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Palawan News January 2017

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Palawan - Archived News
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Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

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Undergroud River in Palawan
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Underground river in Pureto Princesa, Palawan
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Baracuda Lake, Coron, Palawan

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
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U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie A. Kenney and USAID/Philippines Environment Office Chief Daniel Moore witness the safe and sustainable collection of ornamental fish by certified Marine Aquarium Council collectors in Palawan

City gov’t aims for full implementation of mobile birth cert registration

By Aira Genesa Magdayao

As a mandate of Proclamation No. 1106 which declared the years of 2015-2024 as Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Decade (CRVS), the local government of Puerto Princesa, in partnership with the Office of the Civil Registrar, is now providing mobile birth registration services in all schools in the city.

The said program aims to bring the services of the Civil Registry in all public schools of Puerto Princesa, particularly the free registration of birth certificates, as well as information dissemination and consultation.

According to Helen Antinero, City Civil Registar Officer, their pilot tests that were conducted in Barangay Langogan, Maoyon and Tanabag were very successful and have reached about 448 beneficiaries as of December last year.

Antinero added that their office, with the cooperation of the City Government, is now trying their best to help the 66 barangays of Puerto Princesa through the city’s 75 public schools.

“Gusto namin na maabot ang ating mga kababayan na mas nangangailan ng serbisyong ganito. Isa pa mahalaga ito lalo na’t ang daming nanganganak na hindi agad agad naasikaso ang birth certificate ng kanilang mga anak,” she added.

In connection with this, according to Antinero, they are going to Babuyan National High School for mobile birth certificates registration on February 17-18.

The officer also gave her thanks to the Department of Education and barangays officials who embraced and provided assistance their project.

Palawan oil field holds more reserves

By Alena Mae S. Flores

A consortium led by Australian company Nido Petroleum Ltd. hopes to extract more oil from the Galoc oil field located 60 kilometers northwest off Palawan.

Nido Petroleum’s subsidiary Galoc Production Co. WLL signed a binding rig contract with Golden Close Maritime Corp. Ltd. for the drillship “Deepsea Metro I” to drill an appraisal well at the Galoc mid area on behalf of the Galoc joint venture.

Nido said the Deepsea Metro I is a cutting edge drillship capable of simultaneous, safe and efficient operations. “The Deepsea Metro I will be contracted by the Galoc joint venture for a period of approximately four to five weeks with a contract commencement window of March 1 to 31, 2017,” it said.

The Deepsea Metro I is capable of operating in water depths of up to 10,000 feet and drilling to a total depth of 40,000 feet.

Golden Close Maritime Corp. Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deepsea Metro Ltd. which is 40 percent owned by the Odfjell Drilling group.

Nido managing director Mike Fischer said the consortium was looking forward to drilling operations commencing in the Philippines “as we seek to unlock the potential for extending the field life of our cornerstone asset.”

Nido and its joint venture partners are pursuing the appraisal well at the Galoc mid area of the Galoc field in northwest Palawan in preparation for the eventual depletion of the remaining reserves by 2019.

“If the Galoc-7/7ST is successful, the subsequent development of the GMA will materially increase reserves and production, substantially extending the life of the Galoc field,” Nido said earlier.

“Production at the Galoc field is currently declining and based on Nido’s proven reserves, estimates is anticipated to become sub-commercial in 2019,” Nido said.

The successful development of the GMA will extend the life of the Galoc field to the first quarter of 2027. Members of the Galoc joint venture are Nido, Kufpec, Oriental Petroleum and Minerals and The Philodrill Corp.

The Galoc oil field produces an average daily of production of 5,079 barrels a day. The field has produced over 17.8 million barrels since 2008.

Puerto Princesa to celebrate first Chinoy Festival this year

By Lyle Coruňa

The city government of Puerto Princesa will launch this Saturday its first-ever Chinoy Festival in time for the celebration of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rooster.

The institutionalization of Chinoy Festival is based on the ordinance authored by Vice Mayor Luis Marcaida III which sought the event’s perpetual celebration in the city.

“In recognition of the established cooperative relationship, mutual trust and benefit, and respect to their lively and divergent culture and tradition, it’s high time for the city to institute an event to be called as “Puerto Princesa Chinoy Festival” which will further boost the cooperation in the fields of culture, technology, entertainment and education, peace and order and tourism,” Vice Mayor Marcaida told Palawan News.

The local Chinese community of Puerto Princesa has welcomed the idea, said Marcaida. “We have consulted the Chinoys (or Filipinos of Chinese descent) here. They are willing to sponsor the celebration. Initial preparation is underway through the initiatives of the Puerto Princesa Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Palawan Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce,” he said.

The said festival’s main highlight includes a cultural and trade fair that will showcase an array of Chinese products, arts and culture including dragon dances and fireworks display, and exotic food to help promote and boost the city’s tourism industry. Aside from this, on Saturday, the Chinoys in Puerto Princesa will participate on a street parade with its famous dragon dance. Valencia Street will be closed to traffic from 2-8 p.m. There will also be a search for ‘Mr. and Ms. Fil-Chi’, and a cultural presentation from Palawan Hope Christian School, as well as a performance from a live band.

“We would like the public to witness the celebration particularly the media people during the turn-over of the copy of the ordinance which creates the Chinoy Festival. Please be part of the history,” Marcaida added.

Puerto Princesa City, known for its natural wonders and vibrant culture, is home to a large number of residents with Chinese ancestry and linkages, as reflected through its early and modern local history. This non-indigenous ethnic community, which include variants of Chinese mestizos and pure Chinese Filipinos collectively tagged as ‘Chinoys’, has contributed to the continuous development of Puerto Princesa as among the most livable and highly-urbanized cities in the country.

The City Government of Puerto Princesa has placed emphasis on the promotion of mutual respect and cooperation among its citizens and to seek private sector participation to achieve lasting peace and development.

“It is therefore the policy of this local government to carry out programs, project and activities that will support and recognize people’s initiatives and thereby promote local tourism and culture,” part of the Chinoy Festival ordinance states.

El Nido LGU determined to counter ‘red tape’ in permits issuance

By Melba P. Daganta

The local government of El Nido is exerting all possible effort to counter the ‘red tape’ in issuing business or mayor’s permit in their town, this according to Bernie Bero, Chief of Permits & Licensing Division, in an interview with Palawan News.

“Aware naman po tayo [Ma’am] sa order ni President Duterte, saka nasa ARTA Law naman po ‘yan kaya sinisikap natin na sundin. Basta naman po kumpleto sa requirements, saka andyan si Mayor, kaya po nang isang araw,” Beru said.

However, Bero explained, there are some instances that the process still tend to be “longer” particularly if the business application involves possible environmental impacts.

