Conserving and Protecting the Last Coastal Forest Stands in the City of the Forest: Feathers under watch by the Western Command

A meaningful dialogue between the Western Command of the Philippines (WESCOM) and Katala Foundation Inc. (KFI) was held on February 27, 2026, reaffirming a shared commitment to environmental conservation in Puerto Princesa City.

The vicinity of WESCOM hosts one of the last remaining coastal forest stands in the city, an ecosystem of critical importance. Puerto Princesa, known as the “City in the Forest,” supports the third most globally important population of the critically endangered Philippine Cockatoo, locally known as the Katala.

During the dialogue, KFI Chief Operations Officer Indira Dayang L. Widmann commended WESCOM’s stance in safeguarding the West Philippine Sea and beyond, as it plays a crucial role in conserving one of the Philippines’ most threatened bird species. The remaining coastal forest trees, together with the abundance of malunggay in nearby residential areas, provide a reliable year-round food source for the birds.

Recognizing the ecological significance of the area, Acting Chief Unified Command Staff COL Eliezer P. Valdez Jr., PA (GSC), expressed WESCOM’s support for conservation initiatives. In discussions regarding future development plans within the Command’s vicinity, he conveyed openness to working together to ensure that development efforts remain aligned with biodiversity protection. He shared that it would be among the first initiatives of its kind and an added value for the WESCOM vicinity to become a sanctuary for wildlife, especially the Katala.

This dialogue marks an encouraging step toward strengthened collaboration between national security and environmental conservation stakeholders, demonstrating that protecting natural heritage and safeguarding national interests can go hand in hand. Indeed, an opportunity where discipline meets conservation and every wingbeat is a symbol of resilience.

For more information, please contact Indira Widmann, Katala Foundation, P.O. Box 390, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, or email [idlacerna@gmail.com](mailto:idlacerna@gmail.com).

Editor’s Note:

• Katala Foundation, Inc. (KFI) uses the endemic Philippine Cockatoo as its flagship species to fulfill its vision of conserving biodiversity through active community involvement.
• The Philippine Cockatoo Conservation Program (PCCP) is KFI’s pilot program, initiated in 1998 on Rasa Island in the Municipality of Narra, Palawan, Philippines.
• Photos attached. Credit: Katala Foundation Inc.