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Palawan News October 2017

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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

PH-China oil venture legal – maritime expert

By Roy C. Mabasa

The proposed joint oil exploration between the Philippines and China in Palawan that is now awaiting President Duterte’s signature is within the bounds of law since it cannot be classified as a joint development (JD), an academic and maritime expert said.

Dr. Jay Batongbacal of the University of the Philippines’ (UP’s) Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea (IMLOS) was referring to Service Contract (SC) 57 in offshore Calamian northwest of Palawan that covers an area “outside of China’s 9-dashed lines/historic rights claim area.”

The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), the third-largest national oil company in the People’s Republic of China, has a 51 percent stake in SC 57.

“In the WPS (West Philippine Sea), China’s claim has already been declared by an international tribunal to be invalid, and hence, the fundamental condition for JD (overlapping legitimate claims) is absent,” Batongbacal said in an interview conducted recently by political analyst and Manila Bulletin columnist Richard Heydarian.

In its July 12, 2016 ruling, the International Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague declared that the Philippines has exclusive sovereign rights over the WPS and that China’s “9-dash line” doesn’t hold water.

“There is therefore no dispute that it is within the Philippines’ jurisdiction, whether Exclusive Economic Zone (fisheries resources) or Continental Shelf (petroleum resources),” he said, referring to the WPS.

Manila sought arbitration proceedings against Beijing in 2013 during the previous Aquino administration, it can be recalled.

Batongbacal explained that a joint development elsewhere in the world has always been justified and used to address disputes, noting that in those cases, “the disputes were ‘legitimate’ in the sense that both sides could legally claim EEZ/CS unilaterally, but their claims overlapped.”

The UP maritime law expert further said SC 57 should be seen from a perspective no different from the previous SC 38, or the Camago-Malampaya project, located further south of SC 57.

On the legality of the project, Batongbacal said CNOOC’s purchase of 51 percent of a stake in SC 57 is allowed under current law, in the same way that Shell and Chevron were allowed to purchase 45 percent each of the Camago-Malampaya Project.

“CNOOC’s purchase of a stake (called “farming in”) in SC 57 is not a case of joint development. It is unilateral development by the Philippines, but with CNOOC basically acting as a sub-contractor,” he explained.

At present, Batongbacal said there is nothing inherently unconstitutional or illegal in CNOOC’s buying a stake in a service contract for an area that is not disputed “whether they be located on land, or, alternatively, at sea.”

He, however, warned that a JD agreement by the Philippines with China “will not be consistent with the Award [or] with United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“It can only be justified as a purely political accommodation, not a legally-warranted arrangement. However, if the Philippines makes the political accommodation, it can contradict its legal position as affirmed by the arbitration,” he said.

Carlo Peñalosa battles Salatiel Amit for regional WBC title in Palawan

By JM SIASAT (/BM, GMA News)

Flyweight prospect Carlo Caesar Peñalosa will have his first shot at a title when he takes on fellow Filipino pug Salatiel Amit for the WBC ABC Silver flyweight title on November 10 at Puerto Princesa Coliseum in Puerto Princesa , Palawan.

Peñalosa, 24, is the nephew of retired two-division champions Gerry Peñalosa and Dodie Boy Peñalosa. He holds a record of 9-1 with 3 knockouts and has last seen action in August.

“This is a test for Carlo is he is ready for international competition,” Gerry Peñalosa told GMA News Online.

Amit, on the other hand, will enter the ring for the third time this year. He holds a record of 10-3-2 with 7 knockouts and has fought quality local foes in Jonathan Taconing and Froilan Saludar.

SM opens sustainable design malls in Palawan and Cagayan

(Manila Standard Business)

SM Prime Holdings Inc., the property arm of SM Investments Corp., has opened two more malls in Luzon, showcasing sustainable designs that respond to various market and environmental changes.

The SM Puerto Princesa City in the tropical capital of Palawan and SM Tuguegarao in the booming town of the North in Cagayan province are both environment-friendly as a part of SM Prime’s commitment to disaster mitigation and the reduction of the property firm’s carbon footprint.

Architect Fides Garcia-Hsu, vice president of SM’s engineering, design and development said the newly opened SM City Puerto Princesa has cost-efficient, energy-saving as well as disaster-mitigation features. The three-story mall, which spans a floor area of over 69,000 square meters has high or clerestory windows to allow natural lighting and minimizing the use of electricity during day time.

She said restaurant and toilet waste are treated through the sewage treatment plant and rainwater collection is incorporated with the water recycling system which will be repurposed for toilet flushing, plants irrigation, cleaning or maintenance and other non-potable purposes that helps in the conservation of freshwater.

“Recycled water will also be used in the air-conditioning system’s chilled water and cooling towers to reduce fresh water consumption. Paver blocks are strategically used in the parking areas to allow rainwater penetration in the grounds to replenish underground water table,” she said.

The design for SM City Puerto Princesa made by architectural firm DSGN Associates creates a unique identity along the island’s well-known thoroughfare and within a short walk to the popular Baywalk Park and nearby pier. Landscaping and sculptural façade blend the mall into its setting while providing sheltered walkways for pedestrians along the street.

On the other hand, the newly opened SM Center Tuguegarao Downtown which is SM Prime’s 65th mall has taken great care during the design and throughout construction to preserve two large trees along Mabini Street. As a benefit, the East entrance of the mall is located between two shady tree canopies.

The mall uses LED lighting and has solar panels installed on the roofdeck which can provide 484 KW of electricity. A rainwater catchment located at the entrance driveway can hold an equivalent of 215 cubic meters of floodwater equivalent to 215,000 one-liter soda bottles.

