Aborlan, Academe, and Advocacy: Lessons from Palawan, Philippines

Palawan has informally been designated the “last frontier” of the Philippine islands for its largely pristine biodiversity, low population density, and “tribal people” who call the island home. Furthermore, its... [ view full abstract ]

Palawan has informally been designated the “last frontier” of the Philippine islands for its largely pristine biodiversity, low population density, and “tribal people” who call the island home. Furthermore, its abundant agrarian lands, access to various fishing grounds, and spectacular sceneries have sustained the livelihoods of many families through farming, fishing, and tourism. However, the island’s natural resources have also attracted local and foreign economic interests, resulting in a number of resource development projects (e.g. commercial fishing, lumber, and mining) that have adversely impacted the well-being of indigenous and local communities.

The municipality of Aborlan, situated several kilometres south of Palawan's capital city of Puerto Princesa, has experienced aggressive plans by corporate actors to develop a coal-powered plant near farming and fishing territories that threatens the livelihoods of local workers. Such proposals were met with fierce community opposition, witnessing cooperation among, and demonstrations by, farmers, fisherfolks, clerics, and academics. Protests were uploaded online consequently garnering the attention of local news media alongside local and global support for the ban of the coal industry.

The nature of the protests is nothing new given Palawan's long history of environmental activism, but are boosted and reinterpreted by the impact of the municipality's local university, Western Philippines University. Through information and education campaigns (IECs) such as deliberative seminars, local flyer distribution, and personal narratives of health-related challenges, the university helped direct public attention from corporate to local interests that provided local communities the necessary tools and knowledge to understand the impacts of coal-powered plants to their livelihoods and survival.

This track analyzes the salience of Western Philippines University as an advocacy body for poor populations. It highlights the potentials and challenges of broader public engagement towards conservation and livelihoods in Palawan in general, and discusses the potential future of the university towards deliberative democracy, local environmental citizenship, and participatory activism in other parts of the island.