PNOC EC donates 285 floaters to Palawan Municipalities for Marine Protection

PNOC EC President and CEO Franz “Chicoy” E. Alvarez (center, both photos) led the distribution of payao floaters for marine protection in different municipalities in Palawan.

Multiple barangays from the municipalities in North Palawan and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) received a total of 285 floaters from PNOC Exploration Corporation on July 3 and July 12, 2024.

The selected Local Government Units (LGU) and the PCG will use the floaters as protective barriers for the marine protected areas (MPAs) in the said municipalities.

These marine ecosystems mainly serve as nursing grounds for fish and help increase fish stock, among others. Protecting these will help in maintaining a productive source of food and safekeeping of endangered species. This will provide various benefits to the communities in Palawan and the nation as a whole.

Franz “Chicoy” Alvarez, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PNOC EC, together with a team from the company, provided support for logistics and personally distributed these floaters to the LGUs during its official turn-over ceremonies.

 

PNOC EC and its Mandate

PNOC EC is a state-owned company mandated to lead the exploration, development, and production of oil, gas, and coal resources in the country. Its projects are all directed to support the goal of attaining energy security in the Philippines.

One of the company’s projects is Service Contract 57 (SC 57) in Calamian, Palawan. It is considered a high potential energy resource as it is located closest to the biggest source of natural gas in the Philippines, the Malampaya gas-to-power project, along with other oil and gas resources in the said area.

As part of PNOC EC’s exploration endeavors under SC 57, the company engaged in a 3D Seismic Acquisition Survey early this year. This survey helps identify the prospectivity of the area for drilling and production of oil and gas.

If the said exploration project reaches success, this will be able to produce power to be supplied in Luzon.

 

The Payao Encounter

However, during the said exploration activity, the company faced a challenge in safety due to the presence of multiple local fishing devices called “payao,” owned by a number of fisherfolk from Occidental Mindoro.

Hence, to prevent harm and further ensure safety of the operations, the company had to safely remove the floaters of the said fishing devices.

 

Settlement with Payao Owners

SETTLED PAYMENT - Payao owners from Mindoro Occidental received compensation from PNOC EC following an amicable settlement for the affected payao in Palawan.

In acknowledgement of the effect of the payao floater removal, PNOC EC worked with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and engaged in negotiations with the affected payao owners to further address its impact.

This involved settlement of payment to the respective payao owners and conduct of multiple community dialogues in order to ensure just compensation and prevention of potential disruptions to the livelihood of the fisherfolk.

 

The Donation of Floaters

FLOATERS FOR MARINE PROTECTION – To support the Filipino fisherfolk in the nearby communities of SC 57 in Palawan (PNOC EC exploration project), PNOC EC donated payao floaters that will serve as protective markers for the Marine Protected Areas (MPA) of Coron, Busuanga, and Culion.

To officially distribute the floaters, PNOC EC held two turn-over ceremonies in Coron and El Nido, Palawan.

The beneficiaries of the floaters are the fisherfolk from the communities in Coron, Busuanga, and Culion. Each received 50 floaters on July 3, totaling to 150 floaters given to the said cluster.

FLOATERS FOR MARINE PROTECTION – To support the Filipino fisherfolk in the nearby communities of SC 57 in Palawan (PNOC EC exploration project), PNOC EC donated payao floaters that will serve as protective markers for the Marine Protected Areas (MPA) of Linapacan, El Nido, and Taytay.

Meanwhile, the following municipalities in the second cluster then received a total of 120 floaters on July 12: Linapacan, 40; El Nido, 50; and Taytay, 30.

The Philippine Coast Guard also received 15 floaters from PNOC EC on the same day.

 

The Response of the Municipalities

Different government officials and representatives from the said municipalities graced the turn-over ceremonies respectively, and expressed gratitude to the company for the donated floaters.

Taytay local government representative for the Fishery Section, Philip Alorro, thanked the company for the benefit this will provide to the municipality.

“Kami sa aming bayan ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa programang ibinigay ng PNOC Exploration Corporation, sa pangunguna [ni President and CEO] Franz E. Alvarez. Sa pamamagitan ng mga payao floaters na inyong ibinigay ay mas lalo pa naming [pagbubutihin] ang mga [itinalagang] marine protected areas sa aming bayan at ililigtas ang natitirang yaman laban sa banta ng IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing at mas mapaunlad pa ang kabuhayan ng aming mga mangingisda sa Taytay,” he said during his speech.

PAYAO FLOATERS – Gathered floaters of payao received by the selected communities in Palawan.

The Philippine Coast Guard also added that the floaters will be used for the Filipinos fishing in the West Philippine Sea, “‘Yung mga ire-receive po namin na payao will be utilized effectively para ma-increase and ma-sustain ‘yung marine species environment doon sa mga areas. Ito ‘yung makakatulong sa mga Filipino fisherfolks natin na nagco-conduct ng fishing activities na nangingisda sa areas sa West Philippine Sea.”

This initiative of the company, through the leadership of President Alvarez and the collaboration with the Palawan local governments, highlights PNOC EC’s commitment to continue striving not only to fulfill its role in energy-related objectives, but work in harmony with, and in support of, its stakeholders.

 

MORE PHOTOS:

IN THE PHOTO (from left to right): Mr. Andres O. Pangilinan, Jr. (Department of Energy), Hon. Elizabeth M. Cervantes (Municipal Mayor, Busuanga), Mr. Franz “Chicoy” E. Alvarez (PNOC EC President & CEO), Hon. Ma. Virginia N. de Vera (Municipal Mayor, Culion), and Mr. Jaime A. Bacud (PNOC EC Vice President, Upstream Operations Division).

 

IN THE PHOTO (from left to right): Mr. Andres O. Pangilinan, Jr. (Department of Energy), Hon. Edna Gacot-Lim (Municipal Mayor, El Nido), Mr. Franz “Chicoy” E. Alvarez” (PNOC EC President and CEO), Hon. Emil Neri (Municipal Mayor, Linapacan), and Philippine Coast Guard Representative.

 

IN THE PHOTO: PNOC EC President Alvarez together with Mr. Andres O. Pangilinan, Jr. and members of the Philippine Coast Guard.

 

 

PEACEFUL AGREEMENT - Members of PNOC EC rolled out compensation to the payao owners from Occidental Mindoro on 19 June 2024.