“Alam n’yo naman po na ang El Nido ay protected area, kaya kapag may impact sa kalikasan ang isang business halimbawa, kinakailangan pang dumaan sa Protected Area Management Board, so minsan ‘yun po ang nagpapatagal,” he added.

“Minsan naman po nagkakaroon ng problema sa renewal. Kasi ‘yung iba kapag na-isyuhan na ng permit, ang gagawin saka magpapagawa ng extension ng building. Kapag nakita sa inspection, doon nagkakaroon ng problema,” Bero further said.

There are currently around 1,300 business establishments in El Nido town. If other businesses like transport and those involving skilled workers are also considered, there are about 2,500 persons/business establishments that are expected to comply with permitting requirements this year.

“So far naman, nasa 90% ang compliance,” Bero said. He added that they are targeting 100% compliance before February ends. The local officer further advised all concerned parties to comply with all the requirements to ensure the legality of their business operations.

ZEN Rooms enters Palawan

By Joy Tabuada

Our travels, whether for relaxation, finding solitude or for looking for fun in another place, often will have one central element that can make or break the trip: the place where we’ll stay or our accommodation. Booking a hotel or place to stay, particularly in popular destinations, often occupies most of our period of preparation. For many of us, the type of accommodation and the comfort it provides must merge seamlessly with the price to fully meet our satisfaction.

Finding accommodation in world-famous Palawan, labeled as the “Best Island in the World” for several times by Travel + Leisure Magazine, can be especially challenging given the increasing number of tourists and the limited number of accommodation options. Despite the growing number of hotels, pension houses and all sorts of accommodation in the province, one of the persisting challenges in the tourism industry is meeting expectations of guests who are looking for good quality but affordable rooms. Admittedly, this kind of expectation is not always met.

But here’s some good news: ZEN Rooms Philippines, the No. 1 budget hotel in South East Asia, is now in Palawan to partner with local hotels, pension houses and other accommodation owners in developing affordable yet standard quality rooms.

With the simple motto ‘Sleep Well, Pay Less’, ZEN Rooms’ breakthrough model was launched in the Philippines middle of 2016 to offer a better budget accommodation experience at attractive prices. By optimizing efficiency in the accommodation market, ZEN is reinventing budget stays, providing double rooms with superior, guaranteed quality starting at an affordable price of PHP 850 – well below the country’s local hotel chains! Every ZEN guest is guaranteed free fast Wi-Fi, a comfortable double bed, working AC, a warm shower and 24/7 customer support.

ZEN Rooms Philippines provides a website, www.zenrooms.com, where you can book for accommodation in various destinations in the Philippines like Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Boracay, Pampanga, and soon in Palawan. It has already 600+ rooms across 100 properties and the number is growing.

“Palawan is a booming tourist destination. There is a real demand for budget accommodation that is why I believe that our concept will work here too,” said ZEN Rooms Country Manager Benjamin Nicolas. “We are targeting the millennials who want to travel more and pay less,” Nicolas added.

Aside from El Nido, ZEN Rooms will soon penetrate budget hotels in Puerto Princesa and Coron.

ZEN Rooms is now available in Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong.

ZEN Rooms is backed by German conglomerate Rocket Internet and telecom group Ooredoo.

Palawan gov’t to implement expanded national school and community-based deworming

By Celeste Anna R. Formoso [(PNA), LAP/CARF/EBP]

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Jan. 24 (PNA) -- This January, the provincial government of Palawan will again start the implementation of the annual Expanded National School and Community-based Deworming in a bid to prevent nutritional impairment caused by soil-transmitted helminth infections during childhood.

Provincial Nutrition Action Office (PNAO) chief Rachel Paladan said Tuesday that the first round of “Oplan: Goodbye Bulate (OGB),” which is done twice a year will begin this month again in cooperation with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units (LGU).

She said the OGB’s main goal is to bring down cases of students affected by helminths, a group of parasites that “is commonly referred to as worms and include schistosomes (blood-flukes) and soil-transmitted parasitic worms that are common in developing countries.”

“The foremost target is to lessen the cases of children affected by parasitic worms in their stomachs that can cause diarrhea, loss of appetite which can lead to a drop in energy intake, and having low I.Q. in studying,” Paladan said.

OGB implementation will cover the distribution of anthelminthic (deworming) medicines to students from kinder to Grade 6 in all private and public schools in municipalities in the province.

Children between 1-4 years old will also be given anthelminthic medicines through health centers and Rural Health Unit (RHU).

Paladan said children who will be observed to be pale in complexion, emaciated, short of normal weight, with a bloated stomach, have no appetite to eat, and with blood in their stool should be immediately treated.

She said round one of deworming will happen before the month of January ends, and announcements will be made by the PNAO.

“Other than the deworming programs we have, of course, we want to remind parents that prevention is better than cure. We encourage them to maintain cleanliness in their environment, make their children always wear slippers, cut their finger nails regularly, and to wash their hands before meals to prevent parasitic worms from entering their body,” she said.

Environmentalists reiterate protest over resort construction in Puerto Princesa’s Turtle Bay

By Catherine Santos

Following the backlash launched by netizens against the proposed ‘underwater resort’ in Coron, Palawan, some environmentalists have reiterated their opposition in a similarly themed project in Turtle Bay, Puerto Princesa where an ‘Ocean Park’ is supposedly due for construction. The reiteration of opposition also came amidst recent reports that the project’s developer is applying for the renewal of its Environmental Compliance Certificate.

Diana Limjoco, one of those who led a petition against the project, said that the proposed construction will destroy marine habitats. “…It will destroy a natural habitat for otters, fisheries…that bay is natural hatchery. It will ruin the ecosystem of that bay. I am not anti-development at all, I am anti-unsustainable development, this development is unsustainable,” she said.

Limjoco also cited a City Ordinance in 1992 declaring Turtle Bay and Binunsalian Bay as a “marine sanctuary”. The ordinance defines “marine sanctuary” as “that portion of the municipal waters and its immediate marine environs where fish and other marine inhabitants are protected from any maritime activity, including, but not limited to exploitation and/or utilization, except by sustenance/marginal fishermen.”

“I would like people from Mangingisda, Luzviminda to contact me, and NGOs that would like to have livelihood programs, help me to create a livelihood program for that bay,” Limjoco added.

Limjoco’s sentiment is supported by the Environmental Legal Assistance Center or ELAC.

“Alamin natin ang social issues d’yan, suriin, pag-aralan at pagtulungan natin. Ang City Government, PCSD, DENR, the barangays, the proponent and the community there. Let’s work together to determine what could be the best tourism development. ‘Wag tayong mahawa sa mga artificial structure na isinusubo sa atin,” said said Atty. Gerthie Mayo-Anda, ELAC’s Executive Director. “We have to stand by our own natural uniqueness,” she added.

