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YOU ARE HERE >>Historical Background |
| Palawan
is an elongated island in the Philippine situated between the
islands of Mindoro and Borneo. Its geographical location makes
it seem remote from the rest of the country, and in fact, some
of its southern islands are closer to Malaysia than to other
provinces. It is approximately 240 km or a 55-minute air travel
southwest of Manila and approximately one (1) hour air travel
Northeast of Cebu. |
| The
Philippines last ecological frontier, Palawan harbors vast tract
of tropical rainforests and a huge expanse of marine wilderness.
Proclaimed as Fish and Wildlife Sanctuary and Habitat of 232
endemic species. The province is named as World Heritage Site
for its highly diverse collection of fishes & other marine
life by the UNESCO. |
| Sprawled
beneath the seas of Palawan are nearly 11,000 sq km of coral
reefs, representing more than 35% of the Philippines coral reefs.
Palawan is also noted for its growth forest, cathedral caves,
white sand beaches, limestone cliffs and unique flora and fauna. |
| Except
for northern towns, which are occasionally visited by storms,
Palawan is generally typhoon - free and is away from any major
earthquake lines. The province experiences 2 types of climate
- a distinct dry (during November to April) and wet seasons each
for 6 months. In Puerto Princesa, the average annual extreme
temperatures range from 23.40C- 31.30C with an average mean temperature
of 27.40C. Average annual rainfall is 1,475mm. |
Total
land area : 1,789,655 hectares
Alienable & Disposable : 447,776 has. (30% of the total land
area)
Forested : 1,041,850 has. (70% of total land area)
Agricultural Area : 454,405 has. (31% of total land area)
(uncultivated = 45%; low productivity = 55%) |
| The
most suitable areas of the province for both cultivation and
settlement are the coastal plans of southeast, while the north
and the west coasts have virtually no flat land except for narrow
valleys. Many of the smaller islands consist of narrow coastal
plains with mountainous interiors and often relatively little
area for development. |
| c. Boundaries
and Topography |
Tall
mountain ranges run through the entire central length bisecting
the province into two areas the east and the west coast. Mountainous
& hilly throughout the entire length of the entire axis of
the main island particularly on the north western coast. Narrow
strips of coastal plains are found along the southeastern coast.
Palawan has the largest forest cover in
the country with 789,296 has. or 55.84% of the total land area
of the province. Mangrove forest accounted to 51,346 has. |
| The
Palawan soils are classified into three major groups: |
- Lowlands soil which
are usually alluvial
- Upland soils
- Beach Sand
|
| e.
Land Area: 16,456
sq m. |
| f. Size
and Distribution by province |
| The
province is subdivided into one chartered city, 23 municipalities
and 432 barangays. Twelve (12) municipalities are located in
the mainland and 11* are island municipalities. |
| Provincial
Capital -
Puerto Princesa City |
| First
District (North) Second
District (South) |
|
Linapacan*
Aborlan
Agutaya*
Balabac*
Araceli
* Bataraza
Busuanga*
Brooke's
Point
Cagayancillo*
Narra
Coron*
Quezon
Culion* Sofronio
Española
Cuyo*
Rizal
Dumaran
Puerto
Princesa City
El
Nido
Kalayaan*
Magsaysay*
San
Vicente
Roxas
Taytay
No. of barangays: 430
|
Governor :
Hon. Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra
Vice Governor : Hon. Clara E. Reyes
Congressmen : Hon. Antonio C. Alvarez (1st District)
Hon.
Victorino Dennis M. Socrates (2nd District)
|
II. Agricultural
and Market Information
a.Principal
market Centers
b.Trading
Post |
Palawan has become more
accessible today than it was many years back. The main entry
points are the Puerto Princesa City airport and seaport, but
visitors may also fly directly to selected northern tourism destinations.