Also designed by DSGN, the SM Center Tuguegarao has blue facade that provides an accent to the main thoroughfare. Its interior is organized around an efficient “T” shaped plan that allows a clear line-of-sight to multiple shops on multiple levels at all times. Strategically placed spacious openings, flanked with sleek escalators and a centrally located elevator and stairs, provide for optimal customer convenience and access to all portions of the mall.

Beyond the mall’s aesthetics, SM believes that investing in sustainability safeguards the welfare of customers, tenants and the malls’ host communities.

“More than distinct and iconic designs, SM also takes great care in considering that the designs fit a purpose, for the convenience of shoppers, for energy conservation, for higher visibility of tenants and for easier navigation which have always been the lessons from our founder, Mr. Henry Sy,” Garcia-Hsu said.

Palawan proposes P125-M disaster budget for 2018

By Keith Anthony Fabro (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – Palawan's Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) is seeking a PHP125-million budget for next year.

PDRRMO chief Cruzalde Ablaña, in a meeting Wednesday afternoon, said the proposed fund had already been approved by the PDRRM Council members, and it is higher than its PHP112-million budget this year.

Ablaña said the 2018 disaster fund, purchases would be used to purchase several fire trucks and more advanced ambulances.

“We don’t have these badly needed equipment, especially the 4x4 ambulance that can reach difficult terrains in remote places,” he said.

Under Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, 70 percent of the disaster fund is for disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, and rehabilitation and recovery, and the remaining 30 percent for quick response and after the declaration of a state of calamity.

During the meeting, the PDRRM Council also discussed the implementation of upcoming activities in the first week of December, such as the Incident Command System (ICS) executive course on Dec. 4 that aims to orient Council members on the mandate of concerned government agencies in disaster response.

“The purpose of the ICS is to centralize the instruction with only one commanding and synchronizing the responses, so as to avoid the duplication of efforts, activities and resources in times of disaster,” he said.

On Dec. 5-8, the PDRRMO will hold an inter-agency contingency planning workshop to ascertain the roles of each agency involved in disaster response.

Agreement inked for Northeast Palawan Marine Protected Area

By Celeste Anna Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – Environment authorities and municipal government officials in Palawan recently inked an agreement that bids to effectively manage and protect critical marine habitats covered by the Northeastern Palawan Marine Protected Area (NPMPA) network.

“They agreed to increase aquatic biodiversity within the MPA network and create economic opportunities for surrounding residents based on the principles of sustainable development,” Provincial Information Officer Gil Acosta, Jr. said.

The MOA was signed on October 17 by the mayors of Roxas, Dumaran, Araceli, Taytay, El Nido and Linapacan with the provincial government represented by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS), Acosta said.

To implement these goals, the signing parties settled to establish a MPA Network Management Board (MNMB) that will include the town mayors.

A management committee will also be established with the primary task to monitor the implementation of the NPMPA and the implementation of its policies that covers around five clusters within 1,008,305 hectares of marine area.

Each municipality, he said, was expected to share funds annually for the NPMPA and the successful implementation of its goals.

“The provincial government and the PCSD Staff will serve as oversight agencies that will provide the technical support if needed,” Acosta added.

The establishment of the NPMPA was made possible through the help of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Philippines with the Palawan provincial government.

“This is an important way to manage marine protected areas covered by the six municipalities. Residents in these towns can further benefit from them if their ecosystems are protected,” he said.

Health caravan conducts 121 surgeries in Mimaropa

By Leilani Junio (PNA)

MANILA -- The Department of Health’s (DOH) office in the Mimaropa region had provided a total of 121 surgical operations – 51 major and 70 minor -- since its caravan, “ToDOH Alaga, May TSekAP Na, May Operasyon Pa!”, began at the Dr. Damian Reyes Provincial Hospital in Boac, Marinduque last July 13, its chief reported.

“Now that we have proven that we can provide free surgical operations and addressed the health needs at no cost to our indigent patients, we will sustain this project until all people requiring various kinds of surgery in the region will be provided for and taken care of,” DOH-Mimaropa regional director, Dr. Eduardo Janairo, said during recognition rites held at the Century Park Hotel Monday.

Mimaropa covers Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan.

Janairo reported that in Marinduque, the surgical caravan conducted 12 major and 38 minor surgeries, and 58 patients were referred to the Rizal Medical Center (RMC) in Pasig. In Oriental Mindoro, 36 major and 21 minor surgeries were performed, and three patients were referred to the Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) in Quezon City. In Palawan, three major and 11 minor operations were done, while six patients were referred to the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) in Quezon City and two patients who needed major surgery were referred to the Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital (CSGH) in Culion, Palawan.

The procedures were done to remove giant tumors and cysts, goiter, nasal polyps, hernia, breast mass and skin tags, among others.

He said screening and pre-assessment of patients are ongoing in the provinces of Romblon and Occidental Mindoro and surgical services would be scheduled later.

Janairo assured that expenses for the surgery are covered by various government agencies, among them the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) office in Mimaropa, PhilHealth and the DOH Medical Assistance Program. These expenses include laboratory and diagnostic procedures, drugs, medicines, supplies, and professional fees incurred before and after the operation.

“The realization of the surgical caravan is due to the unwavering commitment and selfless dedication of all stakeholders, including members of the visiting hospitals, staff of host hospitals and the local government units of Mimaropa that were instrumental in the success of this project,” Janairo said.

He also thanked the DSWD for providing food packs and transportation fares to the families of patients who have undergone surgery to ensure that they have food to eat, especially those who were referred to hospitals outside the region.

The DOH also ensured that there were "halfway houses" where the patients’ families could stay during the pre- and post-surgical operations.

