Palawan News August 2018

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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

Palawan to ‘climate-proof’ all infra dev’t projects

(PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – The infrastructure projects of the provincial government of Palawan will have to undergo strict climate resilience proofing, in line with the prescribed guidelines approved through a Provincial Board ordinance.

Engineer Gilda Garibay, implementation officer of the Climate Resilient Green Growth (CRGG) project, said Wednesday this will happen after they have completed the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Provincial Ordinance No. 1865.

The measure prescribing the Climate Resilience and Green Growth Framework (CRGGF) for the province was signed by Governor Jose Alvarez on December 6, 2017.

Garibay said the ordinance urges all agencies of the national, provincial, and municipal governments, as well as the private sector, to strictly adhere to the CRGG framework on “climate-proofing” their infrastructure plans.

She said it also mandates that all regulatory agencies inspect and assess infrastructure projects under the framework before they are issued licenses, clearances, and other necessary permits.

“Ang IRR natin ay parang checklist yan ng mga projects. Papasok ba sya sa ganito at kung hindi ay hindi sya aaprubahan (Our IRRs are like a checklist of all project requirements. Is the project climate resilient before it is approved? If not, then it will not be approved),” Garibay said.

Garibay said with the CRGG framework, proposed infrastructure projects should always consider green growth and resiliency to avoid climate change impacts.

The provincial ordinance, she said, is due to the CRGG project that is jointly implemented by the Climate Change Commission, Global Green Growth Institute, and the Palawan government.

“We already made it a policy that all programs and projects of the province should undergo climate-proofing so when the administration changes, the process will not be affected,” she said.

Garibay cited as example the municipality of Brooke’s Point, which should become a “green city” once its urbanization pushes through.

“The power source we are promoting is solar so there should be an identified location for it. We are now making a proposed funding proposal for this,” she explained.

The ordinance was authored by Board Member Albert Rama.

Tubbataha: Reefs for keeps in Palawan

By Celeste Anna Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- Back in 1981 when diver Angelique Songco first went to the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP), she was mesmerized by its beauty but was also worried by the rampant use of illegal fishing methods that were destroying its marine environment.

In an interview with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Global in 2015, Songco said in the years she was going back and forth to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, she had observed fishermen using dynamite and cyanide, and poaching turtles and birds and their eggs.

Some of the fishermen came from as far as Quezon province, which is 600 km. away from Palawan.

“It was a sad state of affairs because there was no enforcement to speak of,” Songco said. She was convinced that the marine area needed protection despite not understanding its ecological value.

In 2001, Songco applied to the Tubbataha Management Board (TMB) to become park manager. She was employed by the WWF to hold the position because the board had no fund to pay her salary and establish an office.

Last Saturday, the Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) that Songco heads commemorated the 30th year anniversary of the establishment of the world famous reefs as a marine protected area with a photo exhibit at the SM City Puerto Princesa.

“Since we cannot bring everyone to Tubbataha, we are bringing it to them here to show what it’s like through these photos that were taken by Filipino photographers,” she said.

New park ranger station

During the event, a representative of the Palawan government reiterated the plan to construct a new PHP220-million state-of-the-art ranger station in Tubbataha, which is within the municipal jurisdiction of Cagayancillo municipality.

Songco said the provincial government is just waiting to complete the fund, which still requires about PHP50 million, to begin construction “hopefully next year.”

“The construction of the park ranger station is a project of the provincial government. They will be the ones to determine when they will start. About PHP50 million is still needed. But we have to understand that it’s difficult to construct because Tubbataha is far and no one wants to accept the project,” she said.

The TMO is expecting that next summer, the construction of the new park ranger station will already materialize and that the provincial government can help transport the construction materials.

The proposed park ranger station is hexagon-shaped and will feature a glass dome, a helipad, a 360-degree view of Tubbataha, overhanging rain troughs, a visitor’s center, a mini-museum, and stepladder planters for vegetable production. It was designed by WWF consultant Dylan James Melgazo.

Songco said it will increase the rangers’ capacity to safeguard the marine park in the Sulu Sea, which has already suffered from destruction due to two ship groundings in previous years.

Dominic Fresnillo of the Provincial Information Office (PIO), who represented the provincial government in the event, said Governor Jose Alvarez is resolute in constructing the new park ranger station.

“It will push through and it’s worth PHP220 million. We’ve seen the design, and it would be something pre-fabricated so when it gets there, it will just be assembled. I think the governor has seen its design,” he said.

His reiteration of the provincial government’s commitment to construct the park ranger station was welcomed by ranger Noel Bundal, who has been taking care of the 97,030-hectare reef area for 18 years.

“Kahit malayo kami sa pamilya namin at malungkot kadalasan, ito na ang pinili namin na propesyon yong alagaan ang Tubbataha. Kung magkakaroon ng bagong park ranger station, magiging masaya kami dahil mas mapapabuti namin ang serbisyo pa (Even if we are far from our families and we are often sad, it is our profession’s duty to take care of Tubbataha. We would be glad to get a new park ranger station as this would help us do our jobs better),” Bundal said.