.small commercial aircrafts from Manila and Puerto Princesa can
ferry tourists, traders, businessmen to northern tourism destinations
using Busuanga and El Nido airstrips. There are also direct flights
from manila to Taytay landing in the Judge Cesar Lim Rodriguez
airport. With the plans of national government to upgrade the
capital city's airport to conform with international standards
as well as the expansion and improvement of airstrips in major
tourist towns like Coron, and El Nido, travel to Palawan will
definitely become easier and faster.
The
concreting of the Puerto Princesa-Langongan-Roxas road in northern
Palawan has tremendously shortened travel itme from the city
proper to the northern City barangays and the Roxas municipality.
The rehabilitation of the 60 km national road between Taytay
and El Nido is being boost to the tourism industry as well as
business and trade. Accessibility has also improved tremendously
within the municipalities with the increased farm to market road
network. The provincial government fast tracked the opening of
314.024 kms. Of frm to market roads linking about 90,000 hectares
of farmlands to centers of trade and benefiting 21,000 farmers.
Existing provincial road length is 1,428.193 kms. And there are
2,366.86 linear meters of provincial bridges.
|
b. Energization
/ Electrification
|
A provincial
energy development program has been designed to meet the needs
of the fast-growing economy. Based on projected population increases
and the demand for agro-industrial use, Palawan's power requirements
are expected to reach 100 megawatts in a few more years. To meet
the demand, the Provincial Government has initiated expansion
projects in several island and mainland towns together with the
Palawan Electric Cooperative. Generator sets and solar-powered
units were acquired for municipalities willing to operate their
own electric systems.
|
|
NAPOCOR
PLANT/LOCATION |
CAPACITY |
|
Agutaya
Power Plant |
.217 mw |
|
Araceli
Power Plant |
.326 mw |
|
Balabac
Power Plant |
.326 mw |
|
Busuanga
Power Plant |
1.620 mw |
|
Cagayancillo
Power Plant |
.217 mw |
|
Culion Power
Plant |
.423 mw |
|
Cuyo Power
Plant |
1.651 mw |
|
El Nido
Power Plant |
.423 mw |
|
Linapacan
Power Plant |
.108 mw |
|
Delta P
(IPP) |
16.000 mw |
|
Puerto Princesa
Power Plant |
9.000 mw |
|
Roxas Power
Plant |
1.543 mw |
|
San Vicente
Power Plant |
.586 mw |
|
San Vicente
Power Plant |
.423 mw |
|
NPC Modular
Power Plant (Irawan) |
18.500 mw |
| Total |
51.363
megawatts |
|
|
ENERGY PROJECTS
OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT |
Decalachao -Coron
Electrification
Green Valley Village Electrification (PPC)
Brgy Port Barton - San Vicente Electrification
Coron Subsidy
Brooke's Point - Bataraza Electrification
Mambalot -Pulot Electrification
San Jose - Abaroan Roxas Electrification
Linapacan Subsidy
Rizal Electrification
Princess Urduja - Quezon Electrification
San Vicente - Alimanguan Electrification
Balabac Subsidy
Borac - Coron Electrification
Brgy. Calandagan - Araceli Electrification
Cuyo - Magsaysay Electrification
Araceli Subsidy
Iwahig - Luzviminda Electrification (PPC)
Brgy. Manamoc - Cuyo Electrification
Brgy. Salogon, Brooke's Point Electrification
Poblacion, Dumaran Electrification
Typoco Village Electrification (PPC)
Brgy. Liminangcong - Taytay Electrification
Cagayancillo Subsidy
Bisucay Island - Cuyo Electrification
Sitio Sicud, Brgy. Candawaga - Rizal Electrification
Brgy. Caramay Solar Bio-Mass, Roxas Palawan
New Ibajay Renewable Energy - El Nido
|
|
Type of Water
Facility |
No. of
Units |
Population
Served |
| Level
I (deepwell,handpump) |
17,438 |
4,494 Individual
connection
33,775 Total population |
| Level II
(communal faucet) |
94 |
17,956 rural
population
826 Urban population |
| Level III
(Household connection) |
1,688 |
7,917
RuralPopulation
48,191 Urban population |
|
There are twenty
three (23) municipalities with mobile phone services provided
by SMART & Globe telecommunications, and Sun Cellular. There
are landline services at Puerto Princesa City. National and International
Direct Dialing Services provided by PILTEL, GLOBE, SMART and
Bayan Tel in major growth centers
|
Air : There
are 15 airports and airstrips in the province three of which
categorized
as national, one as provincial, one as military and 10 as private
airports/airstrips.