Microgrids can connect Palawan to main system

By JORDEENE SHEEX LAGARE

INSTALLING microgrids in Palawan can connect the northernmost part of the province to the main grid, according to a legislator.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said in a chance interview that state-run National Power Corp. (Napocor)’s plan to energize about 200 households for P3 billion “opens up the idea to the microgrid.”

Gatchalian, who heads the Senate energy committee, explained that when they deliberated on Napocor’s fiscal budget, the proposal was not viable since it would only involve small municipalities.

The senator has yet to file a bill on the promotion of microgrids. A microgrid is a small network of electricity users with a local source of supply that is usually attached to a centralized national grid but is able to function independently, since it would impact the franchise areas of electric cooperatives (ECs).

Under the proposed bill, all proponents would be allowed to put up microgrids which should be self-sustaining, meaning the proponents will be producing and distributing power supply.

As much as possible, he said no incentive will be given to interested firms so that revenue will not be taken out of government coffers, but he noted that a framework is needed to entice them to invest.

Gatchalian said several entities have expressed interest in the concept which is economical and promotes competition.

“We have to look at the technologies and one of the most salient technologies right now is the microgrid system,” the lawmaker said.

Gatchalian said they are currently reviewing a draft policy on rural electrification submitted by the National Electrification Administration (NEA), which would pave the way for the integration of microgrids in the system and the participation of the private sector in the program.

Under the proposed guidelines, private investors would bear the risk of running the distribution of power via the microgrid, but the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) will still regulate these private entities.

Monday is ‘Senior Citizen Free Movie Day’ at SM City Puerto Princesa

By Celeste Anna Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- Every Monday is a day senior citizens here could look forward to as it has been declared “Senior Citizen Free Movie Day”.

SM Prime Holdings Inc., which manages and operates SM City Puerto Princesa, announced Friday that by simply showing their ID cards issued by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), senior citizens would have a 100-percent free admission privilege to SM Cinemas first screening every Monday, provided this did not fall on a regular or special holiday

Russel Fernandez, SM City Puerto Princesa’s public relations officer, said the free pass was exclusively for the use of senior citizens and valid only at SM City Puerto Princesa’s regular cinemas.

Sneak previews, advance screenings, premiere nights, special public screenings, reserved screenings, and sports or live events shall not be covered by the free admission.

Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entries shall be exempted from free viewing during the first two weeks of their initial screenings.

“This will definitely be a blessing to our senior citizens. With our movie industry starting to gain ground again, our grandfathers and grandmothers can now enjoy, relax, and see their favorite actors for free,” he said.

Army holds more peace fora in south Palawan towns

By Celeste Anna Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- The 18th Special Forces Company (SFC) of the Philippine Army (PA) on Wednesday again led a security forum in southern Palawan to further strengthen the military’s ties with the locals and to maintain momentum in the fight against insurgency.

The forum for security, which was held in the far-flung municipality of Rizal, was an offshoot of two similar activities organized by the Joint Task Group South (JTGS) on May 16 and on October 3 this year, said Captain Wanel Ansa, environment unit and civil military officer of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-4 (MBLT-4) on Thursday.

Captain Anthony Macatual, commander of 18th SFC, headed the first-ever security forum in Barangay Punta Baja, Rizal in partnership with the municipal government and other local stakeholders.

Ansa said the forum engaged the said town’s business sector, discussing with them updates on the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CNN), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), crime index, and other action plans.

“Rizal Mayor Norman Ong also delivered his message and answered questions during the open forum. He gave emphasis on the LGUs projects and programs to address the current security threats,” said Ansa.

Lt. Col. Danilo Facundo, commanding officer of MBL-4 and head of the JTGS, was at the event and expressed his appreciation to the organizers, partners, and participants.

He appealed to the audience “to strengthen relationships and cooperation through information sharing,” emphasizing that “security is a shared responsibility and that everybody must do their part to support the economic development of Rizal.”

Jose P. Rizal, a first class town in the southern part of Palawan, has a population of 50,096 people, based on a 2010 census.

Prior to its creation as a separate municipality, the place was known as Tarumpitao Point and was part of the town of Quezon.

South Palawan economy seen to flourish in 2018

By Celeste Anna Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – A 50-km. PHP900-million road project in the town of Bataraza in Palawan province, which will connect to the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) roll-on/roll-off port, is expected to boost southern Palawan’s economy before the end of the year.

Provincial information officer Gil Acosta Jr. said Tuesday the road project that would connect “the bustling mining community” of Barangay Rio Tuba to Barangay Buliluyan in Bataraza is expected to be completed soon.

“It will link the BIMP-EAGA roll-on/roll-off (RORO) port in Buliluyan to the arterial road network in the mainland when it opens its doors in the first quarter of 2018 for tourists and merchants from destinations like Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia,” Acosta said in a statement.

The flow of people, goods, and services to and from Palawan from these countries will likely commence, he added.

“The efforts of Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez to make things happen for the southern Palawan economy is about to pay off. While the neighboring northern Palawan is basking in the limelight of economic development, attributed primarily to its thriving tourism industry, the south has somewhat lackadaisically maintained the status quo in the last decade. Tied up to its modest agriculture industry, southern Palawan’s economy is unable to keep pace with the robust growth of the tourism-rich north in the race for economic progress,” Acosta said.

However, with the infrastructure developments, the economic landscape in southern Palawan is set to change, he said.

“At the onset of Alvarez’ administration in 2013, the provincial government has put a premium on the development of southern Palawan’s important infrastructure facilities,” he added.

Quick to capitalize on the economic upswing, some of the country’s top companies, among them Del Monte Philippines, Kennemer Foods, Agumil, and Singapore’s Lionheart Ltd., are now establishing their respective bases of operations in the south in the municipalities of Brooke’s Point, Bataraza, Rizal, Quezon and Sofronio Espaňola.

