Monday, August 27, 2012

Palawan Trip 8: A little of Puerto Princesa

Some of my colleagues went back to their respective provinces but the more curious of us decided to roam the streets of Puerto Princesa City and here are some of my impressions:


1. The city is green and really clean. Waste management is down to the household level and environmental laws are strictly enforced anywhere in the city.














According to mayor Edward Hagedorn, Puerto Princesa is called the "City in a forest." Palawan is the first province in the country to enact its own environmental ordinance.

2. The ordinary public transport drivers (tricycle & jeepney) are courteous and will take you to your destinations without charging horrendously high fares. They tell you how much it will cost if you tour the City, or if you want to visit the other tourists spots in the province. They also know the various tourists attractions of Palawan (which will be part of my own itinerary someday).

3.Puerto Princesa City is economically growing with still a touch of the "Provençal" lifestyle. It has a little of everything. It has expensive and moderately priced hotels, restaurants, shopping complexes as well as night life.

4. It is very peaceful. We were told that barangay Tanods are all organized at the barangay levels and they help maintain local peace and order and security of tourists. There is a very strong sense of bayanihan and ownership of local governance in Puerto Princesa City.

5. The most important I think is the hands-on style of the local officials to govern and direct the growth, tourism and development of Palawan.


People respect their leaders and they know that tourism makes the province and the people showcases the character and culture of Palawan.

They speak both Tagalog and Cebuano. Many of the people in Puerto Princesa we were told hail from the Visayas and Mindanao areas.

Nong Doming, a tricycle driver who said he is from Dumaguete City volunteered to take us around the City (with an affordable fare, of course!) and patiently waited for us as we took some photos.  He was glad to know we come from Cebu, Dumaguete and  Bohol.
This is the dome-shaped Palawan provincial Capitol building with an art installation at the center lobby. The art work has lighting effect that changes it's color shades from yellow to blue to red, green, pink.  


   

                               


 
According to PIA-Palawan, the art installation at the lobby of the Palawan Provincial Capitol is the work of national Artist Ed Castillo in1991 and its called "Natural Splendor and Forms Blend with Nature."  The art installation is splendid for picture taking!

Nong Doming was very patient with us. From the dome-shaped provincial capitol, he took the group (Lindy, Jessie, Elvie, Hazel, Soring and Mine) to a downtown quick tour telling us stories  on how he got to Palawan and how strict local government is in solid waste management and how drivers are trained as tourists' guides.  


The entrance to the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) 

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