Only
Puerto Princesa Airport can accommodate medium-range international
jet planes. The rest are classified as fader airports and process
sub-standard landing aides or 14 airports are classified as feeder
airport & could accommodate light to medium aircrafts.
Three
Commercial planes provide daily flights between Manila and Puerto
princesa City namely Philippine Airlines, air Philippines and
Cebu
Pacific. Smaller airlines such as SEAir, Inter-Island Trans Voyager
and Asian Spirit provide chartered and commuter flights to Cuyo,
Coron, El Nido, Taytay and Culion from Manila or Puerto Princesa
City.
|
| The
following airlines serve passengers to and from Manila and various
Palawan destinations: |
PHILIPPINE AIRLINES
(PAL)
Manila Puerto Princesa
City Manila - Daily
AIR PHILIPPINES
Manila-Puerto Princesa
City - Manila - Daily
Puerto Princesa-Cebu-Iloilo
- Monday, Wednesday-Friday and Saturday
Cebu Pacific
Manila-Puerto Princesa
City- Manila - Daily
SeaAir
Manila-Busuanga - Manila
- Daily
Manila-Taytay-Manila -
Daily
Manila-El Nido - Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday
Puerto Princesa City -
Cuyo - Tuesday and Saturday
Puerto Princesa City -
Cuyo - Tuesday and Saturday
Asian Spirit
Manila - Busuanga - Manila - Twice Daily
Inter-Island Trans
Voyager
(Soriano Aviation)
Sempadan Aerospace
Kota Kinabalu - Puerto
Princesa City - Kota Kinabalu
|
Land
Tricycles and multi-cabs
are the main modes of transport in Puerto princesa City. Several
buses and shuttle vans provide regular trips to municpalities.
Car Rental services are also available at the travel agencies.
|
Sea
Two major domestic shipping lines ferry passengers and cargo
regularly from manila to Puerto Princesa City and vice-versa.
Both also ply the Manila-Coron-Puerto Princesa City route and
vice-versa. Sea travels takes approximately 24 hours, and passengers
may choose from economy to luxury accommodations. Another cargo
commercial vessel operates in the province, responding to the
cargo requirements of business traders from Puerto Princesa City
to Manila and vice versa. An inter-island vessel plies the Puerto
Princesa City-Cuyo-Iloilo route twice a week while another vessel
provides a once a week trip to Manila-Coron-Liminangcong and
back and weekly trips from Manila to Cuyo and vice-versa.
| There
are 39 functional ports in the province: |
- Two (2) are classified
as national
- One (1) as base
port and
- Four (4)
are terminal ports.
Only the ports of Puerto
Princesa, Brooke's Point, Balabac, Coron and Cuyo are capable
of berthing small inter-island vessels. The rest can only accommodate
motor-powered bancas, launches and small fishing boats.
Puerto Princesa Port is
classified as base port utilized for berthing passenger vessels,
RORO/containerized and other general cargo vessels. Four (4)
terminal ports utilized as embarking, disembarking, loading and
unloading general cargoes. Ten (10) municipal, two (2) national
and 11 other government ports can only accommodate small vessels.
Eleven (11) private/commercial ports utilized for loading and
unloading goods and commodities.
