Palawan News June 2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHY??

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

Palawan schools hold tremor drill

By Aira Genesa Magdayao

Students from public schools throughout Palawan participated in a national simultaneous earthquake drill organized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council – MIMAROPA Thursday.

During the drill, the students were instructed to perform emergency responses to an earthquake, which were designed to protect themselves.

Eugene Dela Torre of Provincial DepEd said majority of the 800 schools in the province actively participated in the event designed to raise students’ awareness and readiness in a disaster situation.

“Kahit walang earthquake na nararanasan dito sa Palawan, importante na aware tayo lalo na itong mga estudyante dahil sila ay isa sa mga vulnerable, sila ‘yung marami, kaya usually sa kanila ito ginagawa para habang bata pa sila nasa isip na nila ang preparedness,” Sheila Marie Reyes of MIMAROPA National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said.

During the drill, the students were assisted by their teachers to perform ‘duck, cover and hold’ techniques to protect themselves from possible falling objects.

Cecille Tumpalan, San Miguel National High School DRRMO Focal Person, said that they are looking forward to similar drills in the future.

“Thankful tayo na naging successful itong drill and we are looking forward for other kinds of drill kasi kaligtasan ito ng lahat paano nga kung may mangyari talaga dito sa atin at least we are ready,” she said.

City thanks Korean firms for airport project

By Gerardo Reyes Jr.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod on Tuesday passed a resolution recognizing the Korean firms Komhu Industrial Co. Ltd and GS Engineering and Construction for the recent completion of the new Puerto Princesa International Airport.

City Councilor Rolando Amurao, the resolution’s principal author, said the new airport was built according to international standards and will have a positive impact not only to the city’s economy but particularly to its tourism industry.

The airport has six buildings including the passenger and cargo buildings, apron, taxiways, navigation facilities, aircraft control towers, among others. The airport has a total area of 17,411 square meters, while its runway is 2,600 meters long and 45 meters wide. It can accommodate 6 aircrafts, 14 metric tons of cargoes, and has the capacity to accommodate 2 Million passengers annually. The facility also conforms to safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The project was funded through a Korean Export-Import Bank (KEXIM) loan amounting to $71.6 million or P3 Billion.

Documents from the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) state that the new facility can accommodate four A320 and two A330 passenger planes, adding that the airport capacity is in sync with the passenger terminal capacity. The airport also has a 200-car parking facility.

The air navigation system is one of the newest in the Asia-Pacific region. It was learned that the first to have this system in the country is the airport in Laguindingan, Cagayan de Oro City, and the second is in Puerto Princesa. It is operated through full Internet protocol, a full digital communications system for the airport.

The passenger terminal building has a floor area of 13,000 square meters, much bigger than the old 3,000 square meters.

Sitel formally opens Palawan hub

By Gerardo Reyes Jr.

Sitel-Philippines, Palawan’s first business process outsourcing (BPO) company, was formally launched on Wednesday.

“We are delighted to open our doors in Palawan. We are here to offer world-class careers to Palaweños and become a major contributor to the socio-economic development of this region,” Sitel chief operations officer, Craig Reines, said.

Sitel is a BPO company of Acticall Sitel Group and collaborates with global brands to help deliver customer experience. It is one of the world’s leading outsourcing providers of customer experience management. Sitel–Puerto Princesa is the 13th location that the company has established in the country.

Since it opened a year ago, it has already created 1,000 new jobs, with 82% of the workforce coming from Palawan, according to Reines. He described them as all hardworking, passionate and innovative agents and customer service providers covering services for retail, courier, logistics, airline, and finance.

Mayor Lucilo Bayron said that Sitel is now the largest employer in the city and even in the province.

The company opened its newest customer experience center recently with Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Charito Plaza as guest of honor.

“Our newest facility mark[s] another milestone in our global expansion plans and our advocacy to bring jobs and opportunities to the countryside,” said Reines.

Just like other new Sitel centers, the facility in this city has large, open spaces featuring private work areas, chill-out pods, and huddle rooms where associates can meet, share ideas, and brainstorm. Sitel–Puerto Princesa site features best-in-class design and innovative interiors. It boasts of global-quality recruitment hubs, the latest innovation in workspace technology and aesthetic design, a full-service cafeteria, and relaxation lounges.

Reines added that they are building something very remarkable in Puerto Princesa, believing that this city has many things to offer.

“Sitel is an innovator and a first mover in Palawan. We believe that to always be competitive in the market we have to be bold and be able to go into uncharted territory. That is what we have done in Puerto Princesa. We saw the potential and we invested in it,” Haidee Enriquez, Sitel-Philippines Vice President for Operations, said.

The city government has exempted Sitel–Puerto Princesa from paying local business tax and Mayor Bayron, together with other members of the city’s chamber of commerce, has presented the tax incentive award to the company in today’s ceremony.

“This investment is very important for the future of Puerto Princesa,” Bayron said.