Acosta said with President Rodrigo Duterte pushing for BIMP-EAGA to drive growth, believing it is a locomotive for stronger cooperation and development among member countries, the province would partner with the national and local governments in “putting up projects that would improve the delivery of basic services like water, electricity, roads and bridges, airports and seaports, school buildings and hospitals in southern Palawan, in anticipation of the economic boom.”

“As Governor Alvarez puts it, ‘We must increase our agricultural production to cope with the food requirements of the growing population and the expected influx of tourists to our shores in the years to come,’” he said.

Russian envoy wants to promote Coron as tourist destination

By Celeste Anna Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev wants to promote the town among his compatriots as a tourism destination.

Khovaev, who arrived Tuesday in the municipality for a three-day cultural and language training-seminar about his country, was accompanied by consuls Denis Karenin and Carmi Garcia, and Department of Tourism (DOT) representatives Gloria Punzalan and Zenaida Potapurchenco, said Coron administrator Jonathan Dabuit.

“This visit is another milestone in the municipality’s tourism industry as Russia has chosen Coron to be one of its tourism destinations. The DOT will hold a training tomorrow (Wednesday) for tourism stakeholders here to learn (about) the culture and language of Russian nationals, so they can welcome them better when they come here,” Dabuit told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

He said Coron Mayor Jerry Barracoso considers Khovaev’s official visit as “a new development to boost their primary industry, as Russian tourists comprise the minority of those traveling to the island town.”

“I think the number of our Russian visitors each year is only less than 10 percent, or not even more than 500 of the total tourist arrivals,” Dabuit said. He did not provide an exact figure regarding this.

Khovaev reportedly wants to promote Coron by including it in tour packages that will be marketed in Russia.

Dabuit added that the cultural and language training-seminar aims to acquaint various tourism stakeholders in Coron, led by the Calamianes Association of Tourism Establishments Inc. (CATE), on how to welcome and accommodate Russian citizens best when they start to arrive.

“Our stakeholders here have to know the culture and traditions of our Russian friends so that when they arrive here, they know how to take care of them. We understand they have different culture and traditions, and learning that is part of how Coron can get its tourism services better,” he said.

As a tourism destination in northern Palawan, Dabuit said, Coron is now widening its marketing and promotions to increase this year’s estimated 300,000 tourist arrivals until December by 10 percent to 20 percent in 2018.

“Before the year ends, we’re expecting tourist arrivals to hit 300,000. By next year, we will be working hard to increase that. Currently, our leadership is focusing on the improvement and expansion of our port to welcome large vessels as there will be cruise ships arriving, and our airport to accommodate more flights,” Dabuit said.

At least 17 cruise ships are expected to dock and bring tourists to Coron in January 2018.

Why Coron is the next big thing in Philippine travel

By Constantino C. Tejero (Staff Writer , Philippine Daily Inquirer)

It is a much better bargain than other destinations. You can’t have enough of it

“Visit Coron, Palawan— where nature’s the best! Mga luto na matitikman pasado sa inyong digest; mga isla na mapupuntahan susulit sa inyong budget; mga views na naggagandahan sakto sa inyong gadgets…”

You probably must have heard that song rendered in a folksy beat on a popular travel show on TV.

The singer-composer himself, Jonel Vergara, guided us on a tour of Coron recently, and for two days let us experience every activity and scenery enumerated in the song—from watching the sunset on the peak of Mt. Tapyas to eating cashew nuts on the roadside.

This jewel in northern Palawan, one of the province’s top destinations, is reportedly surpassing in tourist arrivals the capital city of Puerto Princesa, which boasts the Unesco-listed Subterranean River.

The Coron Natural Biotic Area is listed in the Natural category of the Unesco World Heritage Tentative List.

At the approach to Francisco B. Reyes Airport (named after the Coron mayor who donated the land for the airport complex), one is struck by the number of islands dotting the sea; coral reefs visible through crystal-clear water; rolling landscape and red soil; fields more verdant, the rice leaf a deeper green.

There are two Corons—the first-class municipality occupying 2/3 of the island of Busuanga, the largest in the Calamian archipelago; and the island, 20 minutes away by motorboat, the third largest. The town is the commercial capital of the Calamianes. The island is the ancestral domain of the Tagbanua.

A better bargain

Vergara says Coron is a much better bargain than other niche tourist destinations where activities and sceneries are limited and you’d feel you have your fill after two to three days of stay. With Coron and environs, it seems you can’t have enough of them.

Also, if you’re Manila-based, it is nearer than other exotic island destinations—and cheaper, too.

Several Boracay establishments have recently opened in Coron, reveals Vergara. And its upmarket venues are cheaper than comparable accommodations on Boracay.

Visitors ranging from Orientals to Caucasians to domestic tourists swarm the town especially at around Aug. 28 when it celebrates its patron St. Augustine.

An afternoon tour of the town covers Lualhati Park, the reclamation area with dockyard and marketplace, the plaza, a souvenir shop, a kasuy factory, St. Augustine Church on sloping grounds, Maquinit Hot Spring, and, finally, the conquest of Mt. Tapyas.

The grassy peak is topped with a whitewashed giant cross and letters spelling “Coron,” lit at night. Tourists flock here to see the sunset, the town layout below, the neighboring islands.

But you have to be physically fit because, though it may be a gradual climb trekking along backways and low hills, you have to take 721 steps to the view deck.

Meet the Tagbanua

On the hazy horizon is Coron Island, surrounded by numerous islets.

