More than ₱200 million has been spent on the new Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park ranger station, but more than ₱100 million may still be needed to complete the facility.
Despite the funding gap, park officials hope the ongoing fourth phase will make the central station safe enough for rangers to move out of the old facility where they are staying.
Tubbataha Park Superintendent Angelique Songco said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) allotted ₱76.5 million for Phase 4, which includes work on the station’s central structure and roof.
“Ngayon po ay Phase 4 ang nakikita niyong gitnang station na yan mayroon na siyang structure yung kanyang bubong… ₱76.5 million galing sa DENR ang ginagastos natin para gawain yang Phase 4 na yan,” Songco said during a Reef Watch Activity at the UNESCO World Heritage Site on Tuesday, August 4.
Songco said the current phase would not fully complete the station because fuel and construction material prices increased while work was underway.
However, the facility should already provide a safer place for the rangers.
“Hindi siya magiging 100% finish because alam niyo sa gitna ng kontrata tumaas yung gasolina, di ba? Halos nagdoble and all that. Tumaas yung material, hindi po siya makukumpleto hundred percent but should be enough to transfer the rangers into safety,” she said.
In a separate interview, Songco said the contractor is preparing a program of works for the remaining construction.
She estimated that more than ₱100 million would still be required to finish the project.
“My estimate is over ₱100M pa. Pero sa tagal ng project na yan, ang dream na lang talaga ay magawa yung central/main module agad para makalipat ang rangers natin from the old station they are staying in,” she said.
The station will also accommodate Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy personnel who help protect the marine park.
Construction began in 2020 after the DENR and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) each provided ₱40 million in initial funding.
Songco said TIEZA later approved another ₱20 million for the station’s helipad. However, no contractor submitted a bid because rising construction costs had made the allocation insufficient.
“Yan ang ginagawan ngayon ng program of works ng contractor. Although approved na yung ₱20M from TIEZA for the helipad, walang nag-bid kasi nga biglang tumaas ang cost ng lahat, di na kasya,” she said.
Government spending on the station has since exceeded ₱200 million, according to Songco. Nearly half of the amount was spent on transporting construction materials to the remote marine protected area.
“Lagpas 200 million na ang ginagastos ng pamahalaan natin sa station na yan by now… almost half of that