Tubbataha Big Five

The vibrancy of life in Tubbataha, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, is said to be the marine version of the rich African savannas.

Former WWF-Philippines president, Lory Tan, suggested years ago that the park comes up with a marine version of this that will be called the “Tubbataha Big Five.”

They are iconic species of the sea in Tubbataha that will symbolize the robust and balanced marine ecosystem in the area.

“Their continuing presence will tell that there is adequate food to support them and that the reef is healthy,” Songco said.

These species are the Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), an apex predator used to be common in Philippine waters but is now mostly seen in Tubbataha; the Dogtooth tuna (Gymnosarda unicolor), also an apex predator that is a commercially-important species; the Giant manta ray (Mobula birostris), a vulnerable-to-extinction ray that is magnificent to watch when gliding through the water; the Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), a critically endangered and world protected marine turtle; and the Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulates), a coral reef dweller fish that is now in danger of extinction.

“When you see these five species in Tubbataha, that means the marine ecosystem in the area is well-balanced, and that it has enough food to take care of them and keep them safe,” she said.

No plastic bottle allowed

Songco said that after 30 years of marine protection, Tubbataha is now one of the best-managed marine protected areas in the world after being awarded last year by the Global Refuge Ocean Refuge System (GLORES).

“What else do we want? What we want is to keep it (Tubbataha) there, to maintain it there. But we cannot maintain it by just relaxing, we have to continue our work,” she said.

Right now, Songco said Tubbataha is also feeling the brunt of too many plastic wastes drifting and being collected even underwater by park rangers.

Plastic water bottles and other kinds are no longer allowed in Tubbataha, an advice they have communicated earlier to dive boats that bring guests to the area as everything “turns out in the ocean in the end.”

“We have banned plastic bottles and straws in Tubbataha with diver operators. They said they will support because, certainly, nobody wants to see wastes in Tubbataha,” she said.

The exhibit at SM City Puerto Princesa is offering the use of 360-degree virtual goggles, courtesy of the 2016 visit of Prince Albert II of Monaco, who commissioned the development of a video of his trip in the format for the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco and for donation to Tubbataha.

It also paved the way for Tubbataha to recognize the invaluable contribution of various personalities, groups, and organizations, through the “The Tubbataha Big Five Awards”.

The recipients of the awards are Marvi Trudeau, program director of Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) in Palawan; videographers and photographers Marissa Floriendo and Ma. Teresa Lara; Patricia Zobel de Ayala, Honorary Consul to Monaco; David Huang of Digichive, one of the country's successful advertising agencies holding major contracts in major airports for mounting photos of Tubbataha; photographer and Discover Fleet operations manager Yvette Lee; and former 1st Palawan House representative Antonio Alvarez, who was vital in the enactment of Republic Act No. 10067, or the TRNP Act of 2009.

The Tubbataha Act won the 2012 Future Policy Award as an “example of successful coral reef conservation and a mode for action.”

Military hospital in Palawan gets makeover

By Celeste Anna Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — A newly-refurbished hospital was turned over to the armed forces’ Western Command (Wescom) here on Friday by the SM Foundation for the use of military personnel, their dependents, and authorized civilians.

The turnover of the renovated Camp General Artemio Ricarte Station Hospital (CGARSH) was led by Connie Angeles, SM Foundation’s senior assistant vice president and executive director for health and medical programs, to Wescom commander Lt. General Rozzano Briguez and other military officers, personnel, and invited guests.

Wescom spokesperson and Public Affairs Office chief, Capt. Cherryl Tindog, said Monday it is the only 20-bed capacity hospital of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that provides treatment, surgery, and nursing care to over 6,000 soldiers and their dependents in Puerto Princesa and Palawan.

Located within the headquarters of Wescom in Barangay San Miguel, the CGARSH can accommodate around 60 to 80 patients.

“The renovation is a welcome improvement in the hospital as its fresh environment will serve our soldiers who are also taking care of the province. There dependents will also benefit from the use of the newly-refurbished CGARSH," Tindog said.

Meanwhile, Angeles said the renovation of the military hospital is part of the SM Foundation’s health and wellness program initiative to sustain medical care to military personnel and civilians.

“For several years now, SM Foundation has been renovating and improving military health facilities not only to enhance their capacities and capabilities by way of improvement and donation of equipment but to make them more responsive and conducive to our country’s uniformed men,” Angeles said.

Tindog said Briguez expressed Wescom’s gratitude to the SM Foundation, which has been the AFP’s partner in providing the health care needs of military personnel and their families.

"Thank you for supporting our peacekeepers by committing to help in the improvement of the AFP health service facility. On behalf of the AFP, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the SM Foundation for choosing CGARSH as one of the recipients of this project and for the completion of the newly renovated and enhanced hospital," she quoted Briguez as saying.

The SM Foundation funded the improvements of the nurses’ station, treatment room, officers’ ward, military ward, pediatric ward, female or OB ward, physical rehabilitation area, recovery room, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and operating room (OR)/delivery room (DR) complex.