It is “70 percent cliffs and rock formations of Permian limestone of Jurassic origin, 25 percent rolling hills, and five percent relatively flat.” Visitors are guided to its interior via a catwalk of wood planks running along rock wall, which also serves as wharf for incoming boats.

Here live the Tagbanua, Palawan’s indigenous people. They are thought to be descended from the Tabon Man, making them “one of the original inhabitants of the Philippines.”

When Magellan docked for provisions in Palawan in 1521, Pigafetta recorded their way of life, including their practice of blood compact, cockfighting, farm and hunting implements, brass jewelry.

A later Spanish exploration noted the friendliness of the tribe living on Busuanga and the ferocity of that on Coron.

They had their own language and religion, arts and crafts, musical instruments, dances, family structure, economic activities, pantheon of gods, rites and rituals.

Most have been Christianized after the aggressive evangelization in the 1950s.

In 1987, there were reportedly 130,000 Tagbanua living in the province. Twenty years later, the 2007 census estimated their population at just over 10,000, with 1,800 in the Calamianes. (What happened? Where have they gone?)

In 1998, the Tagbanua of Coron were granted the Certificate of Ancestral Domain title, the right to manage the island and surrounding fishing grounds, thus winning “the first ever ancestral waters claim.”

Visitors are amazed at how this place has been properly kept, managed and maintained. You won’t see coconut trees around, or any fruit-bearing tree like mango, as their planting is prohibited since anything not native to the island may be an invasive species.

Tribal chieftain Rodolfo Aguilar and his council of elders strictly implements rules and regulations for visitors. As soon as you enter the area, no smoking is allowed.

Adventures at sea

On the way to Kayangan Lake, one of 11 on the island, you can’t enter if you have no safety jacket as you’re not allowed to swim here if you’re not wearing one.

After climbing 153 steep steps to the top of a ridge—where tourists are queuing up for selfies and group pictures with the famous cove below as background (the official face of Coron, often seen in travel magazines and postcards)—you descend 170 steps to what is considered the cleanest lake in Asia.

The swimmers can’t have enough of the view and the water—the karst of towering limestone cliffs, ridges, fissures; and translucent fishes swimming beside you.

More adventurous swimmers would go to Atuayan Beach or CYC Beach to snorkel or do some kayaking. Or to reef dive sites like Malwawey Reef to swim among sea creatures in the the coral gardens. (Underwater visibility is up to 24 meters.)

Or to Skeleton Wreck, one of 10 wrecks of Japanese gunboats sunken during the war, which made Coron’s reputation as the Shipwreck Capital of the Philippines. Views in these dive sites are listed on Forbes Traveler’s Top 10 scuba-diving sites in the world.

A more amazing sight is the Twin Lagoons. As the boat slowly plies the longer route to avoid disturbing the corals with its propeller, the tourists gape and gawk at the labyrinth of megalithic rock formations jutting out of the water.

Threatened paradise

If you have an extra day to spend, book for the Calauit Safari Tour. After 2 ½ hours drive from Coron town proper to the docking area in Busuanga town, it’s just a 10-minute boat ride to the wildlife sanctuary of Calauit Island.

Before returning to Manila, a must is a visit to the souvenir shops of Coron. Here are authentic Tagbanua handicrafts, ethnic basketry, necklaces of beads and stones and bracelets of shark bone, woodcarvings of animal forms incised with ethnic patterns.

Here are South Sea pearls of exquisite hues ranging from peach to gold to copper to cerulean. A pair of earrings of cultured black pearls is P300 (though a pair of natural pearls set in gold can go as high as P56,000).

Those with more earthy inclinations could explore the markets and get their fill of kasuy, fresh produce from the sea, and dried fishes from all parts of Palawan.

Recently, controversy erupted over the planned development of a Nickelodeon undersea theme park and resort in the area.

The tourism secretary said she was getting “excited” over the project. Environmentalists said it posed a serious threat to the marine ecosystem, endangering Coron’s inclusion on the Unesco World Heritage List.

It would have featured a floating hotel, condominiums, restaurants, lounges six meters below sea level—and we would have been seeing SpongeBob, Mr. Krabs, Squidward and Ninja turtles swimming with the clownfish among the table corals.

In late August, Nickelodeon Palawan was reportedly axed because of the outcry.

Visit Coron now before it can be spoiled in any way—one more heritage site coveted by those destroyers of lovely things.

P100-M wharf to rise in Puerto Princesa Underground River

By Celeste Anna Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- A sophisticated and world-class integrated wharf, estimated to cost about PHP100-million, is expected to rise middle of 2018 in this city at Sitio Sabang, Barangay Cabayugan, home of the world-famous Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR).

Elizabeth Maclang, protected area superintendent of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP), said Thursday the project would be called Sabang Integrated Wharf Development and construction can be completed in one to two years.

It is going to be a partnership project among the park management, the city government under Mayor Lucilo Bayron, and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), Maclang said in a press conference.

“This year, we concentrated on the conduct of environmental studies to determine what kinds of impact the wharf project would entail. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) will not allow us to just construct a world-class boat terminal without the environmental impact assessment (EIA) to evaluate likely effects on marine resources, inter-related socio-economic, cultural, and human-health,” Maclang said.

Designed by AC Ong Consulting Inc., (ACOCI), the project would require the creation of around two hectares of new land from the sea for a wharf that would have terminal building, parking area that is 200 meters away from the beach, breakwater, drop off area, community plaza, service and utilities area, seaside boardwalk, and three boat docking areas.

“The design was worth PHP15-million and it was from TIEZA. The amount needed to implement the construction is PHP100-million as it would have too, a wastewater treatment facility,” she said, adding they needed to ensure that the design plan would include a treatment feature for runoffs.

