PPA dredges El Nido Port

By Lynda B. Valencia

MANILA, Nov. 10 — The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is dredging the shallow waters of El Nido to accommodate roll-on/roll-off (RO-RO) vessels since the port has been idle for two years now.

The PPA is faced with dilemma in its bid to make El Nido viable for water transport, yet, constrained by the decision of the local government, supported by Department of Tourism (DOT).

DOT Secretary Joseph ‘Ace’ Durano has urged PPA to defer the RO-RO port development in El Nido, Palawan claiming it needs more studies on the infrastructure’s impact on the ecological system in the area.

He further urged for protection of the country’s prime tourist attractions.

The PPA maintained that prior to the port development, it conducted a feasibility study and even secured necessary permits from the local government as well as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The port located at the northwestern part of mainland Palawan, serves the municipality of El Nido, part of Taytay, and the nearby island barangays.

The PPA said the port is enhancing El Nido’s economic advancement but DOT maintains that El Nido is a protected area and part of the most important aquatic biodiversity sites in the world—the “Coral Triangle”.

Durano said the planned route of the RO-RO vessels would displace small fishing boats, affecting a major source of livelihood of the locals.

Ecotourism, he claimed, is the island’s primary source of living. Therefore, environmental conservation should be a priority concern of the developers.(PNA) LOR/LBV

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