Duterte warns Palawan’s closure if threat to island’s environment not thwarted

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte warned that everyone in Palawan should come together in caring for the environment to avoid the fate of “closing of Boracay Island” for restoration. “Let us help together in protecting the environment so that the government action to close Boracay Island will not be repeated elsewhere in the country,” he said in a speech during the Subaraw Festival in Puerto Princesa City yesterday. He also wished Palawan to maintain and uphold its sustainability.” At ang development niyo, sana masustain niyo,” Duterte said.

The president said that this should be a way to strengthen solidarity and for Palawan to maintain its title as the “best island in the world” and wished Subaraw Festival to attain greater success for the next few years. “May this be an evaluation to strengthen your solidarity and commitment to uphold the reputation of Palawan as the best island in the world. Totoo naman eh, may the Subaraw Biodiversity Festival have greater success in the years to come,” Pres. Duterte said.

The president expressed his appreciation to the Puerto Princesa’s establishment of Community-Based Sustainable Tourism Site (CBST) in the city to lessen tourism-related activity in the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR). He also said that this is a great way to lessen the impact of tourism in the said area. “Another remarkable achievement in the development of the Community based Sustainable Tourism Site, such as the Mangrove Paddle, the Hundred Cave, the Isla Felomina, dive and snorkelling site and the Sabang falls to provide alternative tourist destination to lessen the impact of tourism-related activities in the Underground River,” said Pres. Duterte.

He added that Palawan is a very critical island due to the danger of getting caught in the crossfire or misfires if the tension among superpowers in the South China Sea turns into a war. “Palawan is critical, very critical. Kasi kapag naputukan yung China Sea na ‘yan lahat nang bala ng misfire pupunta dito. Totoo!” However, the president said that despite the possibility, he will not allow any country to be dragged into the conflict and would ensure the island is safe.