Aside from TIEZA’s PHP50 million fund which they needed to apply for, Maclang said the city government also allocated PHP10 million to see the realization of the boat terminal project.

The remaining amount, which is estimated to be PHP40 million, will come from the income of the PPUR generated from entrance fees.

“The park’s income can provide the remaining amount that would needed. If in the past we can earn around PHP5 million during the peak season, now the park is already producing an income of PHP7 million to PHP10 million. It was very fortunate that we already raised the cost of our entrance fee,” she stated.

The proposed wharf that can accommodate an estimated 100-200 visitors every hour and will also have a mini-museum about the PPUR which can be visited by the tourists while waiting for their boat rides to enter the subterranean river.

4 Reds surrender in Palawan

By Celeste Anna Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- Fraught with continuing focus and civil military operations in the hinterlands of southern Palawan, four active members of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered and handed their firearms in peace to the operating units of the Western Command (WESCOM).

Captain Cherryl Tindog, WESCOM Spokesperson, said Sunday that the number was composed of two females and two males, three of whom are teenagers.

She identified the males who surrendered on Sept. 28 as Jeffrey Orit Sampaca (alias Ka Ruben and Ka Dante), 25; and Henry Poyang Minduk (alias Ka Daniel), 18, both residents of Sitio Tabud, Barangay Saraza, Brooke’s Point.

The females are Germalyn Batuan Pitogo (alias Gengen), 16; and Analyn Pitogo Ambuan (alias Ansa), 19, both residents of Sitio Macagua, Barangay Amas, Brooke’s Point, who surrendered on September 29.

Tindog said Sampaca and Minduk handed their issued firearms – one unit M16 Bushmaster with one short magazine, one unit of M1 Garand with five clips and 40 rounds ammunition, two IEDs, and one rocket parachute flare – to troops belonging to the Marine Battalion Landing Team-4 (MBLT-4).

Pitogo and Ambuan, on the other hand, surrendered through the intervention of Pala tribal leader Cunanam Pitogo.

The tribal leader is the father of Germalyn and the uncle of Analyn. He turned over to the care of the MBLT-4 one unit of shotgun.

The WESCOM condemns the use of child soldiers of the communist-terrorists in Palawan in their ranks and operations, she said as she noted that that "child soldiering is a clear violation of human rights and the International Humanitarian Law."

Tindog said the “four are now under the custody of the military for validation and documentation, facilitation of their application for the Local Social Integration Program (LSIP) of the provincial government, and the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).

“We are glad that these four communist-terrorists have decided to surrender and return to the fold of the law. Their surrender, together with their firearms, IEDs and other war materials is a serious blow to the communism-terrorism in the province,” said meanwhile by WESCOM commander Major General Galileo Gerard Kintanar Jr.

Kintanar stated it is also a clear indication of the surrenderees unwillingness to continue with the armed struggle that according to them is tainted by corruption among their leaders, fatigue, and disappointment.

The news about the four NPA surrenderees came after three soldiers belonging to the Marine Battalion Landing Team-12 (MBLT-12) suffered minor injuries in a Saturday morning ambush that was apparently perpetrated by the NPA at Sitio Italpak, Barangay Dumarao, Roxas.

The three wounded Marines were part of a convoy of a M35 truck and an elf vehicle that was returning to the MBLT-12’s headquarters in Roxas following a logistics run from Taytay town in northern Palawan.

Kintanar added the WESCOM continues to urge other members of the NPA to put their arms down and surrender.

“The LSIP and the CLIP are waiting for them to start their lives anew,” the WESCOM commander said.

Palawan tightens watch vs sea sponge trade

By Celeste Anna Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- Environment authorities in Palawan are tightly monitoring the illegal collection and trading of multicellular parazoan organisms or natural sea sponges, which are important sources of nutrients in the marine ecosystem.

Although there is no definitive study that says their survival is endangered, critical, or threatened, Jovic Fabello, spokesperson of the environment policy coordinating body Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS), said Tuesday that its collection and trade should still be strictly monitored to prevent any potential damage to the aquatic ecosystems where they play important roles.

“They have marine ecological functions… they are also food to some marine animals like fish and sea turtles so, there is really a need to strictly monitor their collection and trading, especially when those who trade them have no permits,” Fabello said.

Sponges, he added, are major constitutes of coral reefs and deep sea communities. Since coral reefs are considered the tropical forests of the sea that are habitat to marine wildlife, the sea sponges are also part of that and therefore, have importance.

When dried, they are made into bath sponges, used as cosmetic component, and reusable feminine hygiene products.

Fabello made the statement following the arrest on Sept. 27 of a certain Rizalina de Juan, who was found in possession of eight sacks of sea sponges that were reportedly harvested from the waters of the southern Palawan town of Bataraza.

“We’ve already warned them before that getting them would be illegal without wildlife permits, collection permits, and transportation, but they did not heed,” Fabello said.

De Juan, he said, was arrested by the PCSDS’ enforcement team with the PNP-Irawan at the RORO Bus Terminal in Barangay San Jose, where she was supposed to transport the sacks of sea sponges to Roxas town in northern Palawan.

“When we asked her, she said she has a buyer from a mall in Puerto Princesa,” he said.

De Juan was charged with violation of Republic Act 9147, otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.

Light comes to Amanpulo’s unknown neighbor

By: Leti Boniol (CONTRIBUTED, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

DIIT, AGUTAYA, Palawan —After being “in the dark” most of their lives, 120 households in the island of Diit, a barangay of Agutaya town northeast of Palawan province, began enjoying power from the sun last August, thanks to the free solar power systems provided by microfinance foundation ASA Philippines.