Vice Governor Dennis Socrates, on the other hand, thanked Sitel for investing in the province of Palawan. He said that the presence of the company in the province, and being the first BPO company here, has provided employment to its people, spurred economic growth in the locality thus pump-priming the economy of Palawan.

Palawan gov't opens new hospital in Aborlan

By Grace Ann N. Belostrino (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY -- The Department of Health (DOH) MIMAROPA and the Provincial Government of Palawan jointly inaugurated and opened Tuesday the new Php121-million Aborlan Medicare Hospital (AMH) expected to better serve the health needs of residents of the town.

Under the IHELP (Infrastructure, Health, Education, Livelihood, and Protection of the Environment) program of the provincial government, the construction of the AMH was helped in funding by the DOH with Php67 million.

It is the first to finish construction and open among 13 medicare hospitals in the province that was committed by Governor Jose Alvarez to upgrade the delivery of basic medical healthcare to Palaweños.

The AMH is complete with modern facilities for residents of Aborlan and other nearby municipalities.

Its use is free for indigent residents with Philhealth membership cards, said DOH-MIMAROPA Regional Director Eduardo Janairo.

Janairo said the health department will continue to provide support to the provincial government so it can continue to improve medical care for the Palaweño people.

"We will continue to help Palawan so it can continue with its goal to provide what is lacking in health services." Janairo stated.

He said his only request is for residents to support good leadership in Palawan.

Dr. Maria Arlin Josue, chief of the AMH, said the people of the town now have an advantage against threats to their health as there is now a medicare hospital that is ready to help them.

"If there is no vision and plan, this will not come into reality -- our dream to have a hospital that is our own," she said.

Governor Alvarez, for his part, said the 55-bed capacity hospital may be extended later on when funds become available.

"This first medicare hospital signals the realization of our dreams for improved help of the Palaweño people," Alvarez said, adding the support of the people is what inspires the provincial government to seek better medical health care for the people.

Cashew’s expanding potential seen

By Gerardo Reyes Jr.

Cashew has a high potential for commercial cultivation as there is a steady demand for nutritious food items and an expanding market for processed and other value-added cashew-based products. This was based on a study of PCAARRD based in Los Banos Laguna.

The cashew sold in many parts of the country are grown and produced in Palawan, the topmost cashew-producing province and the country’s cashew capital.

Cashew or kasuy in Tagalog is the leading nut crop in the Philippines and the third most important nut in world after almond and hazelnut. With some 28,602 hectares planted to cashew, Palawan accounts for 90% of the country’s annual total cashew production estimated at 170,853 tons based on the data of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), an international non-government organization engaged in research, development, and other projects related to cashew in the Philippines.

Philippines ranked 6th in the world as a major cashew producer, with Nigeria and India as the largest producers. The country has a share of 4.6 % in the world’s cashew production.

Pablo Chef Boy Logro, a celebrity chef and TV Host of GMA’s Idol sa Kusina, during his recent in this city said that cashew’s potential is promising.

In the field of culinary, Logro said cashew in recipes can replace almond and cheese nuts, adding that cashew nuts produce a creamy taste as an ingredient of the recipe with soups.

Data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics indicate there are 3.1 Million cashew trees planted in 20 municipalities in Palawan. The top three cashew-producing municipalities are Roxas, El Nido, and Dumaran.

Most of the farmers sell their raw nuts to local traders or agents. Some traders employ local agents to collect nuts directly from the farmers and transport these to the processors. In most interior villages in the province, farmers are not yet organized to market their raw produce.

Zosima Reduble-Caabay, 63, and a cashew farmer in Sitio Pakeye, Barangay Antonino in nearby Roxas town said that she sell her newly-dried cashew seeds to the local agents at only 80 pesos per ganta. She said that if the seeds is sold to traders in the town or city proper it has a higher price. She added that if the farmers-producers has the capability to processed the seeds into nuts, then they could have a higher income.

Amy Revillas, 33, and a cashew seed buyer/ agent who was employed by a cashew trader said that the prices of the cashew seed fluctuated from time to time, depending on the trader. Sometimes the trader will buy cashew seeds at very low price. She agreed also to Caabay’s idea that if the farmers are trained to process their seeds to nuts, it would give them a higher income.

The cashew industry in Palawan includes the processing of the nuts into salted, fried, brittle, caramelized, and recently, chocolate-coated. There are also cashew tarts, otap and cakes.

The processed nuts sold in the local market are either slit-type or whole kernel. Slit nuts are easier to produce or decorticate than whole kernel nuts. The split-type nuts are sold at P250-P300 per kilo while the whole kernel nuts are sold at P350-P400 per kilo.

Established traders ship the raw nuts to Manila and these are processed in Antipolo for marketing to food manufacturers like Selecta, Nestle, Goldilocks and Red Ribbon.

Despite the status of being the leading producer of cashew in the country, Palawan’s cashew industry is also beset by problems like low level of production, lack of product/ marketing development, and lack of financing for post-harvest facilities.

