Palawan News

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Province of Palawan - Archived News

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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Palawan

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.

Navy saves 100 turtles

PUERTO PRINCESA City, Philippines—Naval authorities based in Palawan’s southernmost tip, Balabac, pounced on a Chinese-financed endangered marine turtle-poaching operation on Tuesday that involved local fishermen and officials.

Cmdr. Joseph Rostum Peña, Naval Forces West commander, said Navy men discovered three fish pens off the remote village of Caguisan in Balabac being emptied of turtles in preparation for the transport of the protected marine animals to China, possibly Hainan.

“We have so far discovered three turtle pens containing an estimated 100 marine turtles,” he said.

Each of the fish pens, which are made of nylon and fishnets and measure 20 meters by 35 meters, contained at least 30 turtles, he said.

Authorities are conducting retrieval operations and have so far hauled more than 30 large marine turtles, weighing between 30 to 50 kilograms each. At least two turtles died while most are being recovered alive from the submerged fish cages.

Tourist arrivals in Palawan seen to hit 600,000

Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn said they expect tourist arrivals to hit the 600,000 mark before yearend.

“Last year’s tourist arrivals went to a record breaking 515,148, a 60-percent increase from last year. We are really happy about the news. Half are Filipino balikbayans and half are foreigners. Imagine from a few flights in 1992, we now have 123 flights a week, excluding international airports,” Hagedorn told The STAR during a recent visit.

“In fact, we have to stop our advertisements because the airport can’t handle it (passenger arrivals). We have so many flights but we are already addressing the problem,” Hagedorn said.

He said the Puerto Princesa airport would be modernized and renovated to accommodate the surge of tourists.

“The airport’s privatization will be bid (out) this year and Koreans have already expressed interest,” Hagedorn said.

With regard hotel accommodation, Hagedorn said they now have a total of 146 hotels, a far cry from the few inns dotting the city in 1992. Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

“When I first assumed in 1992, there were only four lonely travel and tour operators in the city. Now there are close to 200 hotels. It has increased by 2,950 percent since 20 years ago,” he said.

Tourist arrivals have swelled from 14,249 in 1992 to 515,148 in 2011, a staggering 3,515 percent jump.

Hagedorn stressed that because the tourism infrastructure and attractions are already in place, tourist inflows to Puerto Princesa City stand to grow to 1.3 million by 2016 and by 2025, arrivals will reach an all-time high of 2.5 million.

Puerto Princesa’s gain has been attributed to the phenomenal success of the Puerto Princesa Underground River, which was named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

“Everything changed when the Puerto Princesa Underground River was declared as one of the new seven wonders of the world,” Hagedorn said.

PPUR won over a number of natural wonders owing to the systematic campaign launched by Hagedorn, with support from President Aquino himself, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Aquino and Hagedorn collaborated in appealing to all Filipinos here and abroad to text or email their votes for PPUR. With more than 30 million text votes registered for PPUR, the site won overwhelmingly.

“Having surged significantly over the past 20 years, tourism dollars are financing progress in the city – from irrigation covering over 2,000 hectares, nursery and propagation farms for high-value seedlings, farm implements benefiting 17,000 farmers, to government housing programs, more roads, more schools, more for public healthcare and more for building blocks for fish and marine sanctuaries,” Hagedorn reported.

Puerto Princesa Underground River declared as ‘Wetland of International Importance’

The Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) has been declared “Wetland of International Importance” by the Swiss-based Ramsar Convention on Wetlands on October 28, 2012. Its inclusion as Ramsar Site No. 2084 is the fifth for the Philippines; the other four sites are Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Mindanao, Naujan Lake National Park in Oriental Mindoro, Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Cebu, and Tubbataha Reefs National Park in Palawan, all declared in 1999. Wetlands are on the Ramsar List because of their ecological, botanical, zoological, limnological or hydrological importance.

The Ramsar Convention cited the PPUR as “unique in the biographic region because it connects a range of important ecosystems from the mountain-to-the-sea,” including “a limestone karst landscape with a complex cave system, mangrove forests, lowland evergreen tropical rainforests, and freshwater swamps, and is home to 800 plants and 233 animal species, some of which are endemic.” Prior to the declaration of the 22,202-hectare PPUR as one of New Seven Wonders of Nature on January 28, 2012, and as Ramsar Site, it was declared National Geological Monument by the National Committee on Geological Sciences on December 14, 2003, and was inscribed in Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization on December 4, 1999.

The Ramsar Convention is an inter-governmental treaty embodying the commitments of 163 member-countries to preserve the ecological character of wetlands in their territories. It was developed by 21 signatory-nations at a meeting in Ramsar, Mazandaran, Iran, on February 2, 1971, and adopted on December 21, 1975. The Ramsar List now has 2,062 sites (called Ramsar Sites), with Britain having the biggest number at 168.

Under the Ramsar Convention, natural and man-made habitats – rivers, coral reefs, swamps, marshes, billabongs, lakes, mudflats, mangroves, fens, peat bogs, or bodies of water – can be classified as wetlands. It urges countries to nominate Sites with rare or unique wetlands, or wetlands that are vital for biodiversity conservation, for the Ramsar List. A member-country plans and oversees a framework to conserve a declared Ramsar Site to maintain its ecological character.

We congratulate the Province of Palawan, headed by Governor Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra, and Puerto Princesa City, led by Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn, other Officers and Personnel, for their combined efforts to protect the beauty of the Puerto Princesa Underground River and promote it as a top tourist destination.

8 bio labs control coco pests in Palawan

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan- Eight biological control laboratories established in strategic location in Palawan by the Philippine Coconut Authority are helping counter coconut infestation caused by the brontispa longissima or coconut leaf beetle.

PCA in cooperation with the local government units, are closely working together to control the infestation which used to be confined in southern municipalities but now have affected some plantations in the north.