- Palawan
is linked to Luzon by seas transportation plying the
following routes:
- Manila
-Puerto Princesa & vice-versa (1 boat passing throughCoron)
- Manila-Coron-Liminangcong
& vice-versa
- Manila-Coron-Culion
& vice-versa
- Puerto
princesa City -cuyo-Iloilo and vice-versa
- Coron-Romblon-Aklan
- Linkage
to Malaysia is being established
|
Major vessel
plying the Manila (MNL) - Puerto Princesa City (PPC) - MNL and
other routes are as follows:
|
|
WG
and A Superferry
MNL-
Coron-PPC - once a week, Friday
PPC-Coron-MNL
-once a week, Sunday
Negros
Navigation
MNL
-Coro-PPC -Once a week, Thursday
PPC-Coron-MNL
- Once a week, Saturday
M/V
Milagrosa
Iloilo-Cuyo-PPC-
Cuyo-Iloilo -Twice a week, Monday and Thursday
M/V Romblon Bay
MNL- Coron-Liminangcong-Coron- MNL - once a week
MNL-Cuyo-MNL - once a week
M/V Josille II
MNL - Coron - Liminangcong-Coron-MNL. Once a week, Thursday
San Nicolas Lines
MNL.- Coron-Culion-Coron-MNL- Twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday
|
Enrollment in Public elementary
schools is steadily increasing. From 146,114 in 2003, the number
of students in the public elementary schools went up to 147,013
in the year 2004 while enrollees in public secondary schools
reached 55,887.
Public schools in the
province consist of
a. elementary schools
- 626
b. secondary schools -127
Private schools:
a. elementary schools
-26
b. secondary schools -19
Vocational schools
-10
|
|
PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS |
PRIVATE
SCHOOLS |
| Palawan State
University, Pto Princesa City |
Holy Trinity
College, Pto. Princesa City |
| Western Philippines
University, Aborlan, Palawan and Pto. Princesa City |
FullBright
College, Pto Princesa Citya |
| Coron College
of Fisheries, Coron, Palawan |
Polytechnic
College Inc. |
| Puerto Princesa
School of Arts and Trade |
Palawan Technological
College, Inc. in Roxas, San Vicente & Pto Princesa City |
| Palawan College
of Arts and Trade, Cuyo, Palawan |
Systems Technonology
Institute (STI) |
| |
AMA Computer
Learning Center (ACLC), Pto Princesa City |
| |
San Francisco
Javier College, Narra, Palawan |
| |
St Joseph
Academy, Cuyo, Palawan |
| |
St. Augustine
Academy, Coron, Palawan |
| |
Coron, Technical
School, Coron, Palawan |
|
e. Research Institutions:
Department of Agriculture
- Palawan Experimental Station, Sta. Monica, Puerto
Princesa City; Sub station - Palawan Agricultural Center, Irawan
Puerto Princesa City;
Department of Agriculture
- Livestock Resource Center, Irawan, Puerto Princesa City
Department of Agriculture
-Carabao Breeding Center, San Vicente, Palawan
Department of Agriculture
- Dairy Pilot Demo Farm, Irawan, Puerto Princesa City
Department of Science
and Technology, Puerto Princesa City
|
f. Banking/credit
The banking community in Palawan is steadily growing, an indication
of increasing economic activity. Most banks are located in the
City of Puerto Princesa while others are found in nearby municipalities
Universal Banks (Private)
- Equitable PCI-Bank
- Metro Bank
- Bank of Philippine Islands
- Philippine National Bank
- Rizal Commercial Banking
Corporation
- Allied Bank
Thrift Banks
- Banco Filipino
- Palawan Bank
- First Consolidated Bank
Rural Bank
- Rural Banks of Narra
- United Coconut Planters
Bank
- Cooperative Bank of Palawan
- Marikina Valley Rural
Bank
Universal Bank
(Government)
- Land Bank of the Philippines
- Development Bank of the
Philippines
Commercial bank
|
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