Puerto Princesa
| Puerto Princesa | |||
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| — Highly-urbanized City — | |||
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  Puerto Princesa
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country |  Philippines |
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| Region | MIMAROPA (Region IV-B) | ||
| Province | Palawan | ||
| District | 2nd district of Palawan | ||
| Founded | 1586 | ||
| Cityhood | June 21, 1961 | ||
| Barangays | 66 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Edward S. Hagedorn (Lakas-CMD) | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 2,400 km2 (926.6 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| - Total | 210,508 | ||
| - Density | 87.7/km2 (227.2/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | PHT (UTC+8) | ||
| ZIP Code | |||
| Income class | 1st class city; highly urbanized | ||
Puerto Princesa City (Filipino: Lungsod ng Puerto Princesa), the capital of Palawan, is a first class city in the Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 210,508 people in 33,306 households. It is famous for its crocodile farm, underground river and numerous dive spots. It is also the second largest city in the Philippines (after Davao City) in terms of total land area. The outlying parts of the city contain the hometown of the former House Speaker Ramon Mitra, Jr..
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features a spectacular limestone karst landscape with its underground river. A distinguishing feature of the river is that it flows directly into the sea, and the lower portion of the river is subject to tidal influences. The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The site contains a full mountain to the sea ecosystem and protects forests, which are among the most significant in Asia.
On 30 June 1992, Edward S. Hagedorn was elected Mayor of the city and completed his three term limit of three years for every term. In November 2002, Hagedorn was re-elected as mayor of the city.
As the city was recently declared a highly-urbanized city[1], per Section 29 of the Local Government Code of the Philippines, it is no longer under the administrative supervision of the provincial government of Palawan, and its residents are no longer eligible to vote for provincial officials.[2]
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Geography
Puerto Princesa City lies at the mid-section of the long strip of Palawan Island province. It is approximately 306 nautical miles (567 km) from Manila, 206 nautical miles (382 km) to Panay Island and about 250 nautical miles (460 km) to Zamboanga. It is bounded on the north by the municipalities of San Vicente and Roxas and on the south by the municipality of Aborlan. To its west is the South China Sea while to the East lies the Sulu Sea.
Total land area is 253,982 hectares stretched over 106 kilometers long with the narrowest breadth of 8.5 kilometers in Barangay Bahile.
Puerto Princesa City has 35 urban and 31 rural barangays, a total of 66 barangays.
History
Folk etymology attributes the name "Puerto Princesa" to a princess-like maiden who in the early days is said to have roamed around the place on certain nights of the year. On the other hand, practical people attribute the name to the geographical advantages of the place as a seaport – naturally protected the whole year round and endowed with a depth that can accommodate any size of shipping – a royal heaven for vessels or a virtual princess of ports as thus indicated by Spanish Colonizers on the country’s map.
Historically, the place was named after Princess Asunción, born in 1864 to Queen Isabella II and her consort, Francisco de Cádiz. When the princess suffered an untimely death, the Queen changed the name to Puerto de la Princesa. Eventually, the name was reduced to Puerto Princesa as it is known today.[3]
Spanish Colonizers founded the settlement on 4 March 1872 in the course of their exploration of the province. As they scanned the Palawan shoreline for a capital site, they came upon a hill with steep declivity. Rowing to shore, they surveyed the hill and discovered an extensive plateau which they decided as ideal for settlement.
Soon after, Fr. Antonio Muro levelled a portion of the hill to make way for a chapel. (That section is now occupied by the Catholic Cathedral, the P.C. Barracks and the Rizal Park. The Old Municipal Building used to be there, as well as an Elementary School). The first mass celebrated in Puerto Princesa took place at a site where a marker now stands.
In May 1872, the port became the center of Spanish Naval Operations in the area because the few natives were peaceful and the Bay met all the Navy’s requirements. Royal Decrees later provided incentives to settlers, such that by 1883 settlement had flourished into a town of twelve roads, a hospital and well-built port.
In 1894, Puerto Princesa was recognized by government authorities as one of the most beautiful towns in the country by virtue of the orderly distribution of streets, buildings and houses as well as the cleanliness of the community.
In 1911, the New American Administration made Puerto Princesa the seat of the Palawan Provincial Government with Major John Brown as Lieutenant Governor.
The town was converted into a city on 1 January 1970 under R.A. 5906 as amended by P.D. 437, through the effort of then Congressman Ramon V. Mitra, Jr. Feliberto R. Oliveros, Jr. became the first City Mayor.
Since its foundation, Puerto Princesa has been the nerve center of activities in Palawan. Aside from being the seat of public administration, it is the heart of trade, commerce, service, and industry in the province.
Today, under the leadership of Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn, the City has gained the distinction of being a model city – in cleanliness, environmental protection and conservation, and local governance in general.