Ms. Claire Mendez, PCA specialist said the control of brontispa longissima has shifted from the use of chemicals to biological means in consideration of the environment. She stressed that "biological means" is the natural way of controlling an enemy or predator of the brontispa pest called the earwig.

The laboratories are located in towns affected by the infestation – Brooke’s Point, Quezon, Rizal, two in Aborlan, Roxas, El Nido, and San Vicente. These laboratories produce the earwigs which are then released to the coconut trees in affected plantations.

The use of the earwigs has proven effective, said Mendez, because they have not received any more reports of its spread to other areas.

She said that the introduction of the predator agent will not totally eradicate the brontispa pest, but will depress its population and maintain natural balances by keeping the pest population below the infestation level.

Light to moderate rains expected over NE Luzon, Palawan, Mindanao

Light to moderate rain may be expected in parts of Palawan and Mindanao, as well as in Northeastern Luzon, due to prevalent weather systems.

"The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will still bring light to moderate rainshowers or thunderstorms over Palawan and Mindanao today, while over the northeastern section of Luzon —particularly Cagayan Valley, Aurora and Quezon— light rains will be felt due to the northeast monsoon. The rest of the country will continue to enjoy partly cloudy skies with brief rain showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening," said GMA resident meteorologist Nathaniel "Mang Tani" Cruz.

"In Metro Manila, there will be few clouds with little chance of rain —just about 10%— in the morning, becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon and with a 40% possibility of rain showers in the late afternoon or early evening. The highest temperature expected in the metro is 32C," he added.

DOE holds forum on Phl Energy Plan in Palawan

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan- The forum on the 2012-2030 Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) is currently being held, Tuesday, Nov 20, in Palawan as part of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) nationwide campaign to inform the public on the energy sector’s targets, strategies, and programs to address future challenges of the sector.

The one-day forum at the Legend Hotel, will present the programs and targets of the different energy sectors to include power and electrification, resource development, renewable energy, downstream oil, alternative fuels, and energy efficiency and conservation.

Although the PEP will formally be launched in December, the DOE is already conducting as early as October its information, education, and communication (IEC) activities to inform energy stakeholders of the country’s long-term goals for the sector.

The Energy Plan highlights the policy vision of an economy which will become largely decarbonized with the development and utilization of renewable energy – hydro, geothermal, solar, wind, biomass, and ocean energy and with DOE taking the lead in promoting energy efficiency as a lifestyle, and advocating the use of alternative fuels for the transport sector.

The DOE has also simulated the energy needs of the country over the next 20 years by considering factors such as a 10 percent target energy savings across all economic sectors – transport, industry, residential, commercial and agriculture; an increase in the number of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-fed buses and possible introduction of CNG taxis, electric vehicles; and higher application of biofuel blends (biodiesel and bioethanol).

To further curb the country’s energy demand, the Plan also seeks to scale-up energy efficiency investments in both private and public sectors to generate more energy savings. The Plan also envisions accelerating the development and production of indigenous fossil fuels.

Before Palawan, the DOE IEC team has held similar forums in Regions 1 and Cordillera, and in region 2, 7, and 8.

The forum was attended by different power producers, Palawan Electric Cooperative, local government officials, the local media, and other members of the business community.

2 US soldiers in Puerto Princesa bar brawl settle with club’s workers

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines — Two American soldiers taking part in the annual Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) military exercises with the Philippine military figured in a rumble inside a bar in downtown Puerto Princesa City Friday with local patrons and the club’s staff.

The city police chief, Supt. Abad Osit, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Sunday that an employee of the club and the two American soldiers both filed separate complaints for physical injury before the City police on Saturday but eventually agreed to settle amicably.

The police blotter indicated that the two soldiers, identified as Anthony Desaldo, 22, and Keith A. Brautigan, 24, went inside Warehouse 45 Disco Bar in Barangay San Miguel here for drinks at around 11 p.m. of Friday.

A bouncer at the establishment, Allan John Gapulao, claimed in his complaint that the US soldiers were already drunk when they came and were “creating trouble” for other patrons.

Gapulao said that when he asked the two to leave the establishment, the American soldiers made a scene at the parking lot and provoked him to a fight.

In their own complaint filed before the police, Brautigan claimed that 18 to 21 persons allegedly attacked them when they tried to leave the establishment.

The Americans claimed that they were attacked with a metal pipe and peppered with rocks as they tried to run back to their hotel, the Ipil Travelodge Puerto Princesa, which was just a walking distance from the bar.

They added that the owner of the establishment and the barangay (village) captain of the area, Patrick Hagedorn, a nephew of Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn, allegedly “threatened” them when they were already in the hotel.

Brautigan suffered a broken nose and head injuries while Desalvo had a bruised right cheek. The club’s bouncer, Gapulao, had four stitches in the head caused by a steel pipe, the police record showed.

Osit said both sides have already settled the complaints and no charges would be filed against both parties.

The two Americans were part of the US military contingent that came here in April for the Palawan segment of the Balikatan exercises, a joint undertaking of the Philippine and US militaries that included civil-relations activities, such as road and school building constructions on one hand, and military land and sea warfare exercises.

The two US soldiers were among a small group of the US military contingent that remained in Palawan to do finishing touches on the civil works of projects done by the Americans, said a military officer here who asked not to be named for lack of authority to speak on the matter.

The source said the American soldiers have since been housed at Ipil Travelodge, which was described in its website as a 40-room hotel along Rizal Avenue located at the heart of the city.

PAGASA: Heavy rain over Palawan, Mindanao in next 24 hours

Heavy rain may fall over Palawan and Mindanao in the next 24 hours as the inter-tropical convergence zone is affecting Mindanao, state weather forecasters said Saturday afternoon.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the ITCZ is affecting Mindanao while a cold front is now across the Batanes Group of Islands.

