National News

Puerto Princesa,Feb.01-The Philippines has been chosen by the biggest travel operator in Eastern Europe, ESO Travel, as the exotic destination in Asia where Eastern Europe jet-setters could escape from their freezing winters and enjoy the sun, the sand and the sea.
ESO Travel will start its marketing promotion by staging the pre-pageant activities of the ten finalists of the Ms. Czech Republic in Pasay, Puerto Princesa, Cebu and Subic Bay Freeport Zone from January 24 to February 5. Its local partner is AAP Travel, a subsidiary of the Automobile Association of the Philippines.

A kick-off press conference for the Miss Czech Republic 2013 was held at Le Patio Restaurant at Narodni Trida, Prague 2.
Philippine Ambassador to the Czech Republic Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia was invited to grace the press conference as the Philippines will play host to the Miss Czech Republic semi-finalist who will be visiting the country in January 26-February 1, 2013.

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III raised the reward money for 4 high-profile fugitives in the hope it would lead to their arrest.

In a statement on Thursday, August 16, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said, “The President is displeased with the lack of progress in arresting high-profile fugitives.”

The President ordered the following:

Puerto Princesa City, July 27, 2012(CIO) - From “Big Four” the Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified its manhunt for the “Big Five” including Globe Asiatique owner Delfin Lee, who was charged with syndicated estafa for the alleged irregular use of P7.03 billion worth of housing loans. The “Big Four” include former-army general Jovito Palparan, former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and his brother, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, and Dinagat Island Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr.

MANILA, Philippines—When it rains, it pours for the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR).
Barely four months after having been officially installed as one of the world’s New 7 Wonders of Nature in April, the underground river was declared “Wetland of International Importance” during the Ramsar Convention held on July 6-13 in Bucharest, Romania.

MANILA, Philippines - The Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) has been included in the global list of “Wetlands of International Importance” under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, according to Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, making the popular tourist destination a protected area.

Source: Riza T. Olchondra, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 05/02/12

It may take P17 billion worth of road and related projects to fully prop up the country’s tourism industry, according to a proposal from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Public Works Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said in an interview that he and Tourism Secretary Mon Jimenez have talked about the road projects needed in key tourism areas all over the country.

DUMAGUETE CITY, April 28 (PIA) -- Some environmental advocates here filed a petition with the Supreme Court (SC) recently for issuance of a Writ of Kalikasan to immediately stop the genetically modified organism (GMO) field testing in the country.

Silliman University President Dr. Ben Malayang III is among those calling on the SC to stop the GMO testing, as four provinces in the Philippines are to carry out field trials on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) talong (eggplants), a GMO variety.

By Lanie B. Ronquillo

The Ugong Rock in Puerto Princesa, one of the most popular vacation spots in Palawan, is also an example of a successful community-based sustainable tourism site.

In an effort to save the remaining forests in Palawan, the European Union funded a major forestry project which was launched in several areas, particularly the ones around the underground river, as community based sustainable tourism sites (CBST).