The Province of Palawan

      The name Palawan was believed to come from Chinese word “PA-LAO-YU” meaning “The Land Of Beautiful Safe Harbor” and a Spanish word PARAGUA which likens the shape of the island to a closed umbrella.
 

      The Province is situated in the Western border of the Philippines located 30 nautical miles South of Mindoro and 60 nautical miles North of Borneo and is bounded on the east by the Sulu Sea. Its land area is more or less 1,700,000 hectares with 1,780 islands and islets. Its irregular coastline stretches almost 2,000 km long indented by numerous coves and bays. It has a population of – and is politically subdivided into 23 municipalities with 431 barangays and one city which is also its provincial capital, Puerto Princesa City, a Hall of Fame Awardee as the Cleanest and Greenest City in the Philippines.

      Dubbed as the country’s Last Ecological Frontier, a distinction bestowed upon the province because of its unique ecological balance that has been preserved in the midst of rapid changes and economic growth, the province is a mini-archipelago of virgin islands and is home to different rare species of flora and fauna. Home to plush resorts, it is also the country’s most notable eco-tourism site, a special interest, low volume, high value destination both for the adventurous eco-tourism and enlightened investor.

Puerto Princesa City

      Legends attributes the name Puerto Princesa to the appearance at certain time of the year of a princess with a rare beauty who would roam around the bay at night. Others insist the name was derived from the geographic value of the place as a port, being naturally protected by inclement of weather all year round and sufficient in depth to allow ships of all sizes to anchor, it is truly a “Princess of Ports”, or in spanish “Puerto Princesa.”
 

      Situated at the mid-section of the island with a total land area of 253,892 hectares and about 300 kilometers of coastline ad waterfront, Puerto Princesa is the center of trade, commerce and education. With just a population of about 200,000, it makes the city the least densely populated city in the country.

      The city has won the most awards in the country for its consistent pursuit of sustainable development and its strict enforcement of environmental laws. In 1997, the city was given the Global 500 Roll of Honor Award by the United Nations

      Being an island, the city is accessible by air and boat from Manila, Iloilo and Cebu. It is approximately 55 minutes by air from Manila and one hour and fifteen minutes from Cebu. The city is also served by a modern seaport. Ferries leaving from Manila travel 24 hours and 36 hours from Iloilo. 
 

      Philippine Air Lines, Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific flies to the city from Manila while Negros Navigation and WG&A plies the route from North harbor to the city pier.

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