"Palawan and Mindanao will be cloudy with occasional moderate to heavy rain showers and thunderstorms. Batanes group of Islands will experience cloudy skies with light rain," it said.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with isolated brief rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening, it added.

PAGASA also said moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and Eastern Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast and East with slight to moderate seas.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said strong to gale force winds associated with the northeast monsoon may affect the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Luzon.

"Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out in to the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said.

2 medical mission team members drown in Palawan resort

Two persons who recently came from a medical mission drowned in a resort in Palawan over the weekend.

Authorities identified the victims as Julieson Tun, 30, a dentist from Marilao, Bulacan, and his aide Roland Dino, 28.

Another person identified as Jose Punzalan, 60, also drowned but was successfully revived.

Initial investigation revealed that the three went swimming on November 10 around 12:50 p.m. in Taraw Beach Resort where they encountered big waves and strong current that caused them to be drowned.

They were rescued by a lifeguard and were brought to Salvacion Satellite Clinic in Sabang village. Cardio pulmonary resuscitation was applied to the victims, which revived Punzalan. The two others, however, remained unconscious.

The victims were transferred to a hospital in San Pedro village where Tun and Dino were pronounced dead.

Punzalan, meanwhile, was reportedly in stable condition and is currently recuperating.

Wind convergence may bring rain to Palawan and Mindanao

Rain showers and thunderstorms may affect Palawan and Mindanao in the next 24 hours, state weather forecasters said Saturday afternoon.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the inter-tropical convergence zone is affecting Palawan and Mindanao.

"Palawan and Mindanao will be cloudy with occasional light to moderate rain showers or thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with isolated brief rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening," it said.

Also, PAGASA said moderate to strong winds blowing from northeast to east will prevail over Luzon and Eastern Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast with slight to moderate seas.

PAGASA also said there is no cyclone or weather disturbance near the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Earlier, its forecasters earlier said Metro Manila may expect good weather during the weekend, except for rain showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening.

DepED to allot 700 teaching positions for Palawan next year

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan- At least 700 teaching positions will be allotted for Palawan as the Department of Education (DepEd) address the shortage of teachers in both elementary and secondary levels here

This was announced yesterday by Dir. Sinforosa Guiñares, DepEd Mimaropa regional director in the open forum at the first day of Palawan Education Summit held in this city.

She said that 60,000 teacher items will be released nationwide and the province was allotted the most number of teacher items in the Mimaropa region as determined by DepEd’s electronic-based information system (EBIS).

For the next school year 2013-2014, there will be 300 teacher items for elementary and 400 for secondary levels.

Apart from teaching positions, the DepEd has also programmed for the next year the purchase of furniture and earmarked funds for the construction of additional school buildings.

At present, there are 4,047 elementary school teachers in Palawan serving 143,802 pupils with a teacher shortage of 2,587 under the standard pupil-teacher ratio of 45:1.

In the secondary level, there are 1,531 teachers for 53,867 students with a teacher shortage of 1,824.

Guiñares said that there is still a long way to go but the national government is continuously addressing the problem giving the education sector the biggest budget allocation for 2013.

She said that the DepEd will always be grateful for the “strong support” of the municipal and provincial governments for locally-funding the hiring of teachers to ease the shortage in its locality.

The three-day Palawan Education Summit will end tomorrow with DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro addressing more than 500 participants in the closing ceremonies. The summit is an initiative of the provincial government in partnership with the DepEd-Palawan.

Palawan educ summit opens

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan- About 500 participants gathered yesterday for the opening of the Palawan Education Summit, bringing together education leaders and other key players that would chart a roadmap to uplift quality education in the province.

In his opening message, Palawan Governor Baham Mitra said the holding of the summit would provide the venue to recommend concrete steps and firm up resolutions to address problems and the challenges of the sector.

The holding of the education summit, a first in the province and the region, is a project of Ensuring Quality Instruction Program for Palawan (Equip) of the provincial government in collaboration with the Department of Education-Palawan Division.

Mitra said Equip was established as one of the interventions of his administration “To build a strong human resource base placing it at the core of the provincial government’s priority program.”

The first day of the summit was well-attended with the participation of mayors, DepEd district supervisors, principals, school administrators, and other stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.

In her message, Sinforosa Guiñares, DepEd regional director for Mimaropa, said the summit is very relevant in the light of the Aquino administration’s transformation of the country’s educational system.

“Quality education is a continuing process and we need to work together because there are still so many things that need to be done which is only possible through cooperation of all particularly the local government units,” Guiñares said.

The three-day summit will feature presentations and discussions from distinguished speakers and educators from the Department of Education, Philippine Science High School, and other non-government organizations. DepEd Secretary will grace the summit on November 9, the last day of the summit.

Education leaders to converge in Palawan education summit

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan- Education leaders, policy makers and other stakeholders will converge this week for the Palawan Education Summit to be convened by the Department of Education (DepEd) Palawan and the provincial government in this city.

The summit set on November 7-9 at the Skylight Convention Center aims to gather the key players of the education sector to work together in improving the quality of education in the light of present challenges and the K to 12 program.

Under the theme “Napapanahong Tugon sa Pagpapalakas ng ng Edukasyon sa Palawan,” participants will be engaged in discussions on the current state of education in the province and examine issues in an effort to uplift the quality of education.

Congressman Juan Edgardo M. Angara, chairman of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education in the House of Representatives will grace the event as keynote speaker with Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC to address participants on the last day.

DepEd Undersecretary Yolanda S. Quijano will do a presentation on the K to 12 Program.

This summit is being initiated by the provincial government through its Ensuring Quality Instruction Program (Equip) for Palawan with the cooperation of DepEd Palawan.

Teachers, heads and top officials of public and private schools, colleges and universities, officials of civic and non-government organizations are expected to participate in the summit.