Only the nut is given attention as it commands a good demand in the market. Data from the PCCARD shows that the country exported 1,124 tons of raw and processed nuts valued at US $ 879,573.00. India was the major buyer with the 64% of raw nuts and France in a form of processed and preserved nuts. Among the identified constraint in cashew nut production are the low level of knowledge of farmers on production and post-harvest technologies brought about by poor communication links to production areas, lack of financial resources for farmer groups to embark on processing their crops of nuts.

Palawan residents plant 30k seedlings for Feast of the Forest

By Cherry Camacho (ABS-CBN News)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY – Residents and tourists joined educators, non-government and civic organizations, uniformed personnel, and government employees early Saturday to plant 35,000 seedlings to mark the 27th Pista y ang Cagueban or Feast of the Forest.

Trucks provided by the city government picked up participants from the City Coliseum, Palawan National School, and San Jose Terminal (Poblacion area), and brought them to the planting site at Sitio Impapay, Barangay Irawan, Puerto Princesa City.

According to the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, the seedlings included fruit trees and premium species of trees such as Ipil, Narra, Mahogany, and Almaciga.

After planting trees, the participants enjoyed the music of local bands and artists.

Last year, almost 15,000 seedlings of indigenous trees were planted on the same site.

The city government believes that tree planting activities could counter the problem of deforestation due to illegal logging and "kaingin."

The Pista y ang Cagueban started in 1991 through the efforts of the City Government. Over 2 million trees have been planted to date.

DOT focuses on training tourism frontliners

By Celeste Anna R. Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, June 23 -- Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo announced here Friday morning PHP5-million fund for the MIMAROPA Region to be used to train tourism frontliners.

Teo made the announcement in front of numerous residents and caretakers of important community-based sustainable tourism (CBST) sites at Sitio Sabang, Barangay Cabayugan, where the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) is nestled as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The DOT secretary said the amount would come from a grant of PHP100-million that they were given to be put in all regions, including Mimaropa.

“We were given PHP100-million and we will put in all regions for training, and PHP5-million will be for the Mimaropa, which includes Palawan. With that, I will ask your regional director to make sure that a part of it will be given for training in Palawan,” Teo said.

She said this was because the DOT wanted to focus on Palawan, especially in the training of tourism frontliners, who would be first to meet the guests and visitors, as it was important for them to know how to properly welcome an individual at the onset of any holiday.

Palawan Provincial Tourism Officer Maribel Buñi welcomed Teo’s announcement particularly as it was precisely the province’s focus to train tourism frontliners on customer service.

She said when tourism frontliners, such as tour guides, tricycle and shuttle van drivers, restaurant servers, boatmen, hotel staff, and others were trained, they help build relationships and retain customers or clients; generate word of mouth referrals and help abate adverse situations; and shape branding values for establishments that provide first-rate service to guests and visitors.

Teo is with United Nations World Tourism Organization Secretary General Taleb Rifai in visiting the PPSRNP Friday morning to personally witness and experience how residents of Cabayugan manage and control their CBST sites, such as the Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour since 2000.

Their visit is part of the agenda of the 6th International Conference on Tourism Statistics: Measuring Sustainable Tourism that ran from June 21-24, 2017.

Puerto Princesa aims to be PH's ‘Caving Capital’

By Gerardo C. Reyes, Jr. (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY –- This city is batting to become the “Caving Capital of the Philippines,” City Tourism Office (CTO) head Aileen Cynthia Amurao said Wednesday morning.

She said that currently, Puerto Princesa is trying to fast-track the conduct of a research on this in order to determine how many caves are there within the territorial jurisdiction of the city.

Documentation of these caves, Amurao said, is now underway as the CTO wants to already embark on full blast promotion of these emerging tourism sites.

Amurao disclosed that the city has “so many caves,” and in fact, it is the home of the Hundred Caves that can be found in Barangay Tagabinet, which is adjacent to the Puerto UNESCO World Heritage Site, Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR).

The Hundred Caves were reportedly discovered during the '90s, and cave systems prove to be multi-layered with a series of continuous narrow or winding interconnecting passages.

The paths are rather vertical, and one of its kind in the country, and because of this, Amurao is confident that Puerto Princesa can emerge as the country’s caving capital.

In the Hundred Caves, Amurao said tourists will surely enjoy guided cave tours, photography, rock climbing, and even bird watching because of the surrounding forest cover.

Implementing necessary protection and conservation measures for the caves and its surrounding environment, said Amurao, will prove to be challenging but Puerto Princesa can achieve its aim by following what are stated in Republic Act 9072 or the National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act of 2001.

The Act is a significant legislation which directs the State to “conserve, protect and manage caves and cave resources as part of the country’s natural wealth,” she said.

Aside from this, the city tourism officer said the improvement of existing tourist destinations and other sites is underway.