Based on reports, the proponent Seven Seas and its local partner are applying for the renewal of their ECC which expired last year. The developers were able to acquire an SEP Clearance in October 2014, a requisite before an ECC can be granted.

“Kasi pumasa ito sa mga requirements ng PCSD. Una nasa tamang sona naman ito, nasa multiple uses zone. So allowed s’ya na ilagay ang isang proyekto na gaya nito sa lugar,” PCSDS Spokesperson John Vincent Fabello explained. Fabello clarified, however, that he is not sure if the proponent will go “back to zero” in terms of complying with all the permit requirements.

“I don’t know the process about the ECC but as far as the PCSD SEP clearance is concerned, it still holds,” Fabello said.

The SEP clearance from PCSD is issued based on terms and conditions such as the prohibition of introducing exotic species to the area, and guarantee that the project will not cause adverse environmental impact and pose nuisance to public health and safety, as determined by the PCSDS.

Meanwhile, petitioners against the project have gathered more than 12K signature online thru http://save-turtlebay-palawan.blogspot.com/ .

The project’s proponents have yet to issue a statement or comment regarding the matter after the issue was brought back to the public’s attention.

Ayala Land promotes community development in El Nido, Palawan

(BusinessMirror)

Plaza ALI was recently unveiled at Lio, Ayala Land, Inc.’s (ALI) newest tourism estate in El Nido, Palawan. A project spearheaded by Ayala Malls and Ten Knots Development Corp. (TKDC), together with the municipality of El Nido, Plaza ALI is a covered basketball court that will serve as a central venue for community development programs, largely focused on promoting youth development and social entrepreneurship.

“More than just a physical space, Plaza ALI aims to uphold the value of communal unity and cooperation through a host of activities that will engage members of communities, hone each one’s talent and skills, and allow them to discover their full potential,” said Ayala Malls Group Head Rowena M. Tomeldan.

The first two Plaza ALI courts were officially turned over to barangays Villa Libertad and Pasadena, both located in El Nido, Palawan, and the closest neighboring communities of Lio. Before the turnover, a “barangay palaro” was held at the Plaza ALI courts of each barangay, where the kids had the chance to play Filipino street games with some special guests from The Voice Kids.

A basketball clinic was also conducted where forty participants had the opportunity to be coached and trained by professional basketball players, Dondon Hontiveros and Eric Menk.

As Lio Tourism estate is set to be launched to the public and will open its first hotel and retail establishments this year, Plaza ALI will continue to collaborate with the local government of El Nido, as well as the communities, to help create inclusive growth in the region.

Ayala Land is the Philippines’ leading developer of sustainable estates, offering a diverse mix of properties such as residential, retail, office, hotels, and leisure developments, that support local economic growth and nation-building.

The company was established in 1988 as the real estate arm of Ayala Corporation, a pioneer conglomerate and builder of the country’s premier financial and commercial district, now known as Makati Central Business District and Ayala Center.

Today, Ayala Land has a total of 19 sustainable estates and is present in 55 growth areas nationwide. It has five residential brands, namely Ayala Land Premier, Alveo, Avida, Amaia, and BellaVita, which deliver quality homes to a broad segment of the housing market. Its commercial development and leasing portfolio is comprised of Ayala Malls, Ayala Land Offices, and Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts Corporation.

Pia Wirtzbach set to visit Post Yolanda project in Coron

By Lyndon Plantilla (LP/NASSA/Caritas Philippines)

QUEZON CITY, January 21 (PIA) --- Reigning Ms. Universe Pia Wurtzbach this Saturday is set to visit the Integrated Watershed Management for Climate Resilience in Coastal Communities Project, run by the Catholic Organization for Relief and Development Aid (Cordaid) today.

Before Pia, Miss Universe 2013 Gabrielle Isler made a similar visit organized by Cordaid in 2014.

The project, supported by the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas Philippines, Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay-Social Action Center (AVT-SAC), the Municipality of Coron and the Miss Universe Foundation, has been empowering women and Indigenous People by building their coping capacities in the face of climate, disaster and environmental risks through locally appropriate and culturally sensitive techniques of land and water management.

Apart from improving coping capacities, participating women are also trained in climate resilient livelihood programs such as vegetable farming and handicraft production.

Cordaid, an international humanitarian organization and member of the Caritas Internationalis confederation, has operated in the country since 2013 in response to Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Prov’l Sports Office to initiate sports activities in municipalities

By Janice L. Quezon

The Provincial Sports Development Office is now engaged in administering sports activities in different municipalities in the province. According to Mr. Sunshine Cabiguen, Head of the Provincial Sports Development Office, the said initiative is part of their services in Palawan’s various towns whose leaders have previously looked for the provincial government’s assistance in hosting sports activities during local celebrations such as foundation day anniversaries and festivals.

As an initial example, Cabiguen shared to Palawan News that their team headed to Barangay Tigman in Aborlan last Monday, January 16 to facilitate the boxing competition of the said community. On January 28, their team will go to Barangay Isaub to officiate the same sports event.

Aside from supervising sports activities, Cabiguen’s office will also provide training programs and sports clinics to encourage Palaweños, especially the youth, to be active in sports.

Support reef conservation, Palawan gov tells reef-fish-for-food industry

By Keith Anthony Fabro (Rappler.com)

Palawan authorities are cracking down on illegal fishing that destroys coral reefs and imperils the sustainability of the lucrative industry

PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines – Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez has urged reef-fish-for-food (RFF) stakeholders to join the law enforcement authorities in their continuing crackdown on illegal fishing that destroys coral reefs and imperils the sustainability of their industry.

Alvarez made the call on Tuesday, January 17, during the implementation review on the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Administrative Order No. 5 (PCSD AO 5) or the policy regulating the province’s lucrative yet threatened RFF industry. RFF traders, catchers, and other stakeholders attended the event.

“We all know if we lose our corals, it will also result to the disappearance of Suno, right? Palawan’s increasing population has put a lot of pressure to our coral reefs. Through the years it has been abused and destroyed, primarily due to cyanide and dynamite fishing; so it’s high time to start taking care of our ocean,” said Alvarez, who also chairs the multi-sectoral and intergovernmental body PCSD.

The much sought-after reef fish Red Grouper, also known as Leopard Coral Trout (Plectropomus leopardus), is regulated under the PCSD AO 5, which aims to address its dwindling stocks by imposing size restriction and seasonal control.

The provincial government, under Alvarez, formed the Provincial Law Enforcement Task Force, a composite team tasked to run those who engage in activities that harm the environment.