PPUR now officially listed as Ramsar site says DENR

The Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) in Palawan has just been officially listed as a wetland of international importance by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

In a statement, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje said the PPUR was the latest site to make it to the list.

Although the designation date of the PPUR as a Ramsar site had been recorded on June 30, 2012, Paje explained that “the annotation of the Philippines’ official list to make it five sites, and the designation of the PPUR as Ramsar Site No. 2084 officially affirms the park as a wetland of international importance.”

The other four sites in the Philippines are the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Mindanao; the Naujan Lake National Park in Oriental Mindoro; the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Cebu; and the Tubbataha Reefs National Park, also in Palawan. Together, all five sites have a total surface area of 154,234 hectares (1,542.34 square kilometers).

Paje had earlier said that the remaining steps in the listing process were the review of the Ramsar Information Sheet and the site map. These are now posted on the Ramsar Sites Information Service website via www.ramsar.org.

The environment chief added that although there is no monetary prize in becoming an official Ramsar site, “the declaration would entitle the PPUR to possible technical, financial and other forms of assistance on how best to manage the site.”

Information on the Ramsar website describes the 22,202-hectare PPUR National Park as “unique in the biographic region because it connects a range of important ecosystems from the mountain-to-the-sea, including a limestone karst landscape with a complex cave system, mangrove forests, lowland evergreen tropical rainforests, and freshwater swamps.” It also cites the park as home to about 800 plant and 233 animal species, some of which are threatened or endemic.

It cites the 8.2-kilometer long underground river, part of which provides domestic and agricultural water supply to local communities. The underground river had also been recently declared one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, and is a major ecotourism destination.

Even before its declaration as a wonder of nature and a wetland of international importance, the PPUR National Park had long been declared a National Geological Monument by the National Committee on Geological Sciences. It is also a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The DENR had nominated the PPUR to the Ramsar Convention in Switzerland in December 2011. The nomination was then presented and defended in the Convention’s Meeting of the Conference of Parties in Romania in July 2012.

The Ramsar Convention is a treaty among 163 countries aimed towards the conservation and wise use of wetlands. To date, it has listed 2,062 wetlands of international importance.

Palawan man remains dead despite promise; neighbors complain of stench

  • Source: www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/280314/news/weirdandwacky/palawan-man-remains-dead-despite-promise-neighbors-complain-of-stench
  • By: DVM, GMA News
  • Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Residents of Barangay Inagawan in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan were gagging over the stench coming from the remains of a local medicine man who died two weeks ago but remains unburied or embalmed. He had insisted (before he died) that he would return to life.

Local village officials have appealed to the family of Alfredo Corpuz to bury him as they were getting complaints from neighbors, radio dzBB reported on Tuesday.

His family is following his wishes that he not be buried yet, the report said. He allegedly claimed (before he died) that he would return to life during a full moon.

But a full moon came Monday night with nary a breath from Corpuz, prompting village authorities to finally ask his family to finally bury him.

Palawan’s famous underground river now a Ramsar site

  • Source: businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/news/regions/1205-palawan-s-famous-underground-river-now-a-ramsar-site
  • By: Jonathan L. Mayuga
  • Sunday, October 28, 2012

THE world-renowned Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) is now officially listed as a wetland of international importance by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

The PPUR is listed as Ramsar Site No. 2084, the latest site to make it to the list.

The Ramsar Convention is a treaty among 163 countries seeking the conservation and wise use of wetlands. To date, it has listed 2,062 wetlands of international importance.

Environment Sec. Ramon J.P. Paje said while the designation date of the PPUR as a Ramsar site had been recorded on June 30, 2012, “the annotation of the Philippines’ official list to make it five sites, and the designation of the PPUR as Ramsar Site No. 2084 officially affirms the park as a wetland of international importance.”

The other four Ramsar sites in the Philippines are the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Mindanao; the Naujan Lake National Park in Oriental Mindoro; the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Cebu; and the Tubbataha Reefs National Park, also in Palawan. The five sites have a total surface area of 154,234 hectares (1,542.34 square kilometers).

Paje said the declaration would entitle the PPUR to possible technical, financial and other forms of assistance on how best to manage the subterranean river, now fast-becoming a favorite tourist destination in the province.

Information on the Ramsar website describes the 22,202-hectare PPUR National Park as “unique in the biographic region because it connects a range of important ecosystems from the mountain to the sea, including a limestone karst landscape with a complex cave system, mangrove forests, lowland evergreen tropical rainforests, and freshwater swamps.”

It also cites the park as home to about 800 plant and 233 animal species, some of which are threatened or endemic.

It cites the 8.2-kilometer long underground river, part of which provides domestic and agricultural water to local communities. The underground river had been recently declared one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature and is a major ecotourism destination.

Even before its declaration as a wonder of nature and a wetland of international importance, the PPUR National Park had long been declared a National Geological Monument by the National Committee on Geological Sciences. It is also a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Palawan netfest kicks off today

  • Source: www.tempo.com.ph/2012/10/palawan-netfest-kicks-off-today/#.UIpmnYZLquI
  • By: Malou Guanzon-Apalisok
  • Friday, October 26, 2012

Top seed Andrew Joshua Cano and No. 2 Marcen Angelo Gonzales take on separate rivals today as they kick off their respective campaigns in the premier division of the Philta Palawan Pawnshop National Championship at the Gov. Socrates Tennis Club in Puerto Princesa here.

Cano squares off Allan Gerard Ordinario while Gonzales battles Edward Jae Sagayap in the lower bracket of the 16-player draw in the 18-and-under boys’ category of the event which gathers the country’s leading junior netters and upcoming stars.

Luke Flores faces Kobe Rosario, Jose Nicolas Cano mixes it up with Andre Santos, and Francisco Santos III and Robert Theo Acosta clash in the other featured matches in the opener of the sixday tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and Technosports’ Babolat.