These are the construction of tourism-related facilities like the eco-center, kiosk, and green toilets among others.

Livelihood assistance is also continuously being given to local residents, and in this strategy, tourism-related capacities of local residents are enhanced.

Amurao revealed too, that the Langogan-to-Maoyon community-based sustainable tourism (CBST) cluster site in the northeastern part of the city has now been developed.

In this site, cultural tourism is being promoted with the Batak indigenous peoples (IPs), who produce and process civet coffee.

In the northwestern area of the city, improvements in the Buenavista-to-Tagabinet CBST cluster are in place, and residents are handling the management of the tourism sites.

Amurao said they are doubling their efforts for these emerging tourism sites to open to help uplift the lives of the people.

Puerto Princesa posts 11.02% rise in tourist arrivals for Q1

By Gerardo C. Reyes, Jr. (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, June 21 –- An 11.02% increase in tourist arrivals was recorded by the City Tourism Office (CTO) for the 1st Quarter of 2017 compared to the same period last year.

Tourism Officer Aileen Cynthia Amurao, who released the statement Tuesday afternoon, said that for the first quarter this year, the city received 266,780 foreign and domestic tourist arrivals, which is higher by 26,480 to 2015’s record of 240,300.

She explained that the data was churned out by 258 accommodation establishments that billeted them during their stay in Puerto Princesa.

Amurao said that though they are expecting a decrease in tourist arrivals in the second quarter because of the May travel advisory issued by the United States and United Kingdom, they remain confident that it will not significant as Palawan and Puerto Princesa are really safe to visit.

Many of the travel packages, she explained, have been availed by foreign tourists prior to the advisory, and if they find that the city and province “remain to be safe,” they will still come and spend their holidays in the “World’s Best Island.”

She furthered that the decrease is not only going to be felt in Puerto Princesa and Palawan, but in the country as a whole following the Bohol incident with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and the ongoing conflict in Marawi City.

All these, she stated, have ill-effects to tourism in national scope.

“These are the challenge[s] that we are facing right now, and no matter how good our tourism promotions are, the tourism industry will really be affected,” she said.

Another important thing in promoting tourism, according to Amurao, is the government’s intervention like developing potential tourism sites, which the City Government of Puerto Princesa is implementing.

Interventions include development of access roads, construction of tourism related infrastructures, like eco-center, green toilet, and livelihood assistance for the local residents.

Meanwhile, data from 2016 disclosed that tourist arrivals by country of residence had the United States contributing the highest number of visits at 45,482.

It was followed by Taiwanese nationals which have 43,936 arrivals, while Koreans have 16,235.

China ranks 4th with 15,711 Chinese nationals, who visited this city, and the fifth is United Kingdom with 10,083.

Grade 1 pupils in Palawan soon to get free school supplies

By Grace Ann N. Belostrino (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, June 20 –- The Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Tuesday afternoon approved and passed a legislative measure that seeks to request funds for the provision of free school supplies to Grade 1 elementary pupils in 2018.

Addressed to Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez, the approved measure said the school supplies will consist of bags, notebooks, pencils, ballpens, pad papers, lunch boxes, rain gears, and umbrellas.

Authored by board members Lencio Ola and Cherry Pie Acosta, the measure claimed there are currently 145,841 enrollees in kindergarten to Grade 6 this year, and free school supplies for Grade 1 students will definitely help parents defray costs.

“It is better to help our students in their first year in elementary so they will become inspired to graduate and move to high school. Plus savings will also mean, a brother or a sister can also be enrolled to study,” said Acosta.

Lack of school supplies, she added, should also not be a reason for a kindergarten pupil not to go to elementary school as parents don’t have the means to purchase them.

Tribes join Baragatan games

By Kia Johanna Lamo

Five indigenous groups from 11 municipalities in Palawan joined the Tribal Olympics on Sunday, June 18, 2017 as part of the ongoing Baragatan Festival.

The competition was organized by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP-Western Command), National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Jordan Mijares, Civil Military Operation Officer of the Third Marine Brigade, said the event aimed to showcase the indigenous communities, foster unity, and help preserve the roots of the Palaweño culture. “This event aims to show their culture and we required them to be in their tribal outfit to really show how they dress in their tribes,” Mijares said. Mijares also said that the Tribal Olympics also wants to strengthen cooperation with the tribal communities and to discourage them from being recruited by armed groups. “The IP’s (Indigenous People) are vulnerable. Usually, the NPA target them for recruitment that is why we wanted to create awareness,” said Mijares.

Cheryl Tindog, Western Command Spokesperson, said that it is always necessary to keep the IPs attached to the security forces to prevent them from getting recruited by the NPAs.

“Usually, sila ‘yung may rant — the lack of the government support for their livelihood, health — that’s why others join the NPA. But we let them know that we are a friend to them,” said Tindog.

She added that the Armed Forces of the Philippines only wants to promote peace among the community and the tribes.

