Amid South China Sea dispute, Philippines’ Palawan is besieged by political split
The Philippine province of Palawan is set to decide on a law that will divide the province into three: Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental and Palawan del Sur.
Palawan stands on the Philippines’ western border and is the country’s sentinel in the maritime dispute in the South China Sea.
Anti-division groups have raised concerns that the split will weaken the implementation and management of environmental programs Palawan has been known for, and in the process, endanger the province’s already threatened ecology.
Palawan’s marine ecosystems have been under constant threat from illegal fishing and poaching by foreign vessels encroaching on its waters.