Alvarez stressed that Palawan is so huge that it requires the participation of the coastal communities in combatting illegal fishing.

“We can’t do all the work. If we’re all agreeing to the goal of safeguarding our seas, then we’re letting our children and the incoming generations to enjoy our marine resources,” he said.

Alvarez further instructed municipal governments and the PCSD Staff (PCSDS) to address the concerns of the stakeholders to improve the RFF industry.

Despite the fact that Palawan focuses on coastal tourism, majority of its coral reefs are not as healthy as some imagine them to be, according to Glenda Cadigal, PCSDS Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN) Coastal-Marine Unit chief.

Cadigal noted that 30.3% and 21.1% of the province’s coral reefs were marked “fair” and “poor,” respectively. She said it was observed in the northern Palawan island towns of Cuyo, Agutaya, Magsaysay, Araceli, Busuanga, Coron; and in the mainland towns of San Vicente, El Nido, and Puerto Princesa City.

To address the problem, she said the PCSDS, in partnership with local government units, continues to map the ECAN zone of municipal waters, while doing coral rehabilitation programs and establishing more marine protected areas through the help of partner agencies and organizations.

Only 2.1% of the reefs remain in “excellent” condition, while 24% in “very good” and 22.5% in “good” conditions, Cadigal added. She said the coral reef condition in the southern Palawan mainland towns of Brooke’s Point, Quezon and Rizal, and Roxas, Taytay and Culion towns in the north were either maintained or showed improvement.

Cadigal said that according to a scientific study, Palawan’s reef areas, if managed sustainably, could give the province a whopping yearly income of about P31 billion through fisheries and tourism industries. “So if we don’t protect it, these would also be our losses,” she said.

Alvarez said the provincial government could allot funds for coral rehab. Another option, he added, is to put up a trust fund where a big chunk of it would be set aside for the said activity.

"Let's use the government money for coral rehab, which will eventually redound to the recovery of corals and sustainability of our fisheries," he said.

The governor added he would create a law enforcement unit in every municipality involving RFF industry frontliners, particularly catchers, by organizing them under the Palawan Rescue 165. This is to run after those who engage in illegal fishing using dynamite, cyanide, compressors, and high negative impact gears.

Extraordinary natural attractions serve as top draw for luxury travelers

(Manila Bulletin)

More than 15 awards and citations were conferred in 2016 by prestigious international and local organizations led by Conde Nast Traveler and the World Travel Awards to El Nido Resorts, a group of island resorts in Palawan.

According to El Nido Resorts marketing director Joey Bernardino, the awards mostly focus on the pristine surroundings of the four island resorts and collective business and social practices that have been adopted to sustain them. These come at the heels of other similar awards won since the start of the previous decade. “Such awards emphasize a strong global trend towards destinations with extraordinary natural attractions and the preference of travelers to see these attractions and the communities around them cared for responsibly,” he says.

The recognitions reaped by El Nido Resorts include winning Asia’s Responsible Tourism Award by the World Travel Awards; Southeast Asia’s and World’s Best Beach or Coastal Boutique Hotel by Boutique Hotel Awards; Best in the Philippine, Best Hidden Gem and Best for Outdoor adventure and Activities by Spafinder Wellness 365, among others. El Nido Resorts was also given special citations in 2016 by the Asean Corporate Sustainability Summit, CEO Asia, the Philippine Department of Tourism and TripAdvisor.

“The achievements won collectively and individually by Apulit, Lagen, Miniloc and Pangulasian (the four El Nido Resorts named after the islands that host them) appear to also be encouraging other Philippine resorts to work on protecting the nature-based attractions that bring them business,” according to Bernardino who has seen a marked increase over the past five years in the number of Philippine entries seeking travel, environmental and sustainability awards.

El Nido Resorts’ global awards dovetail with the marked preference of high-end travelers today for natural attractions and wide open spaces “served up as unique and smoothly executed experiences,” observes Javi Hernandez, chief operating officer of El Nido Resorts. According to studies cited by MyTravelResearch.com, nature helps replenish the energy levels of these travelers who are also heavy users of technology and seek to escape the “hustle and bustle” of their pressure-laden environments. The beeline for such attractions is one of a number of key trends driving luxury travel up to 2020 and beyond.

Another trend revolves around travelers realizing that “destinations that have a lighter impact on the earth and a greater one on wider wealth creation” are more desirable, reports the same study. In fact, El Nido Resorts is singled out by the study as leading Asia Pacific resort destinations in its socio-economic impact to the local community. More than 95 per cent of all employees in Apulit, Lagen, Miniloc and Pangulasian are from Palawan and include many families with second-generation El Nido Resorts employees.

“But we shouldn’t forget some of the constants” that drive the luxury market, says the study. Experiences need to be “best in class and ideally unique.” Moreover, “seamless service should characterize every part of the experience… The service should be caring, but seem effortless, smooth and natural.” Consequently, El Nido Resorts annually reviews programs to maintain its guest satisfaction rate, Bernardino said.

El Nido’s Barangay Barutuan celebrates own version of ‘Ati-Atihan’

By Melba P. Daganta

In celebration of the Feast of Senior Sto Nino, residents of Barangay Barutuan, El Nido, Palawan hosted their own version of the popular ‘Ati-Atihan’ festival on Sunday, January 15.

Barangay Captain Tessie Tenorio and Mayor Nieves Rosento of the said town graced the said occasion. The community’s youth population, composed of both students and out-of-school ones, participated in a series of street dance performance to add color to the festivities.

Purok-A ‘Tribu Durungan’ won the grand price amounting to P20K.

Ms. Universe Pia Wurtzbach to visit Coron, Palawan

By Catherine Santos

Reigning Ms. Universe Pia Wurtzbach is set to visit Coron, Palawan on Saturday, January 21, a little more than a week before she turns over the crown in the pageant’s coronation night on January 30.

Coron Mayor Ajerico Barracoso, however, clarified to Palawan News that the schedule is still tentative. “Magpa-final meeting pa, i-inform lang kami anytime,” he explained.

If the plan pushes through, nonetheless, Wurtzbach will visit the projects of Cordaid in Barangay Malawig in the said town. Cordaid is an NGO that helps indigents and Indigenous People in Coron, said Mayor Barracoso.

It is expected that there will be a motorcade to allow the locals a glimpse of the reigning beauty queen, as permissible by weather and schedule. Barracoso said Wurtzbach’s visit will have great impact to Coron’s tourism industry.

“In general malaki ang impact. Pride natin ‘yan na binisita tayo ng ating ating Ms. Universe, sariling atin yan,” he added.