“We don’t want a situation where we will be shooting our IP’s (Indigenous People) in a war. They are the roots of our culture,” she said.

Palawan celebrates 115th with week-long bash

By Aira Genesa Magdayao

The provincial government kicked off its traditional “Baragatan sa Palawan” on Friday to mark the province’s 105th anniversary, holding a colorful mid-day float parade and featuring an array of activities watched by thousands who crammed the Capitol grounds and the city’s main streets till late night.

The week-long celebrations, according to capitol chief of staff Sammy Magbanua, aim to showcase the diversity of Palawan’s culture through performances and displays.

“Napakalaking event nitong Baragatan, maraming activities. We also aim to empower indigenous peoples by means of tribal olympics. May music din at Mutya ng Palawan as the highlight,” he added.

Magbanua said they prepared for a grand celebration this year, partly to compensate for the government decision not to hold the Baragatan last year. He said the provincial government has allocated at least P5 million for the event, in addition to private sector support and sponsorships.

“Noong nakaraan, since eleksyon at lima lang na municipalities ang magjojoin, napagdesisyunan nang lahat pati ng Gobernador na ‘wag na lang nga mag-Baragatan pero ‘di namin pinagsisihan ‘yun kasi naintindihan namin ang sitwasyon,” Magbanua said.

Seventeen of the province’s 23 municipalities participated in the main opening activity, a float parade that showcased each of the town’s cultural icons and products.

Rizal topped the float competition, bagging the P100,000 cash award. San Vicente placed second, followed by Taytay, with cash prizes of P75,000 and P50,000 respectively.

A dance competition dubbed “Paantiguan” followed the main event where Magsaysay bested nine other municipalities to win the P50,000 prize. Culion bagged 2nd place while Cagancillo landed 3rd, receiving cash prizes of P40,000 and P30,000 respectively.

Magsaysay got a special award for Best Choreography while Culion got the judges’ nod for Best Costume in the same dance event.

Magbanua said the celebration, to end on June 23, will be capped by the selection and coronation of this year’s Mutya ng Palawan.

Almaciga refo launched

By Kia Johanna Lamo

To develop the dying almaciga trees in ancestral lands and tribal areas around the City, the Center for Sustainability (CS) conducted its second year of Almaciga Reforestation Inauguration in Batak Tribe Center on June 13 in San Rafael, Puerto Princesa City.

With the theme “Saving the Almaciga Tree”, the Center for Sustainability (CS) aims to empower the indigenous people around the city and to help propagate the reforestation of almaciga trees, also called bagtik, in the tribal lands of Puerto Princesa.

The CS gave 10,863 almaciga seedlings for the tribe from grants extended by the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation Inc, and in collaboration with the CENRO, DENR, NATRIPAL AND PCSDS.

Robert Arangorin stated that the almaciga tree fruit and ‘dagta’ serves as their livelihood.

He added that almaciga propagation and reforestation will also provide livelihood and the restoration of the forest’s ecological balance. “May dugo rin akong Tagbanua, kaya gusto kong tulungan ang mga IP na ma-develop nila ‘yung livelihood nila,” Arangorin stated.

He added that through Western Philippine University’s research extension, they are able to apply new and better methods of planting almaciga trees.

Rica Gupo, a Batak Tribe and mentor at the Mothertank School of Batak Tribe Center, said that the project has been a significant factor in sustaining their livelihood and care for the environment.

“Dati, hinahayaan lang namin na tumanda ‘yung almaciga at susugatan, pero ngayon alam na namin kung paano ‘to papalaguin,” Gupo said. She added that as a mother, she wanted to advocate caring for the almacigas, maybe not for them but as a legacy for the next generation of their tribe.

“Bilang nanay gusto ko na may ikabubuhay ‘yung mga anak ko pagtanda nila kaya ngayon pa lang maganda na ‘yung ituro ko sa kanila paano ‘yung tamang pagpapalaki ng bagtik,” she said.

PNS gets new science lab from power firm

By Joy Tabuada

The Palawan National School (PNS), the province’s largest public high school, received today a fully-furnished science laboratory from Vivant Foundation Inc (VFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of power giant Vivant Corporation, and its local partner Delta P. Inc. The joint donation includes the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) laboratory building, Core and STEM laboratory equipment, and relevant teacher training for the use and maintenance of the laboratory, a package totaling to more than P4.9M.

“It is our goal to educate and inspire future innovators. Instead of relying on reading about the subjects on textbooks as the sole method of instruction, we hope the fully-equipped science laboratory will help the students get more hands-on experience to develop their potential in pursuing these fields in higher education,” said VFI executive director Shem Jose W. Garcia.

PNS is the only public school in the province that offers all senior high school paths. It currently records 8,544 enrollees in the first week of school; 399 of these students are taking the STEM academic track.

Delta P, a private power provider in Palawan, underscored the great potential of young Palaweños in science and technology.

