Brief History and Mandate

The CSPG was created on 6 August 2002 as per Board Resolution No. 45, Series of 2001 and Office Order No. 84 based on the concept notes of Director Oskar Balbastro of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Region IV-B, Engr. Nelson Devanadera of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), Dr. Michael Pido and Atty. Julius Concepcion. Atty. Concepcion became the unit’s first director in 2002. He was succeeded by Dr. Michael Pido who served from April 2003 up to February 2014. Effective 2 March 2014, Engr. Maria Rosario Aynon A. Gonzales became the 3rd Director with Dr. Pido as CoDirector.

As a unit, it is envisioned to provide Palawan with an institutional arm for policy making and technical assistance as well as formulate the framework to strengthen the role of the province in the security and development of the country within the context of East Asia/Pacific Area. The CSPG is committed to performing the following tasks: (1) provide consultancy and/or professional services in its key areas of technical competence; (2) undertake strategic research relevant to governance, resource management, and sustainable development; (3) provide training to enhance the capability of local leaders and professionals; (4) sponsor knowledge-based events such as conferences, seminars, and workshops; (5) develop appropriate policy recommendations, including packaging and dissemination of relevant information; (6) establish a network of professionals and institutions involved in development planning, policy-making, and security and development issues; and (7) serve as repository of specialized knowledge including a management information system.

Summary of Accomplishments

Since 2002, CSPG was able to accomplish a total of 38 projects in partnership with various organizations. It has published and presented numerous technical papers in national and international conferences. Also, it has established linkages with 58 local, national, and international organizations. Furthermore, the CSPG already has 19 international and local affiliates who perform the roles of adjunct researchers and faculty members.

Current and Upcoming Projects

At present, CSPG has several on-going projects such as the Application of Coral Transplantation Technology to Improve Productivity of Coral Reef Resources for Responsible and Sustainable Fisheries and Harness Potentials of Honda and Ulugan Bays, Puerto Princesa, Palawan for Underwater Tourism and the Capturing Coral Reef and Related Ecosystem Services (CCRES) project. The former is being conducted in collaboration with the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCCARRD) and the Sangkalikasan Producers Cooperative while the latter is in partnership with the Global Climate Change of the University of Queensland in Australia. Additionally, the CSPG is also working on the research project Transnational Seafood Commodity Chains and the Coastal Poor in the Maritime Frontiers of the Asia-Pacific in collaboration with the James Cook University. A research proposal titled “Best Practices and Management Experiences in Ecotourism: Generating Alternative Livelihoods within the Palawan Biosphere Reserve, Philippines” has also been accepted for a research grant from the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves for Environmental and Economic Security (BREES) program.

Moreover, some of its projects in the pipeline include: the Malampaya Foundation, Inc. (MFI)-funded Rapid Rural Assessment of the Barangays within the Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape in the Municipality of Taytay, the Waste Water Treatment of PSU- San Vicente Campus with the local government unit of San Vicente, Palawan; Political ecology of the green economy on Palawan Island with the University of Melbourne in Australia; and the Politically and Economically Empowered Women and Men Coexist in Harmony with the Thriving Biodiversity in Resilient Municipality of Magsaysay, Palawan, Philippines under the Small Grants Program of the United Nations Development Project (UNDP).