Today, April 19, 2024, the DENR-PENRO Palawan through PENRO Palawan IEC Unit Head, Irene A. Mixdon, IEC Members, and CDS staff witnessed the film screening of “The Blue Quest: Palawan” at the Palawan State University Amphitheatre. This Conservation Award-Winning documentary film in the International Ocean Film Festival in San Francisco is a recent work of the documentary filmmakers Clemente Pourtal and Jerome Brousse which showcased the Sulubaai Environmental Foundation, the C3 Philippines, Tubbataha Reefs National Park through the assistance of Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD). 

In the 47 minutes documentary film, they featured the uplifting journey of the Sulubaai Environmental Foundation led by the foundation’s Co-Founder, Frederic Tardieu, on how the Island of Pangatalan in the northern part of Palawan was restored and back into its pristine appearance by planting thousands of trees, mangroves, and planting artificial coral reefs. It was like an undulated journey, uncertain of what tomorrow may bring and unsure of how strong the waves would hit the shore during the storms but with the dedication of the people behind the foundation and with the involvement of the people in the community of the Island the restoration and continuous protection of marine life became possible. 

Correspondingly, the PASu and Park Rangers of the Tubbataha Reefs National Park, unwavering love and dedication to protecting the Park as well as the life that depends on it was also highlighted in the film. This protected area is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Palawan.

Likewise, the C3’s protection program based on Busuanga Island was also shown in the documentary which hopes to protect the home of the Dugong through the collective efforts of the C3 and the indigenous community in the area. 

The film does not only highlight the conservation, protection initiatives, and collective efforts of the Sulubaii, C3 Philippines, and TRNP to safeguard marine biodiversity but Frederic Tardieu also cited the invaluable support, participation, and synergy of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources during the panel discussion. This revelatory cinematic masterpiece vision is to make a lasting impact on the general viewers and the widespread involvement from government bodies to local communities, in preserving our natural resources for future generations as one of the most important ingredients in the long-term conservation works of our natural resources in land and the vast ocean.