“For 13 years now, we have observed that the youth in the province have a lot of potential in the field of science and technology. Giving them the opportunity to grow their potential early on would help build an excellent foundation for the future careers of these students. Thus, we at Delta P fully support this initiative taken by Vivant Foundation,” said Delta P director Tito Villa-Real.

Delta P currently operates a 16MW bunker-fired power plant in Puerto Princesa that supplies one-third of the energy requirements in the Palawan Grid through the Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO).

Committed to support the Adopt-A-School program of the Department of Education, the science laboratory and equipment is the second project of Vivant and Delta P to PNS. Last December, the same companies partnered to donate almost half a million pesos worth of Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM) equipment for its technical and vocational courses.

VFI’s projects focus on the STEM education, especially now that the public education system has expanded into K-12. For the past two years, it has funded similar projects to schools located in communities where Vivant operates. Some of its previous beneficiary schools are Quezon National High School in Quezon, Palawan; Salvacion National High School in Busuanga, Palawan; and Guadalupe Elementary School in Coron, Palawan.

Tourism ministers to visit Balesin Island, Puerto Princesa

By Azer N. Parrocha (PNA)

MANILA, June 14 -- Aside from visiting the Philippines to attend the upcoming United Nations World Tourism Organization's (UNWTO) International Conference on Tourism Statistics slated June 21 to 23 at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City, tourism ministers will also be taking a day tour in two top tourist destinations.

"We will be taking them to Balesin and Puerto Princesa Underground River," Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary for Administration and Special Concerns Ronaldo Canizal told the Philippine News Agency in an interview.

Canizal said the two familiarization tours are meant to showcase the Philippine destinations that somehow serve as a “model” for tourism sustainability.

“We want to bring them to destinations that practice sustainable tourism development -- one that benefits the community and allows a good experience for people,” he added.

Balesin Island Club, located in Polillo, Quezon Province, is a 500-hectare tropical island paradise with 7.3 kilometers of pristine white-sand beaches. According to its website, it was designed with the environment in mind as it ensures sustainable development by using alternative sources of energy to reduce the amount of waste, water recycling, organic farming, and on-site eco-friendly transportation among others.

Meanwhile, Palawan is home to two United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage sites, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park or simply the Underground River and Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park both in Puerto Princesa.

Canizal said that at present, the preparations for the UNWTO confab are in its final stage.

To date, at least nine tourism ministers, 15 deputy ministers and over 300 foreign delegates have confirmed their attendance to the confab.

Tourism ministers will start arriving Manila on Monday.

UNWTO Secretary-General Dr. Taleb Rifai, who earlier expressed confidence in the Philippines as a safe destination amid conflict in Marawi City, is also expected to attend.

DOT Secretary Wanda Teo earlier welcomed the confirmation of more tourism ministers and foreign delegates noting that it is “a strong sign of confidence in the country.”

“We will push through with the event where we will arrive at meaningful agreements, showcase our sustainable tourism projects in Balesin and Puerto Princesa City and extend our warmest welcome,” Teo said in a statement.

The UNWTO confab, which will be hosted by the Philippines for the first time, will tackle policy initiatives on developing measurement and benchmarks for sustainable tourism.

Held every five years, the confab will also happen in line this year’s celebration of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

New batch of lifeguards completes training

(Palawan News)

The Department of Health (DOH)–MIMAROPA (Oriental/Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), in partnership with the Philippine Coast Guard–Palawan District, has completed the 9th batch of Water and Search and Rescue (WASAR) Training for water personnel attendants for Puerto Princesa.

Some 33 graduates completed the 5-day training course conducted between June 5-9, 2017, according to DOH-MIMAROPA Regional Director Eduardo Janairo.

“We are hoping to finish our target of 500 lifeguards within this year if whenever possible so that we can ensure that all significant marine areas in Palawan will have a trained lifeguard to safeguard the safety and well-being of people who will engaged in water activities in these beaches and resorts,” Janairo said.

There were 46 candidates during the start of the training but due to the rigorous exercises and drills of the WASAR course, 13 trainees opted to drop out of the course.

“It is important to have a clean bill of health if a candidate plans to join the training. That is why a physical examination is required to ensure that every trainee is fit to undergo the 5-day training,” Janairo said.

“Trainees must abstain and desist from their usual habit of smoking and excessive drinking of liquor because these will only slow their reflexes and reduce body coordination and weaken their lungs,” he added.

Janairo urged the trainees to continue maintaining a healthy lifestyle to fulfill their duties.

DMCI Mining upbeat to hit 500K-ton target this year

By Kris M. Crismundo/PNA)

CORON, Palawan, June 12 -- DMCI Mining, a unit of DMCI Holdings, Inc., is upbeat to hit its target shipment of nickel ore for the whole 2017 as the company is resuming the exports of the commodity this month.

DMCI Mining president Cesar Simbulan told reporters that the company is already shipping more than half of its target shipment this year set at 500,000 tons.

