(2000), the ability to undertake collective
decision-making is not just a management
tool but an essential process for food
security and survival.
Community Education and Participation
Public awareness and advocacy
campaigns for RA 9147 in Palawan started
even before the enactment of the law in
of training, and exhibits in partnership with
LGUs and PCSDS. The active participation
PCSD of residents with their respective local
government units can also serve as an
important gateway to close the gap between
traditional and new knowledge on the
environment (Barthwal & Mathur, 2012).
included
Several resolutions have formed part
of the dissemination of information on the
Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA
9147. The continuing conduct of
information and education caravan,
operationalization of three community radio
stations, and the use of online social media
platforms have ensured the efficient multi-
approach, quad-media information
dissemination strategies to local
communities that popularized information
on PCSD programs and projects. However,
the LGUs noted that some Indigenous
People (IP) were involved in illicit actions
that seem counter to their traditional and
cultural norms. Monitoring of IP’s wildlife
utilization was strongly suggested by LGUs
to ensure that their compliance must be
done within their tradition and cultural
norms. Schedler (1999) argued that
agencies are obliged to inform what their
duties are for them to be monitored by the
proper authority.
The collaboration among scientists,

2004. This was initiated by the DENR and NGOs, and communities is relevant and

DA-BFAR that incorporates their wildlife must always be involved in developing

related campaigns through community wildlife policies, implementation, and

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 Manalo & Manalo/Our Palawan 2021 (7) 16-29

evaluation (Niraj et al. 2012). IEC Enforcement Officer (WEO) in

campaigns were strengthened and sustained surveillance, enforcement patrol and
with the conception of the Palawan monitoring which sustained the
Biosphere Reserve online data sharing implementation of the law. Wildlife
platform on the Palawan Knowledge registration in 2005 and 2007 has recorded
Platform for Biodiversity and Sustainable 1,063 registered wildlife species. The most
Development (PKPBSD) in 2014. Paul commonly registered wildlife species are
(1992) suggested that public service Palawan Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa
accountability can be sustained when palawanensis), Blue-naped Parrot
hierarchy to the service providers are (Tanygnathus lucionensis), and Long-tailed
reinforced through participation. The LGUs Macaque (Macaca fascicularis
noted that the collaboration of local philipinensis). In order to reduce
communities with the enforcement agencies enforcement costs, however, a frequent
was distinguished to be proactive. practice is the use of a private arbitrator
rather than a civil court as a mechanism to
Legal Instruments and Enforcement
achieve enforcement as suggested by
Collaborations
Ostrom (1990).
Enforcement teams led by the PCSD-
The PCSDS Criminal Database
EET through multi-sector engagements had
indicates that there were 71 cases of
enhanced the apprehension of violators
violations filed from 2005 to 2017 (Figure
mostly related to Section 27 of the Wildlife
2). Out of the 71 cases filed, 83% are still
Act. They also gave capacity building of
on-going with 58% pending in courts.
trained and competent deputized Wildlife

Figure 2. Criminal cases filed in courts in violation of RA 9147 based on PCSDS criminal
database of 2005 – 2017. (Source: Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff)

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 Manalo & Manalo/Our Palawan 2021 (7) 16-29
Violations under the Wildlife Act usually
relates to Section 27 (f) “collecting, hunting
or possessing wildlife, their by-products
and derivatives” and (i) “transporting of
wildlife”. PCSD has targeted 85% of
detected violations resolved for prosecution
in 7 days at the end of 2017. Of the 71
cases filed, 9 were convicted for violations
of Section 27 of the Wildlife Act from 2006
-2014. There was a total of ten dismissed
cases in Municipal Circuit Trial Court
(MCTC) Branch 4 and Branch 7. Cases
were usually acquitted and dismissed due to
lack of evidence by the petitioner. Thirty-
four cases were still pending in courts at the
end of 2017. No illegal fishing activities
were reported since 2011. These data
exclude violations against the Fisheries
Code of the Philippines (RA 8550 as
amended by RA 10654) due to the
jurisdiction being exercised by DA-BFAR
on aquatic wildlife species. Cases filed by
DA-BFAR-PFO enforcement groups on
aquatic wildlife were referred to the
Regional Trial Court (RTC) for those with
penalties of more than six (6) years, while
those with less than six (6) years were
referred to the Municipal Trial Court
(MTC).
Several cases filed under RA 9147
were supplemented by either Presidential
Decree (PD) 705 or RA 8550 due to higher
penalties. Both DENR and DA maintained
the assurance of having an effective
intelligence and surveillance networking to
avoid duplication of efforts and resources.
The enforcement of regulations on the
©2021 Palawan Council for Sustainable Development
Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4168197
conservation of aquatic and marine
resources was entrusted to DA-BFAR. A
local wildlife warden starts or initiates the
conservation procedures for further
awareness within the local communities. A
special task was handed to the PWRCC for
ensuring animal welfare (RA 8485, as
amended by 10631) of confiscated wildlife
during transport. Other implementing
agencies that were involved in carrying their
respective mandates in support of RA 9147
have performance difficulties due to their
limited jurisdiction in several ports and
terminals. Hence, proper coordination with
the PCSDS may ensure direct guidance and
direct apprehension when needed.
Insufficient manpower, financial, logistics
support, equipment, and active involvement
of some law enforcement authorities can
hamper the efficient and effective arrest of
violators. Ostrom (2000) indicates that
group boundaries are frequently marked by
well-understood criteria, like everyone who
lives in a particular community or has joined
a specific local cooperative which is in line
with what the Wildlife Act is all about.
Efficient reporting has become the
strong point of local communities in their
participation and willingness to engage in
surveillance and monitoring. WEOs
primarily provide grassroots information to
the PCSDS Enforcement Team that was
established in 2011. This increase in
communication cooperation for many
reasons was referred to by Orbell et al.
(1988) as mutual commitments about
appropriate behavior, development of group
26
 Manalo & Manalo/Our Palawan 2021 (7) 16-29

