The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) recognized 12 accommodation establishments in the province that met the standards of Zero Carbon Resorts (ZCR) Project.
ZCR Special Awards were given to Club Agutaya in San Vicente, Balay Tuko and Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort in Puerto Princesa City, Pangatalan Sustainable Island Project in Taytay, and Sangat Island Resort in Coron for obtaining 80 to 89 percent score.
The Special Citation for obtaining percentage score of 70 to 79 percent were also conferred to seven other establishments namely: Astoria Palawan Resort and Puerto Pension in Puerto Princesa City, El Nido Coco Resort, Cadlao Resort, and Mahogany Resort in El Nido, Asia Grand View Hotel and La Natura in Coron town.
The Zero Carbon Resort Project is an initiative to lessen the carbon footprints of establishments, particularly those in the tourism industry using the 3R Methodology of Reduce, Replace, and Redesign.
“Every year, PCSDS and partners search for tourism establishments in Palawan that practices the 3R Methodology of Reduce, Replace, and Redesign and meet the standards of Zero Carbon Resorts (ZCR) Project and Green Hotel Certification,” the PCSD said in a statement.
The objective of the ZCR Awards is to recognize tourism establishments that have adopted attributes of the Zero Carbon Resorts (ZCR) Project.
The PCSD is a multi-sectoral and inter-disciplinary body, which under the Republic Act 7166 or the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan Act is vested with the governance, implementation and policy direction of the SEP.
In 2011, PCSD, in attaining one of its key actions, launched ZCR with funding from the European Union.
ZCR program taught how to save energy and costs – from solar panels and LED lights to rainwater harvesting, refillable bottles and bamboo roofs for extra cooling.
The PCSD, together with the leading agencies implementing the ZCR project in the province has a ZCR model cottage located in Brgy. Irawan, Puerto Princesa City.