What is the worth of protected land in El Nido, Palawan?

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

For a country frequently ravaged by typhoons and floods, you’d expect there to be some sort of adaptive measures set by our local and national governments. Flood control? Out of the question for obvious reasons, with billions of pesos lost to faulty and non-existent infrastructure—and money, pocketed by conniving contractors and public officials.

What about disaster readiness? In 2024, the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) scored the Philippines 19.2 out of 50 across five objective measures of disaster preparedness. This marks a 42 percent increase from a similar survey done seven years prior. Still, it’s insufficient for a country identified as one of the world’s most disaster-prone places.

Surely we’re doing better in environmental protection. Not really. Sierra Madre, Luzon’s biggest natural typhoon barrier, loses around 9,000 hectares of forest cover per year, according to Haribon. And in recent news, around three hectares of land were reportedly cleared out in Barrangay Villa Libertad, El Nido, Palawan—not for mining, illegal logging, or infrastructure.

But a two-day motocross event.

All those trees and for what?!

According to several residents of Barangay Villa Libertad, El Nido—who won’t be named for the sake of privacy and security—three hectares of trees were wiped out in a matter of days last week. Drone footage sourced from the locals reveals excavators, trucks, a fully equipped team—and a before-and-after comparison revealing the damage done to the luscious greenery.

What for? The 4th Tapat EGL Motocross Invitational 2026.

Promotional material found on JR Alcantara Gabarra’s Facebook page, an El Nido Sangguniang Bayan member, shows event details for a motocross event to be held from Mar. 14 to 15. The event features competitions in several off-road motorcycle categories and is said to be done in celebration of the municipality’s 110th Founding Anniversary.

“With scenic limestone cliffs and coastal landscapes as the backdrop, the motocross invitational promises thrilling races, community spirit, and high-octane entertainment,” the post, dated Feb. 20, reads.

The post also indicates that the event is an initiative of El Nido Mayor Edna Gacot-Lim, with the support of Vice Mayor Joel Rosento and the entire municipal council.

Interestingly, the event announcement specifies that there will be “free giveaways and raffle prizes for all riders.” Further research, however, reveals no indicated sponsors or brand partners tied to the event. What budget did this come from? How was this funded? Your guess is as good as ours. However, while we attempted to reach out to the organizers, as well as the mayor’s office, for more information regarding the event, we did not receive any response.

The trade-off

Local sources indicate that the three-hectare venue is located on privately owned land. However, because Villa Libertad is an identified Managed Resource Protected Area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), trees cannot be simply cut down.

Though, as of writing, it has yet to be confirmed whether or not the exact plot of land in discussion is included in the designated protected area. Additionally, we’ve also yet to receive information if the deforestation was done with approval from DENR and all requisite offices.

According to the Philippine Clearing House Mechanism, Managed Resource Protected Areas refer to zones rich in natural resources that are protected for future use. Restrictions for commercial/development and even government use aren’t as strict as they would be for natural reserves or wildlife sanctuaries, but still, even cutting down trees in your own backyard already requires several permits and certificates.

For reference, according to the Forest Management Bureau, cutting down trees in private land requires the following: a letter of application, an authenticated copy of the land title, a development plan, LGU endorsement, endorsement by a local agrarian reform officer, an inventory fee, an initial environmental examination (IEE), and a 100 percent timber inventory. How was this done so quickly then?

Trees aren’t the only thing at stake here. Local residents indicate that the Palawan Hornbill is frequently seen in Villa Libertad. Also known as Talusi, the species is regarded as vulnerable and endemic. Not to mention, Villa Libertad as a whole is also flood-prone.

A two-day motocross event does not seem much. But after everything mentioned, let’s list down its added costs: three hectares worth of trees that could take decades before they are rehabilitated, the loss of habitat for native Palawan Hornbills, and increased flooding in Villa Libertad. Is a two-day event worth decades of considerable environmental damage?

A case of misplaced priorities

Three hectares may not seem a lot. It may likely be inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. But it matters a lot here.

In fact, whether or not the event organizers managed to secure the correct permits from DENR isn’t the problem. Because when a niche motocross event takes precedence over the protection of our natural resources, it begs the question: Where do the priorities of our local and national governments lie?

And seeing how quickly they move for a two-day event, whereas the El Nido Transport Terminal, a much-needed transportation hub that connects minivans and buses to the town proper, is yet to be finished (construction began in 2023), it’s certainly not in the right place.