Around 200 Puerto Princesa residents to undergo “mercury test”

By Catherine Santos

Around 200 residents living near the mercury-contaminated lake in Barangay Sta. Lourdes, Puerto Princesa, Palawan will undergo tests as part of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ assessment of the possible impact of mercury contamination to human populations in the area, said DENR Undersecretary Marlo Mendoza.

“Dati wala pa tayong ginagawang [test sa] mercury level sa tao, gagawin na natin ngayon. Ang inventory namin nasa 200 residents. Hindi lang ‘yung mga residents sa palibot ng lake, kundi sa iba pang residents ng Sta. Lourdes,” Mendoza explained.

Mendoza clarified, however, that testing does not mean they are all affected or contaminated.

Last week, DENR chief Gina Lopez conducted a dialogue with some affected residents and explained the hazards of living near the pit lake, a mined-out area of Palawan Quicksilver Mines Incorporated (PQMI). PQMI, which operated in Puerto Princesa from 1954 to 1975, was able to extract and ship 2,500 tons of cinnabar ore (toxic mercury sulfide mineral) to Japan. The company’s mining activity has left an almost 3-hectare 30-meter deep pit which later became a lake and is now one of the sources of livelihood of surrounding communities.

The DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau, in partnership with the local government of Puerto Princesa, is currently implementing a rehabilitation program in the mined-out area to turn it into a tourist destination. MGB MIMAROPA Regional Director Roland de Jesus said the project is set to finish this year. Most recently, Usec. Mendoza said the DENR is set to expand the rehabilitation program: “Tingin namin hindi enough ang assessment na nagawa, gusto namin i-expand. Kasi tingin namin beyond the lake ang problem.”

Based on MGB’s soil and water analysis, the mercury level in the soil has exceeded the standard of DENR. The standard for mercury is .5 mg/kilogram, but samples taken in the area reached 3.5 mg/kilogram.

“Titingnan din ‘yung surface soil, sediments at saka yung water sa Honda Bay. Pati ‘yung isda sa certain areas ng Honda Bay, kung saan lumalabas yung ilog na dumadaan doon sa may pit lake, ‘yung fishes mayroon ding mercury,” Mendoza said. He added that they are going to expand the assessment by increasing the number of persons and areas covered by the tests.

DENR targets to finish the assessment in a few months. The result will be the basis for expanding the rehabilitation program in the area and for possible immediate relocation of the residents.

PQMI is the only abandoned mine in MIMAROPA under the old Mining Law which was identified by the DENR-MGB for rehabilitation.

Hike in PPUR entrance fee rates starts March 1, 2017

By Celeste Anna R. Formoso [(PNA), FPV/CARF/EBP]

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Jan. 12 (PNA) -- Beginning March 1, this year, entrance fees at the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) in Palawan will increase for both domestic and foreign tourists.

Jan Elmer Badilla, spokesperson of the PPUR management, said Thursday, the PHP175 entrance fee for domestic visitors and the PHP250 for foreign tourists will be PHP500.

Guests of a resident of the province will be charged PHP300 entrance fee.

On the other hand, PHP400 will be charged to a guest who will enter the park through the help of travel agencies.

Badilla said entrance fee rate for children, from three to 12 years old, will remain at PHP100.

He explained that the hike in entrance fees will be used to upgrade the facilities of the longest navigable river park.

The PPUR is more than 24 kilometers long and contains an 8.2 kilometers underground section of the Cabayugan River.

“Since 2007, the PPUR has been non-internal revenue allotment (IRA) dependent, and its income has always been the entrance fees. The expenses of PPUR are mainly for conservation and protection of the environment. At the rate things are going, right now, the expenses are bigger than the entrance fees that the PPUR is collecting,” Badilla explained to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

He added that, “if the park management exhausts the funds it is generating with the current entrance fee, it will go bankrupt when tourists are no longer interested to visit.”

With the increase in entrance fees, the PPUR can have a “sinking fund, or a fund formed by periodically setting aside money for the gradual repayment of a debt or replacement of a wasting asset.”

“The idea is to have a sinking fund. If you visit now, you can help in the sustainability of the PPUR as a World Heritage Site (WHS),” he said, explaining further that the sinking fund would be like a “savings or a trust fund.”

Every year, there will be funds left in the PPUR account to guarantee the sustainability of its management programs even if there is no source of income.

“It is also part of the transformative tourism plan of the PPUR. We want every tourist to not just enjoy the underground river but to also take part in the sustainable management of its resources for the benefit of the future generations,” Badilla stated.

The PPUR entrance fees will cover the use of paddle boat, hard hat, and life vest by the visiting guest.

Also known as the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP), the PPUR is a protected area in Palawan, located about 80 kilometers north of the capital City of Puerto Princesa.

The national park is located in the Saint Paul Mountain Range on the western coast of the island.

Palawan health center gets upgrade

(Manila Standard)

BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank, has renovated Aborlan Municipal Health Office in Magsaysay, Aborlan, Palawan, in line with its rehabilitation program in calamity-stricken provinces.

Palawan was one of several areas affected by Typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013. A state of calamity was also declared in the province last year owing to the effects of El Niño.

The rehabilitated rural health unit was turned over to local officials in an event attended by BDO Foundation program director Rose Espinosa, BDO Puerto Princesa-San Pedro branch head Moises Arzaga Jr., Aborlan Mayor Jaime Ortega and Vice Mayor Lito Tito.

BDO Foundation improved the health office’s consultation rooms, treatment rooms, offices, clinics, pharmacy, laboratory and facilities. Areas for children and the elderly were refurbished to provide them spaces to stay comfortably.

In keeping with the United Nations Millennium Development Goal to improve maternal healthcare, the foundation also rehabilitated the center’s birthing facilities and breastfeeding area.

Doctors and nurses will be better equipped to provide healthcare services to patients with the improvements, Ortega said, as it benefits the town’s population of more than 32,000 from 19 barangays.

Nickelodeon theme park construction to push through — developer

By Louise Maureen Simeon (philstar.com)

MANILA, Philippines — The developer of the planned Nickelodeon theme park in Palawan has confirmed that the attraction will push through but clarified that this would not be "underwater" contrary to earlier reports.

Developer Coral World Park Undersea Resorts Inc. said the undersea-themed master planned development is not a theme park but a "resort and attraction."

"There has never been any form of communication from our side mentioning a theme park. Our plans are to build a resort and attraction, of which we are designing as an undersea attraction with an ocean conservation focus," Coral World Park Marketing and Communications director Susan Lee said in a statement.

"There will be no theme park development in Palawan," she added.

The company noted that the "undersea-themed" park is land-based but is designed to meet the international standards required as a global destination, especially environment-related standards advocating conservation tourism, renewable energy and category five proof architecture.