Simbulan mentioned that for June alone, DMCI Mining will have a total shipment of 200,000 tons both from its subsidiaries Berong Nickel Corporation (BNC) in Palawan and Zambales Diversified Metals Corporation (ZDMC) in Zambales.

Berong and Zambales mines have two shipments each in June.

Each shipment has 50,000 tons of nickel ore.

Simbulan said three shipments will be for the Chinese market and the other one is for Japan.

“We had shipments of 150,000 tons,” the DMCI Mining chief said in Filipino. He was pertaining to its exports before June.

He added that the company will still have shipments next month.

DMCI will also start to rehire its employees, according to Simbulan.

In a previous media briefing, Simbulan said DMCI Mining lost nearly a thousand of employees, with only 240 employees left at end-March 2017 from 1,220 personnel in May 2016.

This is after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ordered for shut down of ZDMC and 22 other mines, while BNC was among the five mines with suspension orders.

Meanwhile, Simbulan clarified that the shipments for the first half of the year were stockpile from its two mines.

ASEAN, PIA hold forum on Economic Integration

By Beth Mason

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in cooperation with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), held on Thursday a forum entitled “ASEAN: A Community of Opportunities”.

The forum, held at the Legend Hotel in Puerto Princesa, focused on the issue of ASEAN economic integration in the areas of socio-cultural, business, tax reforms, and employment

PIA Regional Director Victoria Mendoza urged the general assembly to help disseminate information about the opportunities of being a member of the ASEAN.

“Ang mahalaga ay maunawaan ng mga taga-Palawan kung ano ang naghihintay para sa kanila sa malaking merkado ng ASEAN (What is important is that people from Palawan will understand the enormous market waiting for them at the ASEAN),” she said.

Different government agencies presented updated reforms and plans that were basically mandated by the restructuring of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.

Resource persons from the Departments of Trade and Industry, Agriculture, Finance, and Labor and Employment laid out the opportunities available to the public. An open forum was held to discuss issues on agriculture and trade.

The event also included a short lecture on photography and the use of social media.

Government personnel, private organization, and media practitioners attended the forum, which coincided with the country’s chairmanship and hosting of the ASEAN 2017.

PCSD honors envi-friendly establishments

By Beth Mason

The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) cited five local tourist establishments for their environmental practices during during its Zero Carbon Resorts 2016 Awarding Ceremony held at the Asturias Hotel, Puerto Princesa City on June 5, 2017.

Among the recipients of the awards were: Palawan Guest House (Coron), Balay Tuko Garden Inn (Puerto Princesa), Puerto Pension Tourism Inn (PPC) and Secret Paradise Resort & Turtle Sanctury (San Vicente).

A Special Award was given to Asia Grand View Hotel (Coron) and Daluyon Beach & Mountain Resort (PPC) while the 2016 Zero Carbon Award was granted to Sangat Island Dive Resort (Coron).

The awardees were selected from among Tourism Small Medium Enterpreneurs (SMEs) who have achieved an environmental-friendly principles and energy conservation measures.

Project Development Officer Engr. Jong Cabrestante, in a talk during the awarding ceremony, challenged government and private agencies to pursue environment friendly activities as part of their operations.

Palawan registers over 1.1M tourists in 2016

By Jesus M. Ustares (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, June 8 -- The Palawan Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) said Thursday that 1,162,439 foreign and domestic tourists visited the province in 2016.

The figure is higher than that registered in 2015, which was 1,008,908.

PTO chief Maribel Buñi said the increase is 15 percent higher, and American tourists contributed the highest visits at 63,092.

She said the tourist areas they visited the most are located in the capital city of Puerto Princesa, and El Nido, Coron, San Vicente, and Taytay in northern Palawan, and Brooke's Point in the south.

Following the U.S. citizens in the list of visitors are Taiwanese, who made 47,613 visits; Chinese, 25,254; French, 24,092; and Koreans, 19,478.

Buñi is positive that despite the travel advisories issued by the U.S. and United Kingdom warning their citizens to take extra caution in visiting Palawan, many would still come to the province as it is safe to visit.

A few weeks ago, travel advisories were issued by the two countries allegedly after intelligence reports claimed multiple kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) activities will be done in Palawan by the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf.

But the Joint Interagency Security Task Unit (JISTU) said Palawan is safe as it has postured ample security to prevent violent extremists from disturbing its peace and order situation.

OVP, partners extend aid to Palawan folk

By Raymund Antonio

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has returned to Agutaya, Palawan for a four-day visit for the turnover of educational toys, motorized boats, school bags and school supplies as part of its anti-poverty program.

Vice President Maria Leonor ‘Leni’ G. Robredo’s team took a 16-hour boat ride from Iloilo on June 2 for the opening of a playspace in the Daycare Center of Poblacion village through Angat Buhay.

It was the Philippine Toy Library that provided the playspace equipped with a slide, seesaw, scooters, clay sets and other occupational toys.

