With the aim of luring investors to the City in the Forest, Mayor Lucilo Bayron was fired up with presentations and proposals to prospective investors at the posh Conrad Manila last October 27, 2022. In attendance were City Officials, City Government Department Heads and invited investors and guests.

At the center of the event are the City Government plans for possible private partnership or investment of two project sites which the City hopes will spark renewed interest in the City towards economic growth.

First is the 1,072 Hectares Harbor View Project of the City Environmental Estate which is across the bay of Puerto Princesa and a 27 kilometer ride through the Puerto Princesa South Road from the City Center.

Second is the 9.9 Hectares Cuyito Bay located in the City Center where a 500 meter Cruiseship Port is undergoing construction by the DPWH.

One of the main project up for Investment in the Environmental Estate is for the build and operate of the iconic 30,000 capacity International Convention Center. It will host large conventions, meetings, exhibits, concerts and sporting events. The Mayor claims it will become the largest venue for convention bigger than SMX Convention Center and PICC.

Projects in the Cuyito Bay View will be a Cruiseship Passenger Terminal which is also open for investment or joint venture. Accordingly Cruiseships could bring around 8,000 to 10,000 passengers and this can readily accommodate those guests. The DPWH is already constructing a 500 meter Cruiseship Port.

A smaller version of the Convention Center with 5,000 capacity is in the plans with a shell looking structure in the Cuyito Bay View.

Also a Biodiversity Museum is in the plans which will showcase the rich marine and terrestrial biodiversity of the City.

Another very interesting project is the operation of a 24/7 cable car system to ferry passengers from Cuyito Bay View to the Environmental Estate across the bay.

The private sector is encouraged to invest in the above projects including the hotels and related tourism establishments such as restaurants, clubs, spas, bars, etc.

Puerto Princesa is a Highly Urbanized City and the second largest city in the Philippines with 219,339 hectares or 2,193.39 Square Kilometers. As per the latest census conducted in the year 2020, the population is now at 307,079. The 66 Barangays is composed of 31 rural and 35 urban barangays.

The challenge for the City is to give tourist more reason to visit the City aside from the Underground River and Honda Bay. More tourism spots are still undeveloped or still not promoted owing to lack of people or government agencies taking risks to see it to full development.

And there are of course apprehensions about the City being not so business friendly with the processing of permits and licenses being a little bit difficult than most Local Government Units. This issue was raised by one of the attendees in the Investor Forum at Conrad Manila.

And recently, the establishment of Puerto Princesa City Council for Sustainable Development cause doubts whether it will hasten the business process as there is already the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development.

Big developers have yet to construct a well coordinated community project like Paragua Westown township in San Vicente, Palawan from Megaworld Properties.

The event was made for the purpose of showing to the world, hey investors we are ready. Still the other option is the City will have to do it with its own funds and that’s tad a bit risky. So now, we wait.