WORLD WONDER, THE UNDERGROUND RIVER
PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN, MARCH
25, 2012 (PHILSTAR) By Juancho
Mahusay (PHOTO -A local tourist explores Ugong Rock, a 75-foot limestone
formation located in Barangay Tagabinet, Puerto Princesa City in Palawan. Local
government and tourism officials are promoting alternative sightseeing and
recreational destinations in the province to ease the overwhelming influx of
visitors at the Underground River, recognized as one of the New 7 Wonders of
Nature. ERNIE PEÑAREDONDO)
Following last Monday's explosion allegedly caused by poor quality lighters
exposed to the extreme heat of the sun, the city government here plans to
install closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) at strategic points in Sitio
Sabang, Barangay Cabayugan.
The area is home to the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) World
Heritage Site, now a very popular tourist spot.
According to Puerto Princesa City police chief Superintendent Abad Ocit, the
CCTVs will augment security because these can monitor dubious personalities who
intend to do harm to the city and help convict offenders.
Since the explosion at Sitio Sabang, the Philippine National Police has
deployed additional policemen in the area, together with elements from the
Philippine Marine's 4th Battalion Landing Team, to provide additional security
to residents and tourists.
Weeks before the explosion, Puerto Princesa City tourism officer Rebecca
Labit said they had already met with various agencies to intensify security in
Sabang area.
"Even before the incident, we've had a discussion already with various
agencies, including the Western Command and the City Police Office, to augment
security in the area. The blast is not the only incident we're concerned about,
we're also concerned with theft, search and rescue – all other concerns, since
ours is a growing tourism industry," Labit said.
Tourist arrival triples
Meanwhile, Mayor Edward Hagedorn yesterday said tourist arrivals in Puerto
Princesa City had tripled after PPUR participated and won as one of the New 7
Wonders of Nature.
Hagedorn said this development has resulted in some "welcome problems" such
as the concern of the city government on the capacity of the underground river,
the capacity of the airport, the high demand for the supply of electricity and
the limited hotels to accommodate local and foreign tourists.
"The huge volume of tourists is a welcome problem and we ought to have a
solution to this.
So we are working double time to improve infrastructure to provide the
tourists sufficient amenities. I'm happy to report that President Aquino is very
supportive of Puerto Princesa's development plan," said Hagedorn during a forum
sponsored by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
He said the construction of hotels, hospitals and other facilities in the
city are in full swing and all the amenities will be available to tourists next
year.
Hagedorn said they are also busy preparing for the inauguration ceremony of
the New 7 Wonders of Nature on April 21 at the Esplanade of the Mall of Asia in
Pasay City.
"The Philippines was chosen to hold the first inauguration. Other winning
countries like Brazil and Korea will follow. There will be inauguration
ceremonies in each of the seven countries included in the New 7 Wonders of
Nature," he said.
Although the total number of votes gathered has yet to be announced, Hagedorn
said he received information that the PPUR garnered 24 million votes through
text.
"We were very surprised, when we started campaigning for the New 7 Wonders of
Nature, we had 168,000 tourists. Last year it went up to 516,000 tourists then
this year, we can see that the number has even doubled. Those who voted
apparently want to see what they voted for," he said.
Despite the overwhelming influx of tourists, Hagedorn said he would make sure
that the environment, particularly the underground river, is protected from any
form of destruction.
"We have a self-imposed limit of 700 persons in the underground river. Before
500 persons were allowed, then it went up to 700, then 1,300 per day. We're
trying to bring it down to 700 again while waiting for UNESCO's advice on how
many persons could be accommodated in the underground river a day," Hagedorn
said.
He again thanked the people who voted for the PPUR, saying "ownership of
victory is for every individual who voted, 24 million votes in texting, other
countries have only five million. Let's say each of the voters voted four times,
six million of them are still Filipinos."
Hagedorn likewise announced that from the usual two flights a day, the Puerto
Princesa City airport now has 18 flights daily.
"The airport was designed to accommodate four to five airlines but now there
are 18," he said, adding that Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas has announced
that the national government will fast-track the improvement of the airport.
The mayor also assured tourists of a peaceful environment.
"Puerto Princesa is one of the most peaceful places in the country, one of
the cities with highest crime solution efficiency," he said. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
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