Aside from this, it added a patient’s waiting lounge, a changing room and a breastfeeding area for mothers, and renovated the pharmacy and the central supply room.

CGARSH provides outpatient care, physical therapy, physical examination, family planning, emergency room services, NP screening, preventive medicine activities and aero medical services – including search and rescue operations and medical mission in Palawan.

It is licensed by the Department of Health and accredited by Philhealth to provide Level 1 services in general medicine, general surgery, general pediatrics OB-Gyne, Anesthesia and EENT (eye, ear, nose, and throat).

The hospital is being managed by the AFP Health Service Command and is the 27th health facility given a makeover by SM Foundation.

Comelec records 10,256 voter-related registrations in Palawan

By Celeste Anna Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- The continuing filing of applications and other voter-related registrations of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Palawan have received a total of 10,256 requests from those who want to participate in the May 2019 national and local elections.

Jomel Ordas, the spokesperson of the local Comelec, said Thursday the figure was from only five weeks, or from July 2 to August 4, of ongoing acceptance of applications.

There are 4,116 applications from new registrants; 2,944 for transfer from other cities and municipalities; and 1,373 for transfer within the city and municipalities of Palawan. There were 1,194 requests for reactivation; and correction of entries like change of names and others numbered 629.

“So far, everything is going smooth and easy. We believe this number will increase since the deadline is still on September 29,” he said.

Ordas said 5,432 of the total number are females and 4,824 are males.

By legislative districts, 4,081 applicants are from the 3rd Palawan District composed of Puerto Princesa City and Aborlan town, followed by 3,345 from the 1st Palawan District, and 2,830 from the 2nd Palawan District.

He reminded new voter-applicants to make sure their requirements are already complete before they go to the provincial Comelec to avoid wasting time.

“There are requirements that the applicants must bring with them for registration as new voters and other related concerns,” he added.

These can be found under Section 9 of Republic Act 8189, or The Voter’s Registration Act of 1996, stated by the Comelec in Section 3 of Resolution No. 10214.

In the 2016 elections, the combined records of the provincial and city Comelec offices show there were 583,057 registered voters in the province. The 1st Palawan District had the most number of voters at 229,920.

The City of Puerto Princesa has 127,664 registered voters, while the municipality with the highest number of voters was Taytay in northern Palawan with 38,697.

BFAR puts up more community fish landing centers in Palawan

By Gerardo Reyes, Jr. (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- The Department of Agriculture's (DA) Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will be constructing 11 more community fish landing centers in strategic coastal areas here and 10 municipalities in Palawan to reduce post-harvest losses.

Alvin De Sena, fisheries information and management center officer of BFAR in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), announced this on Thursday, after two community fish landing centers were previously turned over to fisherfolk associations in Coron and El Nido towns in northern Palawan.

De Sena said that BFAR has allocated a total of PHP39 million for the establishment of 13 fish landing centers in the entire province.

Fish landings equipped with cold storage facilities and eight stainless stalls are now under construction in Linapacan, Agutaya, Cuyo, Roxas, Cagayancillo, Kalayaan, Brooke’s Point, and Sofronio Española.

Construction for the towns of Quezon, San Vicente, and Puerto Princesa are still in the site identification stage.

“The main purpose of these projects is to centralize fish landings due to the existence of cold storage and handling facilities to minimize wastage because fish is perishable,” he said.

In Puerto Princesa, the community fish landing center will be constructed in Honda Bay, Barangay Sta. Lourdes, on a 1,000-square-meter site owned by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

De Sena said the facilities will also help in the gathering of important information on fisheries and in monitoring the presence of illegal activities within municipal waters and beyond.

“If there are illegal fishing activities, they can be easily monitored because of the fish landing centers. BFAR can be easily accessed also,” he said.

Former Marine battalion chief in Palawan wins Metrobank award

By Celeste Anna Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- The former commanding officer of a Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) battalion here has received one of the 10 Outstanding Filipinos awards from the Metrobank Foundation (MF).

Lieutenant Colonel Danilo Facundo, former commander of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 4 (MBLT 4), was chosen as one of the recipients of the MF’s career-service award for championing joint and inter-agency campaigns against terrorism and insurgency.

During his stint in Palawan, Facundo’s battalion leadership saw the employment of the inter-agency approach, which brought all government and non-government agencies in sharing the responsibility of resolving interdependent issues about radicalism and rebellion.

“Through joint and inter-agency approach, the outlook was to bring all agencies in Palawan with different interests and functions, but with commonalities, to identify and share one responsibility and get to the bottom of it,,” he said Thursday.

He added that violent extremism and insurgency can only be worked out in the province if all agencies – government and non-government– maximize their resources and common resolve against existing difficult issues and circumstances.

Part of the method, he explained, was establishing the concept of SMART, or Sustained Multi-agency Assistance in Resort and Tourist areas, to exchange valuable information against threats to communities.

“The approach foresees a crisis management scheme that facilitates inter-agency cooperation and minimizes competition and conflicts among all that want one end state, which is to keep Palawan safe,” Facundo said.