“The toys and school supplies were brought by the RAF International Forwarding Inc.,” according to the OVP.

RAF is one of OVP’s partners in shipping materials to the far flung provinces in the country.

The next day, the OVP through its partner St. Theresa’s College Quezon City Alumni Association, distributed motorized boats to the fisherfolk of Algeciras village.

“Fishermen who once relied on borrowing fishing vessels for their daily income now are able to maximize their earnings to feed their families,” the OVP said.

At the same time, Robredo’s office and Andres Soriano Foundation visited Diit village to monitor the 34 weavers who were given livelihood training on buri and pandan weaving.

With their partnership, the weavers were connected to the nearby resort where their hat and bag products are currently being sold.

The last day of the visit in Agutaya was spent on the turnover of school supplies two elementary schools–Matarawis and Maracanao. 

The Vice President visited Agutaya, a 5th class municipality in Palawan islands, in November last year.

Agutaya is one of the 50 local government units included in her flagship progrn Angat Buhay, meant to improve the quality of lie in the community.

Free Wi-Fi in each municipality of Palawan eyed

By Grace Ann N. Belostrino (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, June 6 -- The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Palawan approved on Tuesday the passage of a resolution to set up free Wi-Fi in its 23 municipalities, and to request the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) to help accomplish it.

Board Member Albert Rama, author of the measure, said Secretary Rodolfo Salalima of the DICT can help make this happen for Palawan to bridge “the great digital information divide” as many residents live in far-flung areas.

“Malaking tulong ito, lalo na sa mga estudyante sa mga munisipyo dahil makaka-access sila agad sa mga information na kailangan sa kanilang pag-aaral (This can be a very big help to our students in the municipalities because they can access information that they need for their studies),” Rama said.

But he also recognized the need to control and manage the use of the free Wi-Fi since he doesn’t want students in Palawan to delve in so much fake news and their spread.

“Ito ang advantage pero kailangan din ay magabayan sila laban naman doon sa mga maling impormasyon sa internet na pwede nilang makuha. Pero mas tinitignan natin ang advantage nito para sa learnings (It is an advantage but of course, they need to be guided against fake news and fake information that they will see. However, I look at this as something for the sake of their learning),” he said.

The approved resolution calls for each municipality to have four areas where the free Wi-Fi will be set up, and these must be frequented by the public, such as public markets, parks, and plazas.

He said not only the students will benefit, but also residents, who need to know what is going on around them.

DMCI eyes PHP15B cement plant in Semirara

By Kris M. Crismundo (PNA)

CORON, Palawan, June 5 -- DMCI Holdings, Inc. has plans to invest USD 300 million or around PHP14.8 billion for a cement plant in Semirara Island, the company’s Chairman and President Isidro Consuji said in a briefing here.

Consuji said the cement factory will have an annual capacity of about 2.4 million tons.

DMCI is looking at Semirara for its cement plant as it has one billion tons of limestone reserve, which is one of the raw materials for cement, the top executive mentioned.

DMCI’s unit, Semirara Mining and Power Corp., is also located in the island.

Consuji added that a 40-megawatt power plant will be part of the cement facility since energy cost has the largest share in expenses for cement plant operation.

DMCI Executive Vice President and Chief Finance Officer Herbert Consuji said the low-grade coal from the power plant will also be used as raw material for cement-making.

The EVP and CFO noted that the structure of DMCI’s planned cement facility in Semirara will make its cement competitive in the market.

“We are competitive, in fact, including even [against] imported [cement]. [Against] imported, we can compete because of the location, manpower, and cost of materials,” he said.

The facility will be built in a period of about three years, he added.

Moreover, the DMCI chief said the company aims to sell its cement products in the southern part of Luzon as well as in Western Visayas and Western Mindanao.

Palawan’s public universities to roll out CHED’s free tuition policy

By Beth Mason

The province’s two state universities, Palawan State University and Western Philippines University, are among the state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the country that will roll out the first run of the free tuition policy of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The said participating SUCs are receiving a budget of Php74M and Php32M, respectively, with the said allocations covering two semesters of the 2017 academic year.

Under the free tuition scheme, qualified and chosen students will only have to pay their miscellaneous fees, along with other possible non-tuition expenses. CHED, in partnership with the Department of Budget and Management, has allotted Php 8B for the said program and will cover 2017-2018, with a conditional implementation scheme.

The two lead agencies have devised a prioritization system for selecting beneficiaries, and the initial guidelines put a preference for academically excellent but poor students. Members of Indigent groups and those from families under the DSWD’s 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) are also reportedly covered by the policy.

Students are asked to submit identifications and other documents to support their applications. The CHED and DBM have initially released a guideline for determining qualifications to the program, but the document is currently being revised following concerns from various groups.

Authorities estimate that PSU and WPU are now processing around 3,000 applications, in anticipation of the opening of classes on June 13. Students are encouraged to coordinate with their respective institutions of choice regarding the specific requirements of the program.

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