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Pitcher orchid newly discovered in Palawan, Its foreign-sounding name irked PCSD

                                                                     Alex S. Marcaida                                                                                                                                    Media Bureau Chief PCSD                                   


(Continuation from Front Page) Just this year, it was published by Botanical Journal of Linnean Society. Scientists worldwide took notice of the discovery and hailed the British scientists for this rare find. This pisses-off PCSD as it is unfair to Palawan which should take recognition of this precious find. The PCSD contests that credits of this discovery should belong to Palawan as it was found here. The name therefore should annotate that of Palawan This discovery recently captured the headlines of national and international media due to reports indicating the plant as rodent-eating as it can trap and dissolve prey with its acid-like enzyme inside its pitcher-shaped leaves. But according to respected Filipino scientists, this is anecdotal as simply the pitcher plant is a passive trap and does not literally attack preys. Gov. Joel T. Reyes, chairman of the PCSD said that “this haggle over the name of the orchid is not simply an ownership issue, but the ecological and economical implications it would bring for Palawan. Presence of pitcher plant in a forest ecosystem indicates a healthy ecosystem meaning Palawan should be credited for its lushness and biodiversity”, Reyes stressed. Consequently, PCSDS OIC-Exec. Dir. Romeo B. Dorado opined that the two British botanists may face legal charges in the Philippine Court. The PCSDS suspects that the conduct of the study was illegal as it did not conform to Palawan environmental laws. Specifically, the study was conducted without an SEP Clearance and Environmental Compliance Certificates which is a blatant violation to the SEP Law (RA 7611), the Environmental Impact Assessment Law and Wildlife Act (RA 9147). “Palawan has been a victim of bio-piracy in years, our natural endowments had been transformed into pharmaceutical and landmark products without Palawan getting any share of royalties and even copies of the study literatures xxx. The SEP Law provides that all programs and projects including researches are subject to the SEP Clearance system and should conform to related environmental laws, and this study is not exempt” Dorado closed.