He said the inter-agency method, which is now being sustained by the 3rd Marine Brigade (MBde) and the Western Command (Wescom), resulted “in zero incident of kidnapping and insurgency” in Palawan.

As part of his award, Facundo will be receiving PHP1 million from the Metrobank Foundation.

After leaving Palawan early this year as commander of the MBLT 4, Facundo was assigned as the director of the Mobile Training and Exercise Unit of the PMC in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

He is one of only three members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) awarded this year.

The others are Philippine Army Major Francis Señoron, an explosives engineer; and Philippine Air Force warfighter Lt. Colonel Thomas Ryan Seguin.

The seven other awardees in different categories are Mary Jane Ramos of Misami Oriental, who is a culture and environment heroine; literacy crusader Alma Jaganap, EdD; first female geophysical expert Carla Dimalanta, PhD; science education innovator Aimee Marie Gragasin; Camp Crame’s operations game changer Senior Supt. Pascual Muñoz; horse-mounted cop Senior Insp. Dennis Ebsolo, PhD.; and enforcer-educator Senior Police Officer 1 Aida Awitin.

CCTV cameras in Palawan public schools sought

By Celeste Anna Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- A resolution that seeks the installation of surveillance cameras in public school entrances and exits, to keep students safe in Palawan, was proposed Tuesday at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board).

Ex-officio board member Clarito Demaala IV said the resolution is specifically addressed to Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez for inclusion in the education component of the Infrastructure, Health, Education, Livelihood, and Protection of the Environment (IHELP) development agenda.

He said equipping all public schools in the province with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras will help ensure the safety of students while they are away from their homes.

Demaala noted that he has been receiving a lot of requests from schools for funding of broken window panes.

He added that most public schools located in distant municipalities have no security guards to constantly monitor their premises because they do not have funds to pay for security personnel.

In his resolution, Demaala said CCTV cameras are aimed at preventing crimes that might be committed against students, teachers, and the schools, where important learning facilities should be taken care of.

“If something bad happens to them, CCTV cameras can help determine what happened and who the responsible individuals are. If an incident happens within the school premises, CCTV footages can be readily secured to tell the story. It will also help authorities solve traffic accidents, bullying, and fighting among students,” Demaala said.

The resolution has been referred to the committee on appropriations of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for further discussion.

Premiere Horizon taps Leechiu for Puerto Princesa hub

(ABS-CBN News)

MANILA - Premiere Horizon Alliance Corp on Monday said its subsidiary signed an agreement with consultancy firm Leechiu Property Consultants for its tourism hub in Puerto Princesa.

Under the memorandum of agreement, the Leechiu will be the exclusive marketing agent of West Palawan Premiere Development Corp's 850-hectare development, Premiere Horizon told the stock exchange.

Tourism opportunities in Palawan are not fully tapped given increasing arrivals at the newly renovated international airport that has been receiving direct flights from Taiwan, China and Korea, it said.

Global hotel brands are interested in Western Palawan's beach front property in Nagtabon, 30 minutes from the Puerto Princesa International Airport.

West Palawan is expected to generate more than P500 million in revenue next year from lot sales and development, Premiere Horizon said.

Palaweño wins in world championship of performing arts

By Celeste Anna Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- When Arjay Espartero went to Long Beach, California on July 4 to join the World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA), all he had was trust in his ability as a vocal soloist and the longing to bring honor to his country and the province of Palawan.

WCOPA is no joke. It is touted to be an Olympic-style international competition for aspiring performers and entertainers. Every year, more than 2,500 singers, musicians, dancers, variety artists, actors, and models from at least 63 countries compete against one another to win medals in various categories.

Espartero, 33, who in his youth had to deal with making charcoal out of abandoned wood trunks to earn a living with his poor family in Narra town in the southern part of the province, is the first Palaweño to take home four medals and a plaque from the WCOPA international meet held on July 6-15 in California.

He won a silver medal for his contemporary rendition of the song “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, another silver for Josh Groban’s Latin song “Un Giorno Per Noi”, and gold for his version of the country song “Home” by Michael Buble. He also received a plaque as WCOPA Contemporary Division Winner for singing.

Espartero likewise took home a bronze for captivating judges in the formal modeling category.

He said he was introduced to the WCOPA by a friend who thought he has a chance to be selected to join the Philippine team and represent Palawan.

“Nagkaroon ng audition last September 2017 na sinalihan ko. So ‘yon, I’m so happy dahil sa dami ng nag-audition, isa ako sa mga nakapasa. More than 5,000 ang nag-audition all over the Philippines para sa WCOPA at 500 lang ang nakapasa (There was an audition in September 2017. I joined, and I’m so happy because out of all those who auditioned, I passed. More than 5,000 auditioned all over the Philippines for the WCOPA and only 500 were selected),” he said Thursday.

Espartero did not expect to win any medal in the worldwide competition. Though kind and ready to make friends with competitors, every contender in the WCOPA desired nothing except to win, no matter what.