The developer also slammed international media outfit Agence France-Presse saying it did not clearly reflect the full details of the announcement of Coral World Park and Nickelodeon-owner Viacom International Media Networks.

After the announcement, several online petitions against the plan have been launched by various environmental groups.

"We take the petitions seriously but sad to say, information has been misunderstood. We hope these points clarify all matters concerning this development," the developer said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has already announced that it will not allow the construction of the theme park.

RELATED: DENR opposes Nickelodeon underwater park in Palawan

"I will never allow our biodiversity to be killed for money that some people want to make," Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said.

Palawan is home to more than 300 coral species or about half of all coral species in the world, as well as breeding ground of more than 1,500 fish species in the country.

Coral World Park has also clarified reports that a full 400 hectares are to be developed under water is inaccurate.

"Only 100 hectares have been allocated for the Nickelodeon facility and up to 30 hectares is allocated for the attraction itself, which has not been finalized yet," it said.

The Coral World Park emphasized that the master planned development will not only help create jobs for local communities but will help provide the necessary funding to ensure on-going protection of the area.

"When completed, it will be the largest coral reef conservation program in Asia, with Asia’s largest marine sanctuary for five key species — dolphins, sea cows, sea horses, turtles and whale sharks," it said.

The facility will be on a private property and will be undergoing all the necessary approvals from the government before construction starts.

"This project is five years in the making and coordinated with the relevant officials of the Philippine government," Lee said.

The Coral World Park is funded by the Monaco-based Dr. AB Moñozca Foundation and its CWP Trust, which advocates ocean protection.

"We have our own strict adherence to the environment. We aim to create a large scale reef conservation program which is sustainable, together with sanctuaries for key species in the area — these are part of our blue-print besides the job creation opportunities," the company said.

"We aim to work with as many advocates as possible to create a world class destination for tourism with an undersea theme," it added.

'No way' to Nickelodeon park if it harms environment: Lopez

(ABS-CBN News With Agence France-Presse and Primy Cane)

MANILA - Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said Wednesday she would not allow US television network Nickelodeon to build an underwater theme park in Palawan if it will damage the environment.

While Lopez said she was not aware of any application from Nickelodeon, she said "I will never allow the corals to be harmed, that's what we have, that's our wealth. You cant kill the corals for a theme park, no way."

"We will not allow anything that will damage the environment. No amount of money is worth the well being of our farmers and fishermen," she said.

Lopez was a known environment crusader before she joined government in June. Her causes include reviving the polluted Pasig River and protecting the La Mesa Watershed, the capital's last forest reserve.

She has embarked on an inspection of the entire mining industry and cited at least 20 companies for violation of safety regulations and possible suspension.

Nickelodeon, home to SpongeBob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer, said the proposed 400-hectare underwater park would showcase marine life in what is dubbed the Philippines "last frontier."

The network's parent, Viacom, said the resort would open in 2020 and feature restaurants and lounges six meters below sea level.

Environment groups launched a signature campaign to urge the network and local government officials to drop plans for the park.

They coined the hashtag #CoronIsNotBikiniBottom to reject the project. Bikini Bottom is SpongeBob's undersea home in the eponymous series.

The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, a government body, said the project had yet to be approved.

Nickelodeon to build Palawan theme park

(AFP and Othel V. Campos)

American children’s television network Nickelodeon has announced it will build an underwater resort and theme park in Palawan province, the Philippines’ last ecological frontier, alarming environmentalists.

The firm behind SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer said the park on Palawan island would be part of a 400-hectare (1,000-acre) undersea development showcasing the area’s marine life that would give fans a chance to “interact with the brand and the iconic characters they love”.

Palawan was chosen for the development because it “is known to have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world today,” Ron Johnson, an executive vice president with Viacom International Media Networks, which owns Nickelodeon, said in a statement emailed to AFP on Tuesday.

Viacom’s initial statement announcing the project on Monday said the resort would open in 2020 and feature restaurants and lounges six metes (20 feet) below sea level.

The development would “advocate ocean protection,” the statement said.

But environmental group Greenpeace said it would destroy the area’s world-famous marine ecosystem.

“It’s sad and alarming because a theme park that big will not promote environmental protection by building those structures,” Vince Cinches of Greenpeace Southeast Asia told AFP.

“Why build a viewing deck when you have the whole paradise to enjoy?”

Conservation groups call Palawan “the last frontier” because of its pristine coastlines and forests, which are among the oldest and most diverse in Southeast Asia.

Palawan is home to two Unesco World Heritage-listed sites, a subterranean river and the Tubbataha coral reefs.

Palawan-based environmental activist Grizelda Mayo-Anda also expressed concern.

“I am wary because we have had problems already with resorts built in mangrove areas,” Mayo-Anda, executive director of the Environmental Legal Assistance Center, told AFP.

“I’m really concerned because sometimes, with all due respect to the local government unit, we get captivated by new projects and we do not judiciously study the impact.”

Viacom’s Philippine partner, Coral World Park, insisted the resort would not hurt the environment.

“We are taking very, very careful measures to ensure that the biodiversity is kept intact,” Coral World Park chairman Paul Monozca told AFP.

The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, a government body, said the project had yet to be approved.

VIMN said the project will also feature one-of-its-kind resort dining experience with CWP’s trademark underwater restaurants and lounges, which will be located about 20 feet below sea level with vivid views of the world beneath the ocean.

VIMN is a unit of Nasdaq-listed media company Viacom Inc. which is behind multimedia entertainment brands such as MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and Paramount Channel.

The company said Nickelodeon’s first resort in Southeast Asia would cover 70 hectares for the resort’s accommodation and 30 hectares for the themed attraction and would open by 2020.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Coral World Park to open the world’s first undersea attraction and Nickelodeon’s first resort in Southeast Asia as we continue to expand on our theme-based attractions in Asia and across the world,” said Gerald Raines, senior vice president for global recreation at VIMN.

Mark Whitehead, president and managing director of VIMN Asia Pacific said the investment would be another important step in boosting the Nickelodeon entertainment experience “as we continue to give our fans, kids and their families, new ways to interact with the brand and the iconic characters they love.”

“Creating immersive on-the-ground consumer experiences are increasingly important. Hence, growing the recreational and consumer products footprint of the Nickelodeon brand in Asia Pacific is a priority for us. I am delighted this collaboration will add another Nickelodeon themed attraction in Asia, which will in turn give a significant business opportunity for our partners across multiple platforms,” Whitehead said.

