Historically, Palawan has been held high as an example of purity and environmental preservation. While this is still the case, we can always do better. Its up to us to show our pride in our island and home.
In the not-so-distant past, Puerto Princesa was regarded as one of the cleanest cities in the Philippines. We, as a community, have always taken pride in our city. Sadly, we have become accustomed to the belief that it’s a designation that we will keep forever. We have become complacent, and we all see signs of it in virtually every section of our beautiful city.
One need only take a short trip down Rizal or Malvar Avenues to find long lines of current and previous businesses where the buildings are in various states of disrepair. This may be the building needing the windows clean or repaired or, the building may have been partially constructed and the project abandoned for a prolonged period of time. In addition to larger buildings, one can easily find many small businesses where the proprietors use shoddy building practices and construction materials. This causes a large portion of our beloved city to be an eyesore for us as well as the tourists who come to enjoy the natural beauty of the island.
Once we leave the main roads, into the semi residential areas, we see trash littering the roadsides just about everywhere. Unoccupied lots left littered with debris and falling buildings. Or leftover construction materials left to decay and ultimately become a permanent fixture. This is our responsibility, the people of Puerto Princesa. We have taken our homes for granted and allowed complacent attitudes to prevail. But all is not lost, we have the power and the individual responsibility to take corrective action! It doesn’t matter if you are a major business or simply an average resident of the city in the forest, we all have a role to play. We must, once again, take pride in our beloved city.
Of course, my intention is not to offend anyone, my goal is to inspire us all, once again, to demonstrate to the entire nation that Puerto Princesa is still a place we can be proud to call home. In order to achieve this goal, we need to take responsibility for any area where we have impact. We need to aggressively educate the younger generations and charge the next generation to take leadership, in their turn, to always work to improve the image of Puerto Princesa.
Palawan is a gift. Our island is visited by people all over the world. Being that we are the only major city, our image as the gateway to Palawan plays a critical role in creating the lasting impression we desire in those who choose to visit our piece of paradise.
Whether you’re older, middle aged or younger, you are part of the solution. We need everyone to join hands and reclaim the image we once held. Not only will it improve the image of our city, but it will also preserve the beauty for future generations. It starts with you dear readers. You have the power and the individual responsibility to do more to improve our city. Together, we can shine like the diamond we are as a city!
Robert W. Meredith
The author is a resident of Puerto Princesa for seven years. He has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at the University of Maryland USA and a Retired Military Police Investigator of the United States Army. Currently he is a Speaker, Trainor, and Leadership Counselor and promotes eco-tourism practices focused on reduction of chemicals.