“Lahat ng nandoon talagang magagaling. Kung baga yong pinakamagaling na ata sa mga bansa nila. Pero masayang-masaya ako kasi nakapagdala ako ng karangalan sa bansa natin, dito sa Palawan, at sa hometown ko sa Narra (Everyone who was there were all talented. They’re their countries’ best. But I am very happy that I was able to bring honor to our country, to Palawan, and to my hometown Narra),” he said.

“Ang gusto ko lang, maiahon ang pamilya ko sa kahirapan sa pamamagitan ng talento ko. Kahit paano, gusto ko mabigyan ko sila ng magandang buhay kasi talagang lumaki kami sa hirap. Gusto ko rin makapag-inspire ng ibang mga Palaweño na hindi hadlang ang kahirapan para maabot mo ang gusto mong marating (What I really long for is to lift my family out of poverty through my talent. As much as possible, I want to give them a good life because we grew up really poor. I also want to inspire other Palaweños that poverty is not a limitation, that it is not a hindrance to what they want to achieve in life),” he said.

Espartero’s singing career, coupled with good looks and height, has already attracted talent scouts who are willing to help him break into the showbiz industry. A record producer has also expressed interest for him to make an album.

In the following days, he would be preparing to join artist Jed Madela, the first Filipino to be inducted into the Hall of Fame of the WCOPA, in his out-of-town shows and concerts.

"Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga tumulong sa akin para makapunta sa competition sa California. Malaki ang tulong niyo sa pag-abot ko ng aking pangarap (I am thankful to the people who helped me get to California. Your help for me to reach my dream is so great)," the Narra artist said.

Hope for Palawan forest turtle conservation

(Panay News With a report from PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA – Hope springs for the critically endangered Palawan forest turtle after conservationists successfully hatched a single egg following about 10 years of hard work.

An extremely sought-after species in the illegal wildlife trade, the Palawan forest turtle (Siebenrockiella leytensis) is an endemic freshwater turtle that has faced threats, mainly due to the brazen collection.

Dr. Sabine Schoppe, director of the Palawan Freshwater Turtle Conservation Program under the Katala Foundation, Inc., said they have hatched the first recorded egg from captive parents of the freshwater turtle with support from the Wildlife Reserve Singapore (WRS).

The hatchling that emerged from its egg on June 24 was named “Sonja,” and it is from parents that have been dwelling for years in their “assurance colony” facilities in Palawan.

“Five years ago, with support from WRS, we intensified research on the Palawan forest turtle, and now have a better understanding of their food preferences, incubation requirements like humidity and temperature, incubation time, nesting prerequisites, enclosure and furniture design, and necessary environmental conditions to trigger reproduction,” Schoppe said.

Schoppe, who has been studying and researching the species for the past 15 years, explained that assurance colonies are usually established for species that are facing threats and might go extinct in the wild.

Any Palawan forest turtle that will be raised in captivity will be part of this colony for release later in areas where its population has seriously declined due to poaching.

Tapat na Pinoy! Palawan airport security guard returns luggage with P1.5 million

(Politiko Bicol)

A security guard at the Puerto Princesa International Airport returned a luggage containing P1.5 million.

At about 8 a.m. on July 31, Jovani Yumen noticed a blue luggage beside a flower box at the arrival area of the airport.

Yumen called the attention of the airport security assistant on duty, Jel Anthony Cervantes, who then immediately sought K9 IED (improvised explosive device) inspection from the Philippine National Police’s Aviation Security Unit.

After the K9 inspection yielded a negative result, tourist police examined the contents of the luggage, which contained a black jacket, a wallet with identification cards belonging to a certain Danilo Dequito, and an envelope containing 15 bundles of PHP100,000 totaling P1.5 million.

More than an hour later, Dequito went to the arrival area looking for his luggage. Upon presenting proof of identification, he claimed his luggage and examined its contents. Dequito counted his money and found everything intact and complete.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade commended the airport employees for their honesty and professionalism and for following aviation security and police procedures.

“Even small acts of honesty and just by simply following the proper procedures are important in showing the integrity of our offices,” Tugade said.

“Salute to CAAP and the employees of Puerto Princesa International Airport. They set the bar high, and this should be the norm for all of us public servants,” he added.

El Nido cited as ‘ultimate beach destination’

By Catherine Talavera (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine island has been cited by a California-based travel website as among the top places to visit this year.

The Venue Report urged its readers to visit El Nido in Palawan, adding that it is an alternative to the popular Bali in Indonesia.

“The beaches of the Philippines are at the top of our explore list for 2018,” the Venue Report said.

“With incredible rock formations, stunning reefs and white sandy beaches, this is the ultimate beach destination,” it added.

El Nido was among the destinations cited by the travel website in its 18 Places That Are Seriously Trending for 2018 (& Where to Go Instead) list.

The travel website named destinations that offer the same breathtaking views as classic tourist spots, but with less crowds.

Other less-crowded destinations cited on the list are Sri Lanka as an alternative to Thailand and Seychelles instead of Maldives, among others.

Palawan was earlier recognized by readers of international magazine Travel+Leisure as the sixth best island in the world this year.

While Palawan is no stranger to the list, having been named the best island in the world in 2013 and 2017, it was overtaken by a number of surprise entries this year.