The Nickelodeon undersea attraction and resort will be located amid a cluster of 16 white-sand islands of the CWP. The company said with a distance of 5 to 20 minutes apart by speedboat, visitors could expect a multi-island experience within CWP that would include island hopping, hidden lagoons, hot springs, an animal reserve and world-class diving amidst shipwrecks.

It said when completed, CWP would be the largest coral reef conservation program in Asia, with Asia’s largest marine sanctuary for five key species – dolphins, sea cows, sea horses, turtles and whale sharks.

The Ocean Protection program is jointly funded by Monaco-based Dr. AB Moñozca Foundation and its CWP Trust, and supported by global personalities advocating awareness on climate change.

CWP will open in phases starting 2018 and is within a three to six hour radius to major cities within Asia.

Paul Moñozca, chairman of Coral World Park Undersea Resorts Inc., said “the Nickelodeon undersea attraction and resort will be exciting additions to Coral World Park and I am delighted we are collaborating with Viacom international Media Networks to create this unique undersea themed family experience.”

CSWDO holds children's fora in Puerto Princesa City

By Lyndon Plantilla (LP/PIA4B)

MANILA, Jan 9 (PIA) --- An activity called Children’s fora was recently in Puerto Princesa held targeting children in grades 5-12 in the city’s 66 barangays.

The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of Puerto Princesa City worked closely with child representatives of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) in every village to promote children’s rights and responsibilities and child protection laws.

BCPCs are barangay level structures that assist their local governments in the development and implementation of programs for children.

Topics included in the fora are child trafficking, pedophilia, rape and other forms of child abuse and exploitation.

The fora covered only half of the targeted barangays but reached 6,500 children.

The CSWDO resumed the holding of forum in November this year to cover children in the remaining 33 barangays.

The result was stunning: the fora reached some 5,000 more including those living in city’s island barangays within 20 days.

Remy Belran of Puerto Princesa CSWDO said these children’s fora were appreciated by teachers of participating students who were updated on developments in child protection policies.

She added that these engagements with BCPCs are now considered in determining which among the city’s barangays is the most child-friendly.

Malampaya funds eyed to lower rates

By Alena Mae S. Flores

The government is considering the use of a portion of the P228-billion Malampaya fund to reduce power costs in the Philippines, an energy official said over the weekend.

“The DoE was informed that about P228 billion was deposited to the special account of the fund three months ago. This can be verified with the Department of Budget and Management, which is the steward of the account,” Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said.

Fuentebella said previous disbursements from the proceeds of the Malampaya gas production field were made through Presidential Decree 910 that authorized the President to do so, but this was invalidated by the Supreme Court in 2013.

He said the use the Malampaya Fund was one of the government’s options to reduce power rates.

“Use the Malampaya to subsidize universal charges. There are bills filed in Congress to effect such subsidy,” Fuentebella said.

Another option was removal of the value added tax on power systems loss.

“The DoE already wrote to the DOF/BIR (Finance and Internal Revenue Bureau) on this and there are several bills in Congress that aims to remove tax on systems loss,” he said.

He said the department was also speeding up the permitting process and classifying energy projects and assets with national significance.

Fuentebella said the department was addressing price volatility in the market by implementing mitigating measures.

Other plans include the pursuit of segregation of losses, both technical and non-technical, with the end of lowering the cap.

“Pending bills for such segregation are filed in Congress,” he said.

Fuentebella said the implementation of competitive selection process in power supply contracts would help decrease power costs.

He said the department, in addition, would revisit the pricing methodology.

“The distribution and transmission costs approved by ERC is being re-examined,” he said, adding an improvement in the operations of electric cooperatives would help.

“Lower costs can be achieved in the long term with improved operations and robust distribution facilities of ECs,” he said.

Meanwhile, Shell Philippines Exploration B.V.’s arbitration case against the government on the Malampaya gas project’s corporate income tax issue has started to move forward.

Spex, operator of the Malampaya gas project in northwest Palawan filed the arbitration case with the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes or ICSID on June 27, 2016.

“It is pending before the International Centre for the Settlement on Investment Disputes. Parties to the case recently went to a process of selecting arbitrators,” Fuentebella said.

Palawan legislator proposes 100% free tertiary education for SUCs

By Catherine Santos

In his privilege speech in Tuesday’s Cuyuno session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Palawan, Board Member Winston Arzaga urged his co-legislators to study the possibility of providing free tertiary education to students of Palawan State University (PSU) and Western Philippines University (WPU).

The legislator discussed the matter following the announcement that PSU and WPU were included in the 114 state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the country that will enjoy free tuition fees.

It can be recalled that before last year’s Christmas break, news was broken on national media regarding the implementation of free tuition in the country’s SUCs starting 2017, following an additional allocation of Php8B to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). In a statement issued on December 16, Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, said, “All students who will enroll in any state university and college in the country will no longer pay tuition starting next school year.”

BM Arzaga said that the provincial government’s scholarship programs, which presently cover tuition fees, may be realigned so the budget can cover for the students’ miscellaneous fees.

“Muro sa mga pag-adal agalua nga ang libreng tuition, it constitute only about 40% y ang total nga garastuson para makatapos kolehiyo,” Arzaga said.

The legislator underscored that the proposed scenario is better: the national government will shoulder the tuition fees of the scholars while the local government will shoulder the miscellaneous expenses.

“Ateng pondo sa scholarship, ibetang sa pagbayad miscellaneous agud mas matamang palaweno ang makakatapos y Kolehiyo,” he added.

Arzaga clarified, however, that his proposal will still undergo in-depth studies, particularly if it is feasible for parties involved.

Relatedly, Board Member David Francis Ponce de Leon proposed that officials from the two SUCs in the province be invited to the next session of the legislative body to clarify how proposed free tuition system will affect them.

New Puerto Princesa airport set to open on March

By Rex Ruta (ABS-CBN News

PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan - A "new and improved" Puerto Princesa International Airport is expected to open in March, officials from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said Thursday.

The construction of the new airport is 90 percent complete, CAAP area manager Engr. Percy Malonesio said.

The powerhouse, administration building, watch tower, and terminal are almost finished, while the security and safety measures, including the air navigation system, have already been tested, Malonesio said.

The taxi-way and runway of the new airport will be longer to accommodate more domestic and international flights, he said.

Former leper colony town in Palawan to implement ‘big’ projects in 2017

By Celeste Anna R. Formoso [(PNA), LAP/CARF/EDS]

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Jan. 5 (PNA) –- Bright prospects, one of them increase in tourist influx, await the former leper colony town of Culion in the Calamian Group of Islands in northern Palawan because bigger projects will be implemented there with the help of the provincial government.

Lady Mayor Virginia de Vera couldn’t contain her excitement Thursday as she narrated that this year, the provincial government of Palawan led by Governor Jose Alvarez, will help Culion in the concretization of some of its major roads to provide comfortable access to residents to the town center.