“We expect a higher level of competition this week since the top finishers in our various regional tournaments are all playing here,” said Bobby Castro, COO of Palawan Pawnshop, the chief backer of the year-long, nationwide talent-search sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.

Gerry Ortega must be turning in his grave

The case of murdered Palawan broadcaster and environment activist Gerardo “Doc Gerry” Ortega took an intriguing turn yesterday when Bishop Pedro Arigo of Puerto Princesa pointed to the royalties in the Malampaya gas project as the real reason Ortega was killed.

I have always been baffled by the murder of Doc Gerry because while hard hitting commentators can be a king size headache to politicians in general, they are not helpless. They can hit back where it hurts media practitioners the most—by slapping them with libel charges or have them kicked out of their jobs.

To cite an example, whether she was maliciously maligned, as claimed by Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia in the case for libel filed against The Freeman columnist Leo Lastimosa, or not, as Leo pleads, the bottomline is, politicians are not exactly defenseless if what they seek is redress of grievances.

The murder of Doc Gerry on Jan. 24, 2011 or less than eights months after the 2010 elections is number 119 in the list of media men killed since the restoration of democracy in 1986. The culture of impunity is factored in the violent media killings where investigations point only to the triggerman who has no motive at all to kill but ends up in prison while the mastermind goes scot free.

Doc Gerry’s murder invites attention because the alleged masterminds have been identified by the triggerman and by the organizer of the crime. As we know, former governor Joel T. Reyes and his brother, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes are tagged as the brains behind the killing after they were fingered by the gunman and by the slay coordinator, a former marine soldier and bodyguard of the former governor. The Reyes brothers are at large and are said to be hiding in Vietnam.

The other day, Bishop Arigo accused former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo and other Palawan officials of misusing P2.3 billion in profits from the Malampaya gas project. The accusation is based on a report by the Commission on Audit and, from where I sit, the COA report appears to provide the explanation why Doc Gerry had to be silenced.

The Malampaya gas project, according to Web resources compiled by the No To Mining in Palawan refers to the Camago-Malampaya underwater pipeline which is estimated to have 2 to 4 trillion cubic ft. of natural gas and some 85 million barrels of oil and condensates. It stretches from northern Palawan, through the Mindoro coasts and ends up in Tabangao, Batangas province where it powers three electric power plants. The combined power of the plants run by Malampaya produces natural gas at a maximum of 2,700 megawatts, enough to supply 10 percent of the Luzon power grid.

Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. leads the consortium of energy developers in running the project, together with Occidental Philippines Inc. (Oxy) which signed Service Contract 38 in 1998. Chevron and the erstwhile state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. – Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC) are also part of the consortium. Together they are referred to as SC 38, in reference to the consortium’s signing of Service Contract 38 in 1998.

Palawan’s claim to 40 percent of royalties is being blocked by the issue of territory because the Camago-Malampaya gas field is beyond 15 kilometers (purportedly the operative definition of a local government unit’s territorial boundary). The issue has been raised before the Supreme Court which is set to rule on who owns Malampaya, but instead of waiting for the SC decision, some politicians opted to negotiate with Malacañang in 2008.

The negotiation resulted in the issuance Executive Order 683, the basis of an interim sharing agreement wherein the province of Palawan and Malacañang “will split half of PGP’s 40-percent share while the rest remains in escrow until SC decides with finality.”

The Web resource said not all of the money was released to Palawan, but by the end of 2008, a whopping P2.572 billion was released and was placed under the control of then Gov. Joel T. Reyes and two congressmen, one of them Baham Mitra. The interim agreement as worded in EO 683, turned the Malampaya royalties into pork barrel, or even better since Congress did not have oversight powers over the use of the funds because the Executive issuance that produced the Interim agreement shielded it from scrutiny.

The agreement, according to Bishop Arigo was done secretly but Gerry Ortega learned about it because he was then sitting in the Provincial Board. His attacks against Joel T. Reyes resulted in his defeat in the 2010 congressional elections.

Bishop Arigo presented to the media two reports by the COA which listed numerous infrastructure projects funded by Malampaya royalties amounting to P520 million in the second congressional district of Palawan. The audit body noted that over 100 projects worth P493 million were not posted in the Government Electronic Procurement System site as required by law.

COA also pointed to 36 other projects that were awarded to contractors who were “previously awarded contracts with more or less the same, if not overlapping, periods of execution.”

The most significant part of Bishop Arigo’s presentation is not COA’s listing of anomalous projects, but its recommendation to file administrative charges against erring public officials. The cleric scored COA and urged the Ombudsman to file plunder cases against the former president and concerned Palawan officials.

Indeed, filing administrative charges against those responsible for the misuse of P2.57 billion amounts to a mere slap in the wrist.

Doc Gerry must be turning in his grave.

Ex-Palawan governor Reyes hiding in US?

The daughter of slain environmentalist Dr. Gerry Ortega, Mika Ortega, said she has been receiving reports that wanted fugitive and former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes may have already fled to the US.

Reyes and his brother, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, are accused of killing Ortega.

Ortega’s daughter said she received reports that Reyes' wife, Palawan Vice Governor Clara Reyes, flew to the US on June 29 and stayed there for a month.

The Department of Interior and Local Government says Mrs. Reyes's trip was not authorized.

The Reyes brothers allegedly left the Philippines for Vietnam last March 18.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, meanwhile, has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to coordinate with the Interpol to hunt down the fugitive Reyes and his brother.

AirAsia defers Macau, Palawan flights over ‘volatile’ oil prices

Citing “volatile oil prices and the growing demand for foreign tourism,” Philippines’ AirAsia announced on Monday that it would suspend flights to Macau and Puerto Princesa and re-align its services with two new flights to Singapore and Taipei in December.