The project is expected to energize and develop the fishing community of 1,212 residents of the remote island, according to Kamrul H. Tarafder, president of ASA Philippines Foundation, which has been operating in the country since 2004.

“We are giving light to the people who do not have light,” said Tarafder, a Bangladesh national, and one of the founders of ASA Philippines.

Diit, considered one of the 50 poorest barangays in the country, can be reached only after two days by boat from Manila (via Montenegro Lines). Alternatively, one can take a plane from Manila to Puerto Princesa. Then from Puerto Princesa City, one takes an overnight (or 16 hours) ferry boat ride to the island of Cuyo, transfers to another boat for a three-hour ride to the fifth class municipality of Agutaya and from there, takes another 30-minute pump boat ride to Diit.

Vice President Leni Robredo, who visited Diit in 2016, said she could hardly find the island on the Philippine map.

On the other hand, the luxury resort island of Amanpulo, which is visited by the world’s richest celebrities, is just around one of these groups of islands in the Cuyo archipelago.

Cost-efficient

Solar power is the most cost-efficient source of electricity for the poor of Diit, according to ASA director for finance Barbara Custodio. Those in the area who can afford it use generators but the poor fisherfolk have no means to own one, she said.

The solar power system “basically transforms their lives by giving them the ability to be productive at night— they can study, work and do their household chores,” Custodio said.

The families of Diit are engaged in fishing, seaweed farming and buri hat making. With light from the sun stored in a lithium ion battery that comes with the control panel, the families are able to increase the number of hours for production.

The 30-watt system that can light three LED bulbs costs P9,000, if beneficiaries decide to purchase a set later on. The families used to spend an average of P700 to P800 a month for kerosene for their lamps, thus one to two years of savings could enable them to purchase a unit that would allow them to use other appliances, Tarafder explained.

A 50-watt unit that can power an electric fan costs P16,000, while a 100-watt unit that can power a television set costs P25,000.

On Sept. 16, Tarafder and ASA Philippines Foundation trustees Richard Dee and Eric Gotuaco turned over 120 units of the 30-watt solar power system to the poorest households that comprise a third of the community.

Norle Zambrano, 38, a seaweed planter, said she was glad and thankful for being chosen to receive a unit. It would help in the education of her children, she added.

“Yung dating madilim, naging maliwanag (what used to be dark became bright),” said vendor Maria Cristina Amorin. She said she could now charge her cell phone for free.

Aside from the 120 households, ASA Philippines engineers and technicians led by Israel B. Tulipas also installed last August the solar power systems at the barangay hall, the church, the barangay health center, a daycare center and the barangay tanod outpost.

Maintenance

Deputy director Tulipas, coordinator of the solar project, said the beneficiaries were oriented on how to properly use and maintain the units. A local electrician was also trained so the beneficiaries can turn to him when a problem arises.

The batteries have a warranty of five years but Tarafder said the foundation would pull out the batteries if they don’t work anymore.

“We are giving one of the best batteries in the world,” he added. “In most cases, the battery would run for nine years. Once finished, we can give a new battery and pull out the old one for recycling.”

He claimed that this system, manufactured in Bangladesh, was one of the best in the region. The panel could last for over 20 years, he said.

ASA Philippines has not given the recipients conditions, except that they should take care of the systems. The battery cannot be overused, he said.

People are happy to receive something for free, but Tarafder said Filipinos were “a little bit more appreciative.”

Fund managers

ASA Philippines has provided assistance for the livelihood of close to 1.5 million Filipino borrowers as of August 31, 2017, according to the foundation’s website asaphil.org. The borrowers are in 24,701 barangays in 82 provinces. The foundation’s 2016 annual report shows the impact of these borrowings: 96 percent of the borrowers increased their incomes, while 95 percent have increased their savings and assets. At least 71 percent have sent their children to school. Thirteen percent of the enterprises created 279,917 jobs.

ASA Philippines gives out loans ranging from P6,000 to P10,000, depending on one’s capacity to pay, with a 15-percent service charge for six months. A borrower pays P50 a week per thousand pesos borrowed.

ASA Philippines attributes its high repayment rate of 99 percent to the foundation’s core values of respect for others, compassion for the less privileged, simplicity and transparency. Over 7,000 staff members assist its underprivileged clients.

“Everything we do comes from the generated income of microfinance,” Tarafder explained. “So we call it the poor helping themselves. We don’t receive grants from any sources. So we created a system where it’s the poor who give their trust and confidence to us and they’re just helping themselves. We are just the fund managers of the poor,” he said.

Palawan to hold a “rice summit”

By Hanna Camella Talabucon

The Palawan Provincial government is set to conduct a National Rice Summit to be held on October 11-12, 2017 at Aziza Paradise Hotel, Puerto Princesa City.

The summit, which will be co-organized by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office MIMAROPA, aims to address issues and concerns raised by the province’s rice farmers.

The conference is expected to formulate a “5-Year Comprehensive Rice Production and Development Plan” which will help local farmers to increase Palawan’s rice production.

According to the Provincial Agriculture Office, issues such as production, farming technology, credit and finance, irrigation and postharvest management are some of the topics that will be discussed during the summit.

Speakers coming from National Irrigation Authority (NIA), Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), National Food Authority (NFA), Bureau of Plant and Industry – National Seed Quality Control Services Division, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) at Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) will facilitate the event.

Mindanao, Palawan await OK of travel tax exemption to BIMP-Eaga destinations

By Manuel Cayon

DAVAO CITY­—The southern Philippine islands of Mindanao and Palawan are awaiting a final approval from the Office of the President (OP) on lifting the travel tax from these islands to its East Asian neighbors, grouped under the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga).