“It remains in fine company, voted in along with its sister island Cebu,” Travel+Leisure said, adding that Cebu placed eight on this year’s list.

Travel+Leisure earlier included El Nido in its list of 15 Best Beach Destinations to visit in January.

The travel magazine cited that Palawan offers the same stunningly beautiful scenery as other popular Southeast Asia destinations, but with just a fraction of the crowds.

“Join a boat tour in El Nido to hop around the Bacuit archipelago. You’ll sail through crystal-clear blue lagoons flanked by emerald karst cliffs, then kayak to secluded powdery white beaches,” Travel+ Leisure earlier said.

“In January, the seas are clear and calm: perfect for snorkeling and diving around coral reefs,” it added.

The magazine also cited Palawan as one of the 13 places to see the bluest water in the world.

Wild Expeditions Palawan: Promoting ‘Leave No Trace Tourism’

By Celeste Anna Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – The number of travel and tour retailers in this capital city of Palawan, now at more than 100, continues to increase -- undeniably, because tourism is a major contributor to the province’s economy.

Travel and tour operators have mushroomed in the city, but more so in the global computer network, including fraudulent ones, offering a multiplicity of information about what could be an itinerant’s dream travel in Puerto Princesa and the province.

A lot of them, but not all, offer matchmaking tour services to let travelers express what they truly want to do, for instance, explore the unbeaten tracks, or for the elderly, simply enjoy a day near the river, which does not require much walking.

This is where the eco-tour agency, Wild Expeditions Palawan (WEP), comes in. The WEP, owned by local travel operator and entrepreneur Rommel Cruz, focuses on nature-themed activities -- from the easy treks to the more enthusing sea-to-summit journeys and wildlife documentaries.

The agency’s kind of tour is so far unparalleled in that it strictly follows the “Leave No Trace” principles in the conduct of its business.

Cruz said with the rising influx of visitors in this city and the municipalities of Palawan, it is now essential to highlight the “leave no trace” principles to guests to let them know they have a shared responsibility in taking care of the natural and cultural sites they visit.

“Tourism is good, but if not well managed, has the possibility to cause negative impacts in the balance in our environment. All kinds of tourism activities, if poorly supervised, can result in a range of damage to our environment – the wildlife -- and eventually, the people that live in it,” he said.

The “leave no trace” principles are “no sweat,” he said, noting that they depend a lot on the travelers’ awareness, more than rules and regulations. These principles include planning ahead and not rushing tours in an effort to gain higher income; not stamping on sensitive vegetation and weak surfaces; bringing trash back home; leaving what you find alone; zero tolerance for having campfires; keeping noise down to respect wildlife; and being a considerate travel retailer by maintaining group numbers in manageable sizes.

“Leaving no trace is a responsibility that should be shared between the travel managers and the guests. It should be stressed enough so nobody forgets or they will be causing the degradation of the natural environment they’re visiting. Just think about their numbers multiplying,” Cruz said.

Birds and the birth of WEP

Cruz’s knowledge and passion about the environment began 12 years ago at the Katala Foundation, Inc. (KFI), which works on the conservation of the Philippine cockatoo (katala), and other wildlife species, such as the pangolin (balintong) and the endemic and critically-endangered Palawan forest turtle.

One of his assignments was to be a bird guide for enthusiasts who want to see the Philippine cockatoos in their habitat on Rasa Island, Narra in southern Palawan.

“Halos lahat ng experiences ko sa environment, sa biodiversity, doon nag-start. Once in a while, nagle-lead ako ng birding tour as a freelance guide. One of my assignments is to assist bird watchers in going to Rasa Island. Doon ako natuto na, okay, may potential pala itong ginagawa ko (Almost all my experiences regarding environment, biodiversity, began there. Once in a while, I led birding tours as a freelance guide. One of my assignments was to assist bird watchers in going to Rasa Island, and I learned that, okay, what I’m doing has a potential),” he said.

From KFI, Cruz transferred to work with other non-government organizations, and his last was with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff, which is tasked to provide machinery and synchronize the policy and functions and implement programs of the Council.

While there, he realized that the bird watching tours he was doing on the side have the potential to earn him profits.

“WEP really started as that kind of outfit. We focused on offering bird watching tours in Palawan, and the value that we strictly implement in our business leaves no trace,” he said.

Cruz can legitimately claim that in the province, he is an authority on birds. To date, he holds the knowledge on where to observe 24 endemic bird species in the forests of the province.

During the 2016 Big Year, an international challenge among birders to find many bird species that they could identify, Cruz’s company handled the Palawan leg for Dutch national Arjan Dwarshuis, who owns the world record for spotting 6,852 species in a single year.

“I’ve seen all the endemic birds depending on taxonomy, and the hardest to see are those in the mountains. There is one bird that is restricted to high elevation in Victoria’s Peak and Mt. Mantalingahan at 1,000 meters up. It’s where you can see it. It’s called (the) Palawan striped babbler,” he said.

Cruz holds too, the record in the Philippines for the first sighting of the migratory bird grasshopper warbler at the Puerto Princesa Underground River last year.