De Vera said the town center is where Culion’s business district is located, and if easily accessible can encourage investors in other industries to open shop.

The Palawan government, she added, will help their municipal government in the development of their airport in Barangay Malaking Patag for light aircraft to land on to bring either goods or tourist passengers since Culion is developing now into a tourist destination after Coron.

Eight water projects are also up for implementation to provide clean water to the town’s residents.

“We know we still don’t have our Seal of Good Local Governance in the municipal government, but the provincial government is going to help us look for funds for these big projects for Culion,” De Vera said.

She added they are thankful to the governor and the province because finally, Culion was given the consideration it needs to flourish as an island town in the Calamian area.

Culion is not only a town that is part of the Calamian. When the treaty of Paris was signed in 1898, and Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States, the town was made as a segregation colony in 1901 for individuals afflicted with leprosy.

Culion has a land area of 500 square kilometers, which include the 41 surrounding islands and measures a total of 1,191.39 square kilometers (460.00 sq mi) including its territorial water.

MARINA Palawan implements phase out of wooden-hulled passenger vessels

By Raymond M. Almodal [(PNA), LAP/CARF/RMA/EDS]

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Jan. 4 (PNA) –- The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) started Wednesday the implementation of its circular that phases out all wooden-hulled vessels that transport passengers from port-to-port in this city and the whole Palawan.

Engineer Nelson Sobrevega, head of MARINA in Palawan, said a directive has now been passed down, ordering them to instigate Circular No. 2016-2 which seeks the eventual discontinuation of operation of passenger wooden-hulled vessels, particularly in all ports in Coron and El Nido in the northern part of the province.

He said the wooden-hulled vessels will be replaced by larger vessels that are tough, well-made, and more seaworthy by 2018 for the safety of passengers.

“They will be replaced by vessels with modern hulls, for example fiber glass-hulled, aluminum-hulled or steel-hulled vessels,” Sobrevega said.

“The implementation will affect liner routes, where there are regular or permanent schedules of trip, and that have port of calls. They will be the areas where the phase out will be done first that is why we are already advising this early,” he added.

Once a route is declared “fully served,” Sobrega explained operators of wooden-hulled vessels will be given six months to stop their operations.

“This is for the safety and comfort of our passengers,” he added, saying they are now in the stage of implementing the circular.

El Nido and Coron are the first areas, where the phase out is now being enforced because of the entry of two shipping lines of Montenegro.

Once fully served, the wooden-hulled vessels that ply the routes will be stopped from operating even if they have the capacity to transport 80-100 passengers.

Sobrevega added the circular does not cover motor boats that cater to tourists, especially those operating in areas identified as tourist sites of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The implementation is not limited only in Palawan, he stated, but it covers the whole MIMAROPA.

He also accepts that there will be complaints, but he said they cannot do anything because “it’s the marching order to give priority to safer passenger vessel operation.”

New Year celebration in Palawan generally peaceful, says PPO

By Grace Ann N. Belostrino [(PNA), LAP/CARF/GANB/SSC]

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Jan. 3 (PNA) -- The celebration of the New Year in Palawan was generally peaceful and with only less than a dozen firecracker-related injuries, according to the Provincial Police Office (PPO) Tuesday.

PPO spokesperson Insp. Ric Ramos said that except for the isolated Taytay blasting incident that happened on December 28, no other “untoward incident” was recorded in any of Palawan’s 23 municipalities.

“We thank our local government unit officials for their cooperation, and for positively replying to our call for a peaceful and secured celebration of the New Year,” Ramos said, adding no policeman or member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was recorded to have been involved in firing their service firearms.

“We are proud of our police force in Palawan because of the discipline they displayed. Remember that we didn’t do muzzle-taping, and despite that, no one fired his or her service firearm. That’s an achievement for us,” he said.

In related news in Puerto Princesa, seven firecracker-related injuries were confirmed Tuesday by Dr. Louie Ocampo of the Ospital ng Palawan (ONP) to have been recorded.

Ocampo said on December 25, three individuals were brought to the ONP after suffering from premature ignition of the notorious piccolo firecracker.

Four were added to the number shortly on the eve of December 31, also due to piccolo, and one because of Dragon skyrockets, locally known as “kwitis.”

The number, he said, is a big mark down from 2015’s more than a dozen cases recorded.

“This means that the campaign of the DOH (Department of Health) for an incident-free New Year’s celebration was successful here in Palawan,” he said.

Palawan cops appeal for tips on suspect in Taytay bombing

By Archie T. Barone

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Dec. 30 (PNA) – Police authorities in Palawan on Thursday called on witnesses of the December 28 Taytay bombing to surface and help solve the incident.

Chief Insp. Ric Ramos, spokesperson of the Palawan Provincial Police Office (PPO) said witnesses, who might know who the suspect or suspects are, should cooperate with the Taytay Municipal Police (TMP) investigation to determine why the crime was perpetrated and who should be brought to justice.

“Witnesses who might know who the suspect is, or suspects are, should not be afraid to come forward and cooperate with us. Their statements are important so we can solve this incident,” Ramos said.

He furthered that if the witnesses want anonymity, they can rest assured that the TMP and the PPO would ensure their safety.

Based on initial findings, the improvised explosive device (IED) that was detonated in front of the bakery owned by Jerald Perje, 34, at Sitio Montevista, Poblacion, Taytay, was almost similar to those being used in illegal blast fishing.

Ramos said they are still investigating the reason behind the blast, and one of the theories they are looking into is personal grudge against the bakery owner.

On December 28 at around 1:20 a.m., a blast occurred along the National Highway of Sitio Montevista, Poblacion, Taytay.

Perje told police investigators he was sleeping when he was awakened by a loud blast that came from an IED that was placed outside his bakery. The incident resulted to still undetermined amount of damaged to property.

Luckily, according to Ramos, no one was injured in the blast. Investigation remains ongoing regarding the incident.

Taytay is a first class municipality in the province of Palawan, an island of the Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 70,837 people.

High Value target arrested on Christmas in El Nido, Palawan

By Melba P. Daganta

The El Nido Municipal Police Station led by PSI Annalyn Palma have conducted a buy-bust operation on Christmas, December 25, around 10PM that resulted to the arrest of Jesus Gabitan aka “Bradley”, presently residing in Villa Libertad, ElNido, and is considered as one of the high value targets of the said town.

Recovered from the suspects are17 sachets of white crystalline substance believed to be shabu, mark money, motorcycle Honda TMX 155 and other drug paraphernalia.

Authorities are preparing documents for inquest proceedings of the said suspect in violation of RA 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Acts of 2002.

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