A comprehensive water management project led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is expected to launch in the municipality of Kalayaan to guarantee sanitation and constant access to potable water hundreds of kilometers away from mainland Palawan.
Located 520 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa, Kalayaan island residents will benefit in preventing pollution, water contamination, and harm to the local flora and fauna, said spokesman for the military's Western Command (WESCOM) Ariel Joseph Coloma.
Additionally, he noted that DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga has acknowledged that Pag-asa Island, the largest island in Kalayaan, has limited space and is a prime location for illness if an efficient water management system is not put in place.
"The secretary discussed potential solutions with local officials while also highlighting successful initiatives implemented elsewhere that could be adapted for use on Pag-asa Island," he said.
According to Coloma, Loyzaga and Municipal Mayor Roberto del Mundo talked about building a water filtration system on Pag-asa Island, which is home to the people of Kalayaan. They acknowledged the vital need for clean drinking water for both residents and tourists.
Future Plans for Kalayaan
There are 193 people living in the town of Kalayaan, which is composed of seven distinct islands, according to the most recent census carried out in 2020.
The municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan is the smallest in the Philippines in terms of population, but it has the biggest area under jurisdiction—nearly 65,000 square miles—centered on Pag-asa Island.
The DENR, along with the University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI), presides over a marine research expedition in the Kalayaan Islands and the West Philippine Sea bi-annually.
There are also plans for the DENR and the UP-MSI to build a marine research station in Kalayaan for marine research encompassing other Philippine-owned lands and Pag-asa Island.
“Scientific studies have established that the marine ecosystem in the Kalayaan Island Group is a critical biodiversity area and is crucial for the sustainable supply of fish and coral larvae in the Philippines and the region,” the DENR said.