This was far from the past when bird tour companies had to go to the Philippines and to Palawan themselves to guide hobbyists.

“We started from there, we thought we can do this, and then we asked two companies outside the country if they want to buy packages from us, which is cheaper and with local knowledge where birds can be found,” he said.

In 2015, when he established WEP with half-a-million-peso capital, it was challenging as it was new in the field of travel and tourism, but over time, international birding tour agencies began to trust his venture.

Birds are sensitive to human disturbance, therefore, they are ecological indicators. Cruz said they are sensitive to changes in the environment that is why in his bird tours, he often tells first-timers not to wear colorful outfits to blend into the habitat they would be exploring.

Although many birds are used to loud natural sounds, they do not like noises caused by humans and their machines.

“We always maintain a minimum amount of people in the group (in) the bird tours we do because as much as possible, we want to maintain overall habitat quality. In a group, there’d be around six to eight people only,” he said.

Traveling and environment conservation

The yearning to travel and see places that people have not seen before is a challenge in balancing the preservation of the environment, Cruz said.

Travelers from developed nations, he said, are more experienced than those who come from evolving nations, whose awareness of environmental protection, of valuing the resources of the places they visit, is low.

Environmental protection is a “no-brainer” for Palaweños, but Cruz acknowledged that there are still those who simply do not care and do not have values in preserving tourism sites, which leads to pollution and damage in famed destinations.

If this situation continues, he said, these important settings might be lost as no tourist would visit polluted sites to enjoy their holidays.

In WEP’s travel and tours, Cruz said they always bring in Palawan’s efforts and initiatives to protect its environment and its wildlife since they can be balanced with traveling.

“We don’t go too technical or scientific. That’s boring. We discuss them using simple language, especially to first-time travelers, who have no background about environmental conservation,” said Cruz.

When they do river and wilderness camps, they do not allow guests to wash in the river using soap and shampoo as most rivers are drinking water sources for communities downstream.

They go as far as providing their guests with biodegradable wash kits that have minimum impact on the environment, and they dig “cat holes” in wooded areas in case nature calls.

“No campfire is allowed during our beach camps because they stain the sand, and generally, we consider the soil characteristics. In forests, they’re a no-no because they can create wildfires and irreparable damages,” he added.

Cruz, whose WEP is the first local tour company to be allowed to bring guests for bird watching at the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, said “zero tolerance is zero tolerance” when it comes to promoting tourism and environmental protection to shelter important sea and summit habitats.

“In Tubbataha, there is an islet that is so beautiful with so many birds, but the management does not allow people to step on it. So, we do not allow our guests as well. We observe the birds on the dinghy only. There are newly hatching bird eggs on the sand, and if people step on it, they might step on the little birds,” he said.

Christopher Conde, WEP’s travel outfitter and tour leader, said he could not go mountain climbing without first telling guests that they follow “zero tolerance” when it comes to environmental protection.

Mountaineers and river camp trekkers are not allowed to dispose of their chewing gum or candy wrappers in stone corners or bushes because that would leave a waste trace.

“Ultimo wrapper ng candy o chewing gum, hindi puwedeng itatapon lang kung saan sa bundok, or singit-singit sa mga bato. Lagi namin pinapaalalahanan na zero tolerance kami at sumusunod naman sila bilang respeto (Even candy or chewing gum wrappers, they cannot just throw them away in the mountain or stick them between grits. They are always reminded that we strictly adhere to the ‘leave no trace’ as respect for the environment),” he said.

Conde said every time he scales Victoria’s Peak in Narra, and Mt. Cleopatra’s Needle, Mt. Beaufort, Mt. Thumb Peak, and Mt. Salakot in Puerto Princesa, he never gets tired of repeating the same environment conservation initiatives WEP has.

Bringing trash bags are common in WEP’s travel practice, particularly in mountain treks and climbing because they use them to collect any trash they find along the way.

“Kung may madaanan na basura sa bundok, pinupulot namin. Sanay na iyong mga returning clients namin sa practice (If we pass by any trash, we pick them up. Our returning clients are used to this),” he said.

Travel and tour responsibilities

Puerto Princesa City Councilor Matthew Mendoza, chair of the committee on tourism, said there is a compelling need to ensure that all travel and tours operators know about how to promote tourism and environmental protection together.

Everyone, he said, even tourists visiting the city, have to be urged to participate in schemes to protect the environment. If they are not aware, they must be made conscious to preserve the places where they travel.

Travel and tour companies in Puerto Princesa are aware of this, Mendoza said. However, he is not aware yet if they frequently bring the “leave no trace” principles into the consciousness of touring groups due to the number of guests.

“It is important in the balance in our ecology that travelers are aware of how they should conduct themselves when they are in our natural sites. I am considering filing a resolution regarding this ‘leave no trace’ tourism to ensure that the practice among our stakeholders is not just for marketing and promotions, but that they are actually doing it,” he said.

John Stephen Tuboc, who has been working as a freelance travel guide with tour agencies and has worked with Cruz a number of times, said as far as he is aware, every accredited and certified tour guide like him in Puerto Princesa knows about it.