identity and reinforcement of prior norms,
increased trust, and positive expectations of
cooperative behavior. Furthermore,
DENR’s Forest Patrol that was tasked to
perform duties for PD 705 as well as the
DA-BFAR Fish Wardens of RA 8550 (as
amended by RA 10654) likewise aided in
RA 9147 enforcement. The presence of
trained wildlife rangers, Bantay Palawan,
Bantay Gubat, and Bantay Dagat were the
enforcement counterparts of the LGU in
wildlife conservation monitoring. It is
important for monitoring bodies to exist as
Maor (2004) finds that structural difficulties
include the impossibility of monitoring the
almost infinite number of government
actions.
Funds and Appropriations
Funds were appropriately obligated
under the General Appropriations Act
(GAA) allocations of the PCSDS. It was
part of the continuous funding from the
national government and is reflected in the
disbursed total amount of Php. 136.51
million from 2013-2017 for Maintenance
and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE).
Above these GAA funds, the access to
Wildlife Management Fund (WMF) also
generated an amount of about Php 5.7
million for conservation and protection of
wildlife resources. Funds were derived from
fees, charges, donations, fines, damages,
grants or contributions collected, and
endowments within the
jurisdiction. These funds were obligated
and distributed appropriately based on the
adopted annual work and financial plan
submitted by the PCSD to the Department
of Budget and Management (DBM).
The funding support of the PCSDS
to the LGUs was lumped into the funds
provided to ECAN Board enforcement
groups. The provision of incentives to the
deputized WEO in the performance of their
duties was not stated. The absence of this
incentive system was observed as a
common law enforcement concern among
partner implementers. A common
assumption is that the greater the reward or
the punishment, the more likely people are
to cooperate (Biel, 2015). Financial
obligations still posed as a major concern
of partner agencies, but direct support from
the PCSDS was secured. As suggested by
Ostrom (1996), it is important to realize
where participants need to be able to build
a credible commitment to one another so
that if one side increases input, the other
will continue at the same or higher levels.
This practice has been observed as there
were always new resolutions by the PCSD
for the enhancement of implementation.
CONCLUSION AND POLICY
IMPLICATIONS
The co-production of environmental
services has been validated in the study
through the manifestations of collective
actions done by the key actors for the
PCSD’s
implementation of the Wildlife Act in the
province of Palawan. The fate of Palawan’s

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 Manalo & Manalo/Our Palawan 2021 (7) 16-29

biodiversity firmly remains in the resilient cases solely against the provisions of RA
coordination of the PCSD with its technical 9147;
staff, the PCSDS. However, the • Most common reasons for the dismissal
collaborative efforts of different institutions of criminal cases filed was due to
concretized their common goal of insufficient evidence and failure of the
collective actions. Policies developed under prosecution to present their witnesses;
the provisions of RA 9147 in the province • Funds allocated by the national
of Palawan were excellently implemented government and generated trust fund are
by DENR-DA-PCSD. Their major policy stable but not sufficient to provide
outcomes have led to a sustained substantive support to local government
implementation across all sectors of society units.
that cascaded at the community level.
Given the abovementioned findings,
Collective action was applied to
it is recommended that future efforts to
communities that utilize natural resources
amend the provision of RA 9147 should
for development. However, the several
consider the concluded review of
policies related to direct enforcement,
assessment presented in this study.
logistics and financial obligations were
partly fulfilled but the continuing public
awareness and community participation
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
were exceptionally accomplished
collaboratively. Thus, in consideration with We would like to thank the Palawan

the ongoing application of the Council for Sustainable Development Staff

implementing rules and regulations, the (PCSDS) for the issuance of SEP clearance

following assessments have manifested and cooperation for conduct of the study. To

their effect on the completeness of the the respondents Niño Rey Estoya, Ian

Wildlife Development of inter-agency Christian Vega, Rhodora Ubani, Salvador

enforcement plan should strengthen Guion, Mario Basaya, Willy Ortega, Atty.

management bodies and may create multi- Carlo Gomez for their inputs. The authors

partite enforcement and monitoring team: would also like to thank Dr. Francisco
Magno from De La Salle University,
• Enhance resources and incentive Philippines for his mentorship and advice
systems should be arranged for the for the completion of the first author’s
mandated enforcement groups and Master’s thesis “Environmental Governance
community enforcers as compliment to in Palawan: The implementation of the
positive achievement. Wildlife Resources Conservation and
• Reduced fines and penalties for illegal Protection Act of 2001”.
acts always deter the filing of criminal

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