May 2022

POLICY BRIEF
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, College of Arts in Humanities
Guilaran, J.X. S., Ruhen, R.M. U., Suyu, W. B.

Note PERCEPTION OF THE

Disclaimer: RESIDENTS OF SOFRONIO
The views expressed ESPAÑOLA, PALAWAN ON
in this publication are
those of the author THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
and should be
attributed to Palawan R.A 9175 OTHERWISE
State University and
College of Arts and
KNOWN AS CHAINSAW ACT
Humanities.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The researchers are conducting a research “policy making was the
entitled “Perception of the Residents of
Sofronio Española, Palawan on the function of political
Effectiveness of R.A 9175 (Otherwise known executive and policy
as Chainsaw Act” for the researcher to know
the perceptions of the residents regarding the implementation was the
current issue.
concern of the permanent
This study will be undertaken to find out the executive”
perception of the selected residents of
Sofronio Española on the effectiveness on
Woodrow Wilson (1887)
implementing anti-illegal logging policy within
their municipality which containing laws
prohibiting illegal logging and among others.

RESEARCH OVERVIEW
This study addressed the issue on the
effectiveness of the municipal government of
Sofronio Española on addressing the illegal-
logging practices present on their municipality
that may brought a massive forest loss,
through the implementation of anti-illegal
logging policy, specifically the violations of
R.A No. 9175 otherwise the Chainsaw Act by
analyzing the perceptions of the selected
residents of Sofronio Española regarding the
implementation of the aforesaid
environmental law.

RESEARCH APPROACH
This research is a quantitative research that
uses different statistical tools such as
frequency counts, weighted mean, and T-test
to analyze the effectiveness of the anti-illegal
logging policy in Sofronio Española.
May 2022

POLICY BRIEF
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, College of Arts in Humanities
Guilaran, J.X. S., Ruhen, R.M. U., Suyu, W. B.

FRAMEWORK
Ostrom’s (2005) Institutional analysis using
Rational-Choice Institutionalism Model “A
Framework for Institutional analysis” is a
general language for analyzing and testing
hypotheses about behavior. Moreover, New
Institutionalism theory helps to construe the
relationship between institutions and
behavior, and how to explain the process
whereby institutions originated or changed. In
this study, R.A No. 9175 otherwise known as
the Chainsaw Act served as an exogenous
variable that evaluates the effectiveness of
the policy implementation of the Local
Government Unit of Sofronio Española.
Analyzing the perceptions (interactions
category) of the local officials and local
residents of the mentioned policy, is also a
major contribution on evaluating the outcome
of the policy being implemented.
Key Findings
Perception of the Local Officials of Sofronio
Española on the Effectiveness of the
implementation of RA No. 9175. The data
revealed that the local officials are aware on
R.A No. 9175 entitled “An act Regulating the
Ownership, Possession, Sale, Importation,
and use of Chainsaws, Penalizing Violation

thereof and for other purposes” also known

as the Chainsaw Act as perceived by the
local officials. As part of the task force
enforcing the mentioned law and other
related policies to prevent massive illegal
logging in Sofronio Española, by some
means the researchers visualized that the
local officials have the high probability to get
the alleged level of awareness.
Perception of the Local Residents of Sofronio
Española on the Effectiveness of the
implementation of RA No. 9175. The overall
data showed (Table 2.a and 2.b) that the
Local Residents perceived the LGU of
Sofronio Española as part of Anti-Illegal
Logging Local Task Force are effective on
leading the anti-illegal logging campaign in
the municipality by ensuring the strict
implementation of R.A 9175 within their
municipality.
Significant Difference between the
Perceptions of Local Officials and Local
Residents. The researchers failed to reject
the null hypothesis stating that “there is no
relationship on analyzing the significant
difference between the perceptions of the
local officials and the local residents on the
effectiveness of anti-illegal logging policy in
Sofronio Española” as based on the result of
the T-test statistical analysis applied to this
study.
May 2022

POLICY BRIEF
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, College of Arts in Humanities
Guilaran, J.X. S., Ruhen, R.M. U., Suyu, W. B.

Key Recommendation
The researchers commend the incumbent
officials of Sofronio Española for serious
implementation of the R.A No. 9175 as
perceived both by the local officials and local
residents. However, the 76% perceived level
of effectiveness by the local residents to the
LGU’s implementation has still had a space
for improvement with the primary goal of
forming relationships with local government
units and local stakeholders in order to bring
in more resources. The monitoring and
implementation of the construction activities
are heavily influenced by the Local
Government Unit as the main implementers.
As shown on the data collected, only 69.4 %
of the residents are aware of the 20% reward
given to any voluntarily informer of any illegal
logging related activities they might witness to
the authorities, thus it is recommended to the
officials to promote this particular provision to
the eighty to ninety percent (80-90%) of the
public and encourage more citizens to
participate and be vigilant.
The researchers and some of the residents,
recommend to the possible researchers in the
academe, to have a follow up study related to
factors affecting the perceptions and stands
of residents on any destructive activities
affecting the environmental protection and
conservation of Palawan’s Last Ecological
Frontier such as Mining Operations, Illegal
Logging Practices, Slash and Burn, Coal-
Fired Power Plant Construction, and other
related issues.
This paper also recommends for the research
endeavors of Political Science in the College
of Arts and Humanities to conduct parallel
study in other situated municipalities.
Conclusion
The researchers concluded that, the two sets
of respondents perceived that the Local
Government Unit of Sofronio Española, as a
part of Local Task Force mandated to enacts
and implement RA 9175 also known as
Chainsaw Act, is effective on implementing
the mentioned law within their jurisdiction.
Hence, there is no significant difference
between the perceptions of the Local Officials
and Local Residents on the implementation of
Anti-Illegal Logging Policy on the aspect of
Level of Awareness and Level of
Effectiveness.