However, there are also those who never underwent any seminar on tour guiding being given by the Department of Tourism (DOT). Tuboc said he is not sure how they brief their guests.

“Kami alam namin iyan kasi part iyan ng certification namin as tour guides. Sini-set namin na example lagi ang mga efforts to save the environment pero di namin alam sa iba na di accredited kasi may mga nag-ga-guide din naman nag-exam (We know it because it is part of our certification as tour guides. We set an example of the efforts to save the environment, but we don’t know about those who are not accredited because there are some who did not take their exams),” he said.

As a travel and tour retailer, Cruz wants Wild Expeditions Palawan to be different when it comes to helping guests who want to explore the city’s and province’s natural sites.

“It would be nice for our tourism industry if every travel and tour is bringing the ‘leave no trace’ awareness in doing business. There should be zero tolerance in bringing guests to natural sites. It’s like letting us not compromise the environment just because we want to earn so much income because if we lose it, we will have nothing in the first place,” he said.

Currently, Cruz is studying the probability of offering cultural immersion tours in indigenous cultural communities to promote Palawan’s unique customs and traditions.

He added they are sensitive in studying the possibility since they do not want to create a demand for the indigenous peoples (IPs), all because there are guests to please.

“If you want to see them, you live with the tribe, you learn from them. Again, responsible tourism because we don’t want them going down just to be seen by our guests. They have to be appreciated in the environment where they live,” Cruz said.

BOI approves P1.7-billion Seda Lio Resort in Palawan as 1st business model project under rolling priority plan

By Elijah Felice Rosales

SEDA Lio Resort in Palawan can now avail itself of five years of income tax holiday (ITH), after receiving approval to become the first inclusive business model project under the government’s rolling priority plan.

In a news release on Wednesday, the Board of Investments (BOI) reported it authorized Seda Lio’s application to adopt an inclusive business model for its operations. The P1.7-billion resort in El Nido, Palawan, was constructed and is managed by Econorth Resort Ventures Inc., a subsidiary of Ayala Land Hotel and Resorts Corp.

With the approval, Seda Lio is now qualified for pioneer status with up to half a decade of ITH subject to certain conditions as indicated under the current Investment Priorities Plan. The IPP criteria for inclusive business models require at least 25 percent of total costs of services to be sourced from micro and small enterprises (MSEs).

The project should also generate at least 25 direct jobs intended for the marginalized sector, with at least 30 percent of it allotted to women. Target income must be the minimum wage or baseline income plus a 20-percent increase, whichever is higher.

Econorth projects amount to about P243.8 million annually, with services acquired from MSEs valued at P60 million by the third year of its operation.

The firm also committed to support staff development to allow more opportunities for workers to obtain new skills in the service industry. Its employees will also take courses on managing local suppliers, tax and proper documentation, seminars on hazard and the environment, among others.

“This development is a boost to Palawan not only as one of the country’s top tourist destinations, but also as being at the forefront of promoting a healthier environment and having an inclusive business model, wherein the community is engaged in a sustainable manner,” Trade Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo Jr. said.

Seda Lio, he added, integrates the low-income community in its value chain through employment and sourcing of goods and services; thus, creating an inclusive impact within El Nido.

Seda Lio is situated within the 325-hectare Lio Tourism Estate in El Nido, which is Ayala Land Inc.’s (ALI) first ecologically sustainable tourism estate. The estate is administered by Ten Knots Development Corp. that combines business with long-term environmental conservation.

The resort is penciled to start operations by the third quarter of this year.

Seda Lio is part of ALI’s plan to spend about P11 billion until 2022 to develop Lio Tourism Estate.

PAF fighter jets join military exercise in Palawan

(PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – Three FA-50 fighter jets of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) arrived in this city Monday to participate in the DAGIT (Dagat, Langit, Lupa) joint field training exercise (FTX) to step up the interoperability of all branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

They will be participating in the FTX phase of DAGIT, which will be staged on the eastern part of Palawan until August 3, Western Command (Wescom) commander Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez said.

Briguez said the phase of the military exercise, which started on the third week July, trains participants on Contingency and Crisis Action Planning and Command and Control of joint forces.

"We are thrilled to have our fighter jets joining the FTX phase of this year's AJEX in Wescom's Area of Operations, along with our naval assets and ground troopers, because this will give us the opportunity to test our interoperability doctrine, jointness, and readiness as One AFP," he said.

He added that it is significant the Philippine forces and assets train together to enhance their capacity and capability to respond to any future contingency.

"It is highly significant that our forces and assets train together in the spirit of jointness in order to enhance our ability to respond to any contingency in the future. This DAGIT provided us with such important training," he added.

The AJEX DAGIT-PA, on its 4th iteration this year, is a unilateral exercise that focuses on the development of the AFP's capacity on joint operations and enhancing the interoperability of its forces from the Navy, Air Force and Army.

The military exercise will also enhance the individual capacity of personnel and unit capabilities to enable them to be readily deployable to address contingencies in all mission areas.

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