Finding peace, calm in Puerto Princesa

Honda Bay Island (HTTPS://WWW. GETYOURGUIDE.COM)

Puerto Princesa, the capital and largest city of Palawan, was converted into a highly urbanized city in 2007. Since then, both the national and local governments have been pouring in resources and efforts to ensure the continued growth and development of Puerto Princesa into a thriving, self-reliant city.

‘Most beautiful island’

Over the last decade, the province of Palawan has received numerous prestigious accolades and recognitions owing to its beauty and rich natural resources. These awards included the title of being “The Most Beautiful Island In The World”, which was conferred in 2016 by travel site and magazine Travel + Leisure, and inclusion in the top 10 “Trending Destinations in the World for 2024” as polled by Tripadvisor, a popular travel site for travel deals and reviews.

Puerto Princesa City, alone, is home to one of the most famous destinations in Palawan—the iconic Underground River, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site and a New Seven Wonders of Nature awardee.

New Green City Hall (HTTPS://WWW.PUERTOPRINCESATOURISM.COM)

Hub of commerce

But while the city remains to be a tropical paradise, Puerto Princesa is also Palawan’s main hub of commerce, transportation, education, tourism, and real estate. To ensure continued growth, local government officials have been actively implementing measures to create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

And such measures are proving to be effective as Puerto Princesa earlier earned the distinction of being one of the model cities in the country in terms of cleanliness, environmental protection and conservation, and security.

Plaza Cuartel in Puerto Princesa (JOELALDOR VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)

Peace and order

Over the past years however, the local government has been increasingly focusing on improving the peace and order in the city. In March 2018, local officials of Puerto Princesa signed an ordinance that formed a joint urban anti-terrorism task group to ensure public safety and security. Ordinance No. 916, sponsored by the City Council’s Committee on Peace and Order and Public Safety, prescribed the activation of the Joint Task Group Puerto Princesa (JTGPP) by the Western Command (Wescom).

In September 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. officially declared the province of Palawan free from communist insurgency, a status that officials believed could boost the province’s economy and tourism. The President made the declaration as he led the celebration of National Peace Consciousness Month in Puerto Princesa City.

According to local government officials, this declaration would further boost the economy of the province and attract more investors and tourists.

Puerto Princesa Underground River (HTTPS://WWW.PUERTOPRINCE- SATOURISM.COM)

Bringing gov’t closer to people

On top of these efforts, Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron also said that most of the local government’s programs are now focused on bringing government services closer to the people through the establishment of satellite offices in strategic areas of the city.

“We brought the government closer to the people through the establishment of government facilities in our northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest rural barangays—mini city halls, enhanced satellite clinics, additional police stations, and continuous construction and concreting of roads that lead to areas previously unreachable or isolated,” Bayron was quoted as saying. “This is Puerto Princesa’s recipe for peace and progress that makes us confident of the support and trust of the people in the government.”

Firefly-watching at Puerto Princesa (HTTPS://WWW.TRAVEL-PALAWAN.COM)

In November 2023, the Justice Sector Coordinating Council’s (JSCC) launched the “Green Justice Zone” in Puerto Princesa City. The JSCC was formed in 2010 by the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government. Through the JSCC, these institutions come together as one sector to deliver more cohesive, more comprehensive solutions to justice sector issues.

The Green Justice Zone in Puerto Princesa is the 12th Justice Zone in the country.

Sources: Inquirer Archives, tourism.gov.ph, Philippine News Agency, sc.judiciary.gov.ph