National gov’t supports tourism in Puerto Princesa
By Celeste Anna R. Formoso
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY - The national government is fully supportive of the development of the tourism industry in this city with PHP2.613-million it allocated for the construction and rehabilitation of the Puerto Princesa City Airport.
In a release through the City Information Office (CIO), the city government said the upcoming project will further enliven the tourism industry, as well as provide 1,400 employment opportunities to the locals.
Considered a “Gateway to Asia,†regular flights from Taiwan now arrive weekly here, with 156 travelers, who stay for three days to visit Honda Bay Islands and the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The statement said that aside from the airport construction and rehabilitation, the government’s Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) under Chief Executive Officer Mark Lapid, has also allotted PHP15-million for the engineering design of a modern Sabang Terminal in Sitio Sabang, Barangay Cabayugan, the home of the PPUR.
The new terminal, according to Mayor Lucilo Bayron, is expected to open up opportunities for smaller cruise ships to come to Palawan waters and invest in the Puerto Princesa-El Nido-Coron and vice versa travel route.
The statement further claimed that the national government’s support extends too, to the improvement of the Puerto Princesa City Port with the Department of Tourism (DOT) closely cooperating with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) for cruise ship tourism.
It quoted DOT Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. in saying that for port improvement, Puerto Princesa was included with those of Manila, Subic, Boracay, Davao, Bohol, Ceby and Zamboanga, which are tourism site gems in the country.
“The airport upgrading and improvements must likewise, come hand-in-hand with seaport development,†the statement quoted of Bengzon.
The plan is by virtue of increasing tourist arrivals in the country via cruise ships that reached 52,820 in 2014 compared to 41,624 in 2013, and 23,857 in 2012.
For the first time in the history of tourism here, the city government said cruise ship arrival was the highest this year with 12 more expected until March, and will even increase to 15 before the year ends. (PNA)
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