Protect Palawan to avoid closure
Duterte wants stricter environmental regulations, energy problems solved
The people of Palawan should protect the environment of the “crown jewel” to avoid a closure to tourists similar to the case of Boracay, President Duterte warned on Saturday.
The President has called for stricter regulations to ensure Palawan’s sustainable tourism such as putting a cap on the number of visitors and enforcing the easement rule along the beach.
“Let us work together in protecting the environment so that the government’s action to close Bo-
racay Island will not be repeated elsewhere in the country,” he said during the 1st Subaraw Biodiversity Festival in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
“May this festival be an occasion to strengthen your solidarity and commitment to uphold the reputation of Palawan as the ‘Best Island in the World.’ Totoo naman (This is true),” he added.
Duterte said Palawan should avoid the “overcrowding” mistake of Boracay, adding there was a need to limit the number of visitors.
“You protect your crown jewel ng Palawan which is really ‘yung mga magagandang lugar. Avoid overcrowding. Iyang El Nido na ‘yan, iba (You protect your crown jewel of Palawan which is really the beautiful places. Avoid overcrowding in El Nido and others),” he said.
“Huwag ninyong i-overload. Bantay kayo diya (Do not overload it. Be vigilant) Boracay is a classic case of overloading. It can carry only so much people,” he said.
"You have to control the number. Pahintayin mo sila (Let them wait),” he said, about the restriction on visitors in the Palawan’s famous underground river.
He said hotels, resorts and other business establishments should also “follow rules” including avoiding construction near the beach. He said these hotels must also establish their sewage treatment systems to avoid polluting the Palawan waters.
“Do not allow ‘yung mga hotels near sa easement. Ipalayo mo. Sabihin mo talaga doon kayo sa malayo [Do not allow hotels near the easement. Keep them away]. The beach, it should remain to be – dagat talaga para sa tao [the beach is for the people] It’s a property of the national government. Nobody can claim ownership of that,” he said.
“I’m giving notice also to all hotels nag-operate diyan sa dagat (near the sea). Huwag ninyong itapon ‘yung tubo ninyo diretso. If you want to build a hotel, add another so many million to have a water treatment,” he said.
The government has reopened Boracay to tourists after a six-month rehabilitation of the world famous beach destination.
Power disruptions The President gave the local government of Palawan and its energy cooperative until the end of the year to fix the power frequent power disruptions in the island or he will find a way to resolve it in his own way.
Duterte made the statement as he joined the launch of Palawan’s first "Subaraw Biodiversity Festival" in Puerto Princesa Saturday evening.
In his speech, Duterte noted how Palawan is still suffering from six to eight hours of power interruptions.
“Yung inyong ilaw dito (Your electricity here), at this late of the day of development in the country, may brownout kayo na (you still have brownouts for) six to eight hours. That is not acceptable to me,” he said.
“On the extreme, maybe I will just give you guys, walang personalan ‘to. Trabaho lang (this is not personal, I’m just doing my job). I’ll give you about towards the end of the year a new set up that could provide enough energy to run a place and so that it can develop, operate and it can move. You have to upgrade your source of energy,” he added.
The President then said that he would bring in big players, even foreign ones, if the local government cannot meet the said deadline.
“Kasi kapag hindi, ang gawain ko, maghanap ako ng may pera talaga (Because if not, I will really look for someone who has the money to do it),” Duterte warned.
“China nangangati ang kamay niyan eh (China is itching) just to get hold of developments here. I will expropriate your franchise. Bilihin ko ‘yan (I will but that) at an evaluation that is fair, just compensation, to end this almost an impasse,” he said.
“I’d like to talk to the governor and si mayor, mag-usap tayo, magkape lang tayo sir sa opisina ko. Pag-usapan natin ‘to, because di ko maano na hanggang ngayon, at this age, mayroong electricity tapos napuputol (and the mayor. Let’s talk about it over coffee in my office. I cannot accept that until today, there are still power interruptions),” he added, referring to Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez and Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron.
Reports said that residents of Puerto Princesa and Southern Palawan have been experiencing daily power interruptions since 2017 due to power line faults and problems in their independent power provider’s generators.
Duterte said that expropriating the power firms’ franchises would end the power supply woes in Palawan.
“I will allow other players to enter and I will allow them to buy you out and I will exercise the right of the state to eminent domain,” he said.
He also said that improving Palawan’s electric source is important as the province is a known tourist destination.
“You better come up with something or I will do something. [You only have power for] six to eight hours and you say El Nido for tourism,” Duterte said.
“Either do it or I will do it for you. I will wait for your decision. I will expropriate. That’s the only thing. I cannot confiscate,” he added.