AirAsia, in a statement said, it will fly from Clark International Airport to Singapore starting December 1 and Taipei on December 15 and will add frequencies to Hong Kong.

But the Malaysia-based low-cost carrier said it would suspend its services to Macau and Puerto Princesa and would also reduce its flights to Davao and Kalibo.

“Guests who are affected by the changes will be offered three options: a full refund of their flight bookings or a credit shell of the value of their flight bookings which is valid for 3 months or an option to change their flight date without any costs, subject to availability,” it said.

“An email will also be sent to the affected guests’ registered member email account where they are able to select their preferred service recovery option. Affected guests will also receive an SMS notification of the flight changes,” it added.

Guests who do not receive any notification after three weeks are advised to tweet AirAsia at twitter.com/AskAirAsia, or via Live Chat, submit an Online Feedback Form or walk in to any of AirAsia’s Travel Service Centers located in SM North Edsa in Quezon City, in Mall of Asia in Pasay City, in Angeles City, Pampanga.

With two new international routes, AirAsia Inc. CEO Maan Hontiveros said they hope to bring in-bound tourists to the Philippines who would in turn “help contribute to tourism dollar revenues.”

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. has said that the number of foreign visitors who came to the country from January to June this year rose to 2.1 million or 11.68 percent higher compared to 2011’s 1.9 million visitors.

“We need to build up routes within an infrastructure that supports low-fare services since we are in an industry that is not immune to rising fuel cost and operational challenges,” Hontiveros said.

“We intend to open up new international routes within these markets, as well as add frequencies on existing routes, thanks to the aggressive campaign of DoT in promoting the country abroad,” she added.

Flash floods, landslides threaten Palawan, Visayas, Mindanao

Flash floods and landslides threaten parts of Palawan, Visayas and Mindanao on Sunday even as a weather disturbance continued to hover near Surigao in Mindanao, state weather forecasters said.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the low-pressure area (LPA) was estimated to be in the vicinity of Surigao del Norte as of 2 a.m., embedded along the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone affecting Palawan, Visayas and Mindanao.

"Palawan, Visayas and Mindanao will be cloudy with moderate to heavy rain showers and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides," it said.

Bicol and the rest of Mimaropa will have occasional light to moderate rain showers or thunderstorms, it added.

PAGASA said Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy with brief rain showers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and coming from the northeast to northwest over Visayas and Mindanao.

The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said strong to gale force winds enhanced by the surge of the northeast monsoon and the LPA may affect the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon, the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon and the seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas.

"Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said.

El Nido Resorts in Palawan among ‘Asia’s Top Eco Resorts’

EL Nido Resorts in Palawan, a top destination for local and foreign tourists, has been named one of Asia’s Top Eco Resorts in the Green Issue 2012 of travel magazine, Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia October edition. It also listed El Nido Resorts as one of “Our 20 Favorite Green Hotels,” for being “active in both reef and island conservation, helping to protect giant-clam gardens, and supporting the reintroduction of endangered Philippine cockatoos.”

El Nido Resorts, located in El Nido-Taytay towns, operates two luxury eco-resorts on Lagen Island and Miniloc Island within the Protected Area. The resorts are popular for diving, snorkeling, kayaking, trekking, and rappelling. In September, 2012, El Nido Resorts received two awards in the 2012 Best in Travel Poll by Smart Travel Asia, an online travel magazine. Lagen Island Resort ranked 9th Best Leisure Hotel/Resort in Asia, while Miniloc Island Resort retained its last year’s rank at 16th spot. Lagen Island Resort and Miniloc Island Resorts are two of the only three Philippine resorts included in Top 25 Best Leisure Hotel/Resort in Asia.

CNNGo, the travel website of Cable News Network, cited El Nido Resorts as Best Beach and Island Destination in the Philippines for its “extraordinary natural splendor and ecosystem.” The resorts won the Sustainable Hotel Award in the 21st Annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) in Hong Kong, recognizing its green practices and commitment to responsible tourism. It received the Environmental Education Program by Pacific Asia Travel Association Gold Award during a presentation last year at China World Trade Center.

The waters of El Nido are home to 813 fish species, 400 coral species, four species of hawksbill, olive ridley, leatherback, and green sea turtles – six species of endemic marine mammals, and three major marine habitats. They have 16 endemic and 10 species of birds, five types of forest, flora and fauna, limestone cliffs and white sand beaches.

We wish Palawan Governor Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra and Vice Governor Clara E. Reyes, El Nido Mayor Edna G. Lim and Vice Mayor Edgardo O. Trinidad, and El Nido Resorts Environment Manager-Resident Biologist Mariglo Rosaida I. Laririt, all the best and success as they partner in marine and terrestrial ecosystem projects to conserve El Nido’s beauty and biodiversity. CONGRATULATIONS AND MABUHAY!

Coast Guard searches for 3 fishermen missing off Palawan

Search efforts are ongoing for three fishermen who went missing off Palawan province earlier this week, the Philippine Coast Guard said Thursday.

A resident of Barangay Mandaragat in Puerto Princesa City had sought the PCG’s help in looking for the three, who went fishing near Mangsee Island in Balabac, Palawan.

In an article posted on its website, the Coast Guard identified the three missing fishermen as Adoricon Vicentino, Reynaldo Rabang and Jonathan Ytac.

Also, it identified their ship as the fishing banca JM-5.

The PCG said teams from its Mangsee detachment and local residents continued search operations off Mangsee Island but failed to find them.

It advised seacraft near Palawan “to be on the lookout” for the three, and to give the fishermen the necessary assistance if sighted.

El Nido's newest luxury resort opens

A Taiwanese couple are the first guests of Pangulasian Island, the newly opened luxury resort in El Nido, Palawan.

