Discovering Pinas

Former House Rep. Prospero Pichay is positive that with various sustainable environmental efforts being implemented in this city and the province, it is not impossible for Puerto Princesa and Palawan to prosper more economically because of eco-tourism.

Here on a two-day national summit for watershed management, Pichay said that because of the dynamic and active government and non-government organization partnership to protect, conserve and preserve Puerto Princesas and Palawan’s natural environments, it is not impossible for more domestic and foreign tourists to come.

“All your efforts to protect your environment will not go to waste. Soon enough, domestic and foreign tourists will hear about the good news of what you’re doing here and they will come to generate a lot dollars for your city and province,” Pichay said.

He added that although there are many sites to visit in Puerto Princesa and Palawan, they will not matter if their environments are not protected and preserved.

“Continue to help your local officials in protecting your environment because without it, your economy will not improve. Everybody benefits from a prosperous economy,” he furthered.

In Puerto Princesa, the tourist sites that gain the most number of visitors yearly are the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park at Sitio Sabang, Barangay Cabayugan and Hunda Bay in Barangay Sta. Lourdes. The newest tour activities that have been added recently are dolphin watching at the Puerto Princesa Bay, trek to Ugong Rock in Barangay Tagabenit, and firefly watching in the Iwahig River.

In the province, the most visited municipalities are Coron in the Calamianes Group of Islands, and El Nido for its attractive island getaways and panoramic landscape of karst and limestones. (PNA)