And so, with a responsive leadership and an inspired citizenry, the tradition of Puerto Princesa being a beautiful and clean city lives on.
People/Culture
Waves of migrants from other Philippine provinces, and even other countries, have turned Puerto Princesa into a melting pot of various cultures. Among the original inhabitants are the Cuyonons who have a rich legacy of folklore and traditions. Indigenous groups include the Tagbanwas, Palawanos, Molbogs and Bataks, each group with its distinct culture and system of beliefs.
Total inhabitants number about 161,912 (as of May 2000), Three fourth of the population resides in the city proper, an urban settlement on the shores of Puerto Princesa Bay. While Cuyonon is widely spoken, the predominant language is Tagalog; Visayan, as well as English are widely spoken.
E-tricycle
Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn unveiled the environment-friendly and economical electric-powered “Trikebayan” (which does not emit any noise or carbon monoxide) at the Kapihan sa Sulo forum, Sulo Hotel, Quezon City. The Trikebayan costs only P48 or $ 1.20 per day to operate, while a gasoline-powered tricycle operation would cost P200. Rolly Concepcion, who conceptualized the Trikebayan, said that converting a tricycle engine to electric costs P68,000. The rechargeable battery under the passenger seat can run for 12 hours.[4] Mr. Conception died before the project was completed.
This has not discouraged Mayor Hagedorn from pusuing his dream of seeing all electric vehicles, especially replacing the gas tricycles in his city. He continued to purchase several styles from various manufactures to find the best unit for his city in the forest. There is now a dealership for these trikes on the north highway.
Barangays
As of April 2010[update], the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) listed Puerto Princesa as comprising 66 Barangays, 18 Urban and 38 Rural.[5]
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Television Networks
- AZ Communications/Associated Broadcasting Company:DYAZ-TV Channel 2
- National Broadcasting Network: Channel 4
- ConAmor Broadcasting Systems: Channel 5
- Palawan Broadcasting Corporation: Channel 7
- GMA Network: Channel 12
- Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation: Channel 13
- ABS-CBN: Channel 23
- ACQ-Kingdom Broadcasting Network: Channel 35
FM Radio Stations
- 91.1 MHz in Puerto Princesa, owned by ZOE Broadcasting
- 94.3 MHz Home Radio in Puerto Princesa, owned by Aliw Broadcasting Systems
- 95.9 KiSS FM (DYEH-FM 95.9 mHz), owned by ConAmor Broadcasting Systems
- 97.5 Campus Radio (DWRG-FM ) owned by GMA Network Inc.
- 98.3 Love Radio (DYEZ FM) owned by Manila Broadcasting Company
- 98.5 Radyo Cabayugan (DWWA FM), owned by Palawan Council for Sustainable Development
- 99.1 RJFM Puerto Princesa, owned by Rajah Broadcasting System
- 99.9 DYPR-FM 99.9 mHz, owned by Palawan Broadcasting Corporation
- 103.1 Bay Radio, owned by Baycomms Broadcasting Corporation
- 103.9 DYMS-FM, owned by Romeo Servando (Rolin Broadcasting)
- 105.5 MHz in Puerto Princesa, owned by VTV
- 106.3 DYWA-FM also known as LIPS-FM, owned by AMP Broadcasting Network
AM Radio Stations
- DYER 828 kHz Environmental Radio
- DZRH 693 kHz (DYPH), owned by Manila Broadcasting Company
- DYPR 765 kHz Palawan Radyo, owned by Palawan Broadcasting Corporation
- DWRM 648 kHz Radyo ng Bayan Palawan, owned by Philippine Broadcasting Service
- DYSP 909 kHz Super Radyo Palawan, owned by GMA NetworkInc.
- DYEH 729 kHz owned by the ConAmor Broadcasting Systems
External links
- Official City Puerto Princesa website
- Official Website of Puerto Princesa Underground River
- Official Tourism website of the City Puerto Princesa
- Philippine Standard Geographic Code
- UNESCO
- Electric Tricycles Puerto Princesa, Palawan
- Puerto Princesa Quick Info
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South China Sea | South China Sea | San Vicente, Palawan Roxas, Palawan |
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| South China Sea |  |
Honda Bay | ||
 Puerto Princesa City  |
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| Aborlan, Palawan | Sulu Sea | Sulu Sea |
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References
- ↑ The Philippine Standard Geographic Code listing for Province: PALAWAN specifies the City Class for Puerto Princessa city as "Highly Urbanized".
- ↑ Local Government Code of the Philippines (RA7160), Chan Robles Law Library.
- ↑ Tourist city venue for PNRC event.(Tourism), highbeam.com
- ↑ Inquirer.net, Finally, a tricycle we could all love
- ↑ Municipality/City: PUERTO PRINCESA CITY (Capital), National Statistical Coordination Board.