According to a press statement released by El Nido Resorts, the unnamed couple arrived at Pangulasian Island last October 15 and stayed for two days. The rest of their eight-day stay was split between El Nido’s Lagen and Miniloc islands.

The newly opened Pangulasian Island resort features 42 deluxe villas, which share a kilometer-long beach, as well as a swimming pool, gym, spa, resort center, restaurant, library, boutique and conference room, among other facilities. Guests are also assisted by a personal butler.

El Nido Resorts described its newest destination as a mix of “contemporary Filipino and cutting edge ‘green’ design with luxurious amenities and impeccable and personalized service, which makes it the ultimate eco-luxury destination in the Philippines.”

Currently, El Nido Resorts maintains and operates four island resorts in El Nido and Taytay: Pangusalian, Lagen, Miniloc and Apulit.

Palawan gov commends framework agreement

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan- The governor of Palawan has commended the signing of the Framework Agreement knowing that it sets the roadmap to peace in Mindanao.

“We commend the panels of both the government and the MILF for recognizing that peace is an imperative in our time,” said Palawan Governor Baham Mitra.

The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed an agreement on Monday at Malacañang Palace to build a new Bangsamoro and end the secessionist war.

The armed group’s push for a Bangsamoro homeland has lasted more than four decades and killed and displaced thousands while setting back economic development of resource-rich Mindanao.

The conflict spilled-over into other islands, including Palawan, where tourism industry suffered a major blow 10 years ago when the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) kidnapped guests at Dos Palmas resort holding them hostage for more than a year.

“The Framework Agreement commits both sides to the peace process that must be pursued resolutely, never giving-in to armed threats and pessimism,” Mitra said.

Although the framework agreement will not immediately yield peace dividends, Mitra said, it represents a “Historic breakthrough in our generation” for a final Mindanao peace deal to emerge.

“We know that the road ahead is difficult, that’s why both sides’ commitment to an enduring peace is a critical component of this process,” Mitra said.

City council endorses DMCI diesel plant

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan- The city council has endorsed in its last regular session the establishment of a diesel power plant by DMCI Power Corporation in Barangay Irawan, addressing the threat of a power shortage in December.

This was confirmed by City Councilor Gregorio “Rocky” Austria in a local radio interview, stressing the fact that what was endorsed was the additional requirement for a 5 MW plant fueled by diesel.

He said this amidst the on-going controversy on the application and request of DMCI for a coal-powered plant in Narra municipality.

He said that the diesel plant to be established in Barangay Irawan would ensure sufficient power supply when the demand for energy peaks during the November-December season.

Peak demand in Palawan is 30.5 MW while power supply from its current power providers total to 35.5 MW.

With the additional DMCI diesel plant, Palawan would be assured of uninterrupted power service in December.

Marines transferred to Palawan to fight off NPA

The 3rd Marine Brigade headquarters was transferred from Sulu to Palawan to counter the emergence of the New People's Army (NPA) in the island province.

Maj. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, commandant of the Philippine Marines (PM), said that NPA rebels are now operating in Palawan and the Marines are being deployed in the province as a containing force.

“Basically, the Marines are deployed in Palawan for internal security operations,” Guerrero told reporters following the launching of the Phiblex 2013 held inside Harrier jet hangar of USS Bonhomme, a Marine ground and air strike vessel now docked at the former US Naval facility in Subic Bay.

Thousands of Moro rebels from the Moro National Islamic Liberation Front (MNLF) are also based in several locations in Palawan, which Guerrero failed to mention in the media interview.

Guerrero admitted that while conducting internal security operations under the operational jurisdiction of Western Command (Wescom), the Marines are also being programmed to be part of the country's ongoing security shift from internal to territorial defense.

Wescom, under the command of Marine Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban, has operational jurisdiction over the Marines deployed in the country’s so-called last frontier which has territorial jurisdiction over the country’s regime of islands in the hotly-contested Spratlys archipelago.

Military intelligence showed that after several attempts, the NPA was able to establish a guerilla front in Palawan with a handful of armed fighters. The reports said that the rebels are mostly monitored in western section of the province.

On top of this, Palawan has also become the home to thousands of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters from Sulu and other areas of Mindanao.

The MNLF rebels relocated to Palawan following the group's and the goverment's signing of a peace agreement in 1996.

PLDT, Smart Build Palawan Backbone

In order to boost Palawan’s P4 Billion tourism industry, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and its mobile subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) are jointly building a new P1.4-billion fiber optic cable (FOC) transmission backbone to Palawan which will be completed in the first half of 2013.

The new transmission network will have an initial capacity of 400 gigabits per second – a huge expansion of the existing capacity of the digital radio transmission system currently serving the island province, the telcos announced yesterday.

“This will not only enhance basic services like voice and text. It will also make possible high-speed, large-capacity fixed and mobile internet services like Smart’s LTE (Long Term Evolution) and PLDT’s Fiber to the Home (FTTH) service,” explained Rolando G. Peña, head of network and IP systems of Smart and PLDT.

“Better communications will boost Palawan’s tourism and will also be a boon to schools, banks, hospitals, small businesses and government agencies which can operate more efficiently using fast and reliable communications,” he added.

Jointly managed by PLDT and Smart, the project involves laying down nearly 300 kilometers of undersea FOC cable from Iloilo to northern Palawan plus another 364 kilometers of FOC cable inland to Puerto Princesa City.

This system will connect Palawan to PLDT’s nationwide domestic fiber optic transmission network.

“We call this our ‘fiber advantage’,” Peña noted. “Fiber optic networks are absolutely vital if you want to provide reliable advanced communication services. The PLDT Group has the most extensive and most modern fiber optic network in the country.”

PLDT and Smart currently have about 54,000 kilometers for fiber optic cable rolled out nationwide. Working with Digitel and Sun Cellular, the PLDT Group is adding more.