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said two House committees both endorsed a resolution of Rep. Mercedes C. Cagas of the Lone District of Davao del Sur urging President Duterte to issue a directive “that exempts air and sea passengers originating in Mindanao and Palawan from paying a travel-tax fee amounting to P1,620, granting anew the travel-tax exemption”.

Cagas filed Resolution 1270 to the House Special Committee on Eaga affairs.

The exemption seeks to encourage “more investors to look at Philippine-Eaga routes as potent connectivity and investment jump-off points, taking the lead from the launch of the Davao-General Santos-Bitung, Indonesia, shipping route earlier this year”, she said.

“It is imperative upon the national government to capture interest of travel-service providers to invest in the Philippine-Eaga routes by providing the necessary incentives, including the TTE [travel-tax exemption] for international travels from Mindanao to Eaga destinations,” she added.

The committee adopted the resolution as it proposed an implementation period of three years within 2017-2025, “wherein it can be subjected for review and impact analysis in terms of its effectiveness to generate revenue to the government,” the MinDA said, citing the committee proposal.

Cagas argued on the “insignificance” of foregone revenues, “especially when placed next to the projected economic and social gains to Mindanao, Palawan and the country as a whole that the TTE policy would help usher”.

The committee also found a sympathetic endorsement from the House Committee on Tourism, chaired by Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez of the Fourth District of Leyte, which approved and endorsed the travel tax- exempt measure to the OP.

The MinDA said the tourism committee noted “it will help reduce the cost of travel to Eaga, and subsequently, increase tourism in Mindanao and Palawan.”

The MinDA added the tax exemption was first granted to travelers within the BIMP-Eaga during the time of former President Fidel V. Ramos in 1995, to support the then one-year-old subregional cooperation.

“Since then, the policy has been renewed and extended six times and was lifted in 2008, that resulted to the closing of several international flights, including Davao to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; and Davao to Manado in Indonesia,” the MinDA said. The Philippines is the only country in the BIMP-Eaga region with a policy on collecting international travel-tax charges.

MinDA Chairman Secretary Datu Hj. Abul Khayr Alonto said the renewal of the TTE policy would be “a step forward in sustaining and accelerating socioeconomic development for the country, especially in Mindanao, with the renewed interest on the Philippines through the recent opening of flights from Davao to Kuala Lumpur [by AirAsia] and Zamboanga to Sandakan [Cebu Pacific].” The AirAsia owner announced in Davao City the new air route would start in December this year.

“As it is quite challenging for the Philippines to establish direct connection with the neighboring countries simply because our areas are separated by seas, the renewal of this policy will help bring Mindanao and Palawan’s vast potential to the forefront as we work toward BIMP-Eaga’s greater goal of increasing trade, tourism and investments,” Alonto added.

The BIMP-Eaga subregional cooperation was launched in 1994 “as a key strategy to accelerate social and economic development of less-developed areas in participating countries. The travel tax-exemption initiative is identified under the sub-region’s strategic pillar focusing on enhancing connectivity within and beyond BIMP-Eaga,” the MinDA said.

Ombudsman clearance applications now accepted at Palawan mall

By Celeste Anna Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- Government employees here no longer need to fly to Manila to get an Ombudsman clearance.

Applications and payments for Ombudsman clearances can now be filed at the newly opened SM Puerto Princesa.

Russell Fernandez, public relations officer of SM City Puerto Princesa, said Tuesday afternoon that in addition to other government services, the mall’s Business Center now offers Ombudsman clearance applications.

The Ombudsman clearance is a document issued to certify that a government employee does not have any pending graft and corruption case filed against him.

The clearance is used for claiming retirement benefits, promotion or transfer of office, travel abroad, especially those with hold departure orders or with similar names with people who have such, permit to carry firearms, and participation in government biddings, Fernandez said.

Application and payments can be filed at SM Business Centers, even on weekends and holidays. SM will electronically transmit the data to the Office of the Ombudsman for printing of the clearance. The final clearance will be picked up by Air21 and delivered directly to the customer.

Over the past years, the SM Business Center has become a one-stop-shop for government services for customers to transact these requirements while shopping in the malls.

Aside from the Ombudsman clearance applications, the mall's services also include PSA (NSO) applications for birth, marriage, and death certificates; NBI Clearance; and DTI consumer welfare services and renewal of business name.

It also accepts payments for contributions and/or loans for the Social Security System, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp.

In 2014, SM Mart, Inc. signed a memorandum of agreement with the Office of the Ombudsman at SM City North EDSA to formalize the partnership.

CBNC wins ASEAN Energy Awards

By FAYE PERALTA

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) on September 27 conferred a “Best Practice Coal Awards” (small scale category) to Coral Bay Nickel Corporation (CBNC) for its Hydro-metallurgical Processing Plant (HPP).

The ASEAN Energy Awards aims to promote and recognize best practices in clean and economical utilization of coal and to improve the general image of coal through the promotion of clean coal technologies.

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi said before the 10-member nations’ delegates that the SouthEast Asian region faces energy resources’ scarcity.

“We in the ASEAN region will exert to tap the diverse energy options and innovations around us,” he said in his welcome remarks.

Engr. Walter Hasim, Utilities Section Head of CBNC received the award during the 35th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (35 AMEM) and the ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF) Gala Dinner held at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.

Engr. Hasim stressed that for CBNC, the use of coal is maximized to lower cost without sacrificing the environment.

“So far, we [always] passed standard emission. We are happy to achieve another feat for CBNC,” he said.

The ASEAN Energy Awards is part of the celebration of the ASEAN’s 50th founding anniversary, hosted by the Philippines.

CBNC is operating its twin coal-fired power plant with 11-MW capacity for each unit to support the utilities required by its state-of-the-art facilities.

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