Puerto Princesa develops 6 tourism circuits

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, March 19 (PIA) -- The City Tourism Office is developing new destination circuits putting emphasis on community-based sustainable tourism (CBST) projects.
Rebecca Labit, City Tourism Officer, said that the development of six new tourism circuits will open an array of livelihood opportunities for the communities and will decongest tourists going to the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) which is a protected area.
The tourism circuits being developed are based on its location with the city as the point of reference. These are the northwest circuit, Honda Bay circuit, Poblacion circuit, northeast, southwest and southeast circuits.
Of these circuits, the northwest circuit is the premier eco-tourism area with the tour of PPUR as its banner activity along with the Mangrove Paddleboat Cruise, sun-sea-sand at Marufinas and Sabang beach, visit to Sabang waterfalls, spelunking at Ugong Rock and the Lion’s Cave, trekking at Mt. Bloomfield and to the tribal villages of Batak and zipline adventures at Ugong Rock and Sabang.
The Honda Bay circuit offers island hopping adventure and snorkeling at three to five islands in the bay area. Tourist attractions in Poblacion include Palawan Wildlife and Resource Center, Crocodile Farming Institute, Baywalk, Irawan Eco-Park, Mitra Ranch, Iwahig Penal Colony, historical and cultural centers and landmarks and the many restaurants in the city center.
The northeast circuit features the Maoyon River Cruise and Rafting, Batak Cultural Village and Center, Olanguan Waterfalls and many beach resorts along the Babuyan-Binduyan stretch.
Southeast circuit is a haven for education, environment and research centers located within the more than 1,780 hectares of the Sta. Lucia Environmental Estate. The southwest circuit features the Millenium Trees, bird watching site of Simpocan, pristine white beach of the west coasts and mountain trekking traversing the mountains of Irawan to the west coast.
Labit said that simultaneous with the development of the circuits, there is an ongoing improvement on infrastructure of roads and bridges, as well as transportation and communication, which when completed would make the city a model in sustainable tourism development. (LBR/VSM-PIA4B Palawan)
By Victoria Asuncion S. Mendoza