Already, fiber networks connect most of Smart’s base stations in Metro Manila and a growing number elsewhere in the country. This enables Smart to carry growing volumes of voice calls, SMS more reliably and to provide high-speed data services like LTE.

The first land-based transmission backbone serving Palawan was built by Smart in 2004. This used microwave radio to transmit data and made it possible for Smart to offer multimedia messaging and mobile internet on top of voice calls and SMS.

Before this, the island was being served using satellite links which were costly and had limited capacity.

Since then, communications traffic has grown significantly, requiring the installation of large capacity networks to serve Palawan.

High-speed communications is now essential for Palawan’s tourism business which has been growing rapidly in recent years. Palawan is currently the country’s fifth leading tourist destination.

According to local government estimates, the number of tourists in Puerto Princesa jumped from about 160,000 in 2007 to over 500,000 in 2011. Expectations are the number will breach the 700,000-mark this year. By 2014, Palawan hopes to attract a million visitors.

Tourists are being drawn by Palawan’s natural wonders such as the Puerto Princesa Underground River, which was recently proclaimed one of the world’s “New 7 Wonders of Nature”.

Visitors are also drawn to trekking and other eco-tours. “More and more of these visitors expect to have reliable internet access – either through fixed terminals or on their mobile phones. This is no longer just a luxury. It is a necessity,” Peña concluded

BHP Billiton to drill for oil in northwest Palawan

BHP Billiton has committed to conduct drilling works in an offshore natural gas field in northwest Palawan, Energy Undersecretart Jose Layug Jr. said yesterday.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is looking at Service Contract (SC) 55 as the potential next big gas field after the Malampaya gas-to-power project.

“While we have been looking at Recto Bank as the next Malampaya, one of the SCs we are very positive about is SC 55,” said Layug.

Layug said the exploratory drilling of the Cinco well is expected in the first quarter of 2013.

The petroleum unit of BHP Billiton, which is the largest mining firm in the world, has a 60-percent stake in SC 55. Other stakeholders are Australia’s Otto Energy Ltd. (33.18 percent) and Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp. (6.82 percent) of the Phinma Group.

While the market for drill rigs is getting tighter amid numerous exploration projects worldwide, BHP Billiton is already conducting negotiations for two rigs, Layug said.

High prices of fossil fuel have encouraged foreign and local firms to invest in oil and gas exploration.

Layug said the potential resource in SC 55 is trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural gas, slightly lower than Malampaya’s 2.7 TCF.

SC 55 covers an area of 9,000 square kilometers and is located in offshore Palawan. It is located on a regional oil and gas fairway that extends from the productive Borneo offshore region in the southwest to the offshore Philippines production assets northwest of Palawan

“We are hoping that Cinco will be the gas reserve that can backfill Malampaya as we look for potential resource of natural gas,” Layug said.

The Malampaya project fuels three natural gas projects that that supplies up to 45 percent of Luzon’s power generation requirements.

The license for SC 38 that allows the exploration of the Malampaya gas field in northwest Palawan will expire in 2024, with production expected to decline starting in 2015.

Healthcare for Palawan's poor

Palawan, an island known for its pristine sands and picturesque natural beauty, is also home to more than half a million Filipinos living in poverty and malnutrition. The island has the highest fertility rate in the Philippines, yet it has the second lowest rate for prenatal care, according to nonprofit organization Roots of Health.

Based in the heart of Palawan in Puerto Princesa, Roots of Health (ROH) promotes healthcare services and education for women and children. It has been operating in the country for three years now and recently held its first event in Manila at the Alphaland Southgate Tower. With lawmakers set to decide in the next few months the future of Filipino reproductive health, the launch was as timely as it was relevant.

“At the core of the organization’s work is helping Palawan’s most underserved communities lead dignified lives through health education, clinical services, and counseling,” says ROH’s founding executive director Amina Swanepoel.

The self-reliance approach of Roots of Health has helped hundreds of Palawan women to make educated and responsible decisions for their own and children’s well-being. Proper nutrition through vertical gardening has also helped communities improve both nutrition and income levels.

Alphaland Corporation pledged support for the initiative by donating to Roots of Health for each visitor or guest who toured its Makati Place showroom at the Alphaland Southgate Tower.

“More than just preserving Palawan for its tourism value, the Roots of Health initiative reminds us to put even greater urgency to addressing the needs of its people, our own countrymen, and that beyond commerce, there lies an often ignored poverty in an island lauded for its beauty,” says Joanna Duarte, Alphaland’s VP for sales and marketing.

3rd Marine Brigade now back in Palawan

After a long stint at the southernmost part of the archipelago, the Third Marine Brigade of the Philippine Marine Corps arrived in the province of Palawan, September 28.

In a statement, AFP’s 6th Civil Relations Group Commander Maj. Joseph D. Bugaoan said the brigade came back as an added unit in western Philippines to realign forces in the Western Command area of responsibility.

“Way-back in the 1970s, the 3rd Marine Brigade was an organic unit of Western Command (Wescom) and contributed a lot in the internal and territorial defense operation of the country,” Bugaoan said.

Lieutenant Gen. Juancho M. Sabban, commander of Wescom, said it is high time for troops to come back home for they can be a big factor in sustaining and boosting the province’s thrust in securing, protecting and developing the mainland up to the Philippine territorial waters.

“This will further enhance Wescom’s capabilities and function as a partner-advocate of the Palaweňos in enforcing our sovereignty towards environmental preservation and protection towards peace, development and territorial security,” Sabban said.

The 3rd Marine Brigade will be an additional unit and manpower, responsible in handling, supporting and supervising the two marine battalions, presently deployed from north to south of the province.

Bugaoan said added responsibility at stake would be as the commander over-all in-charge of the units deployed in the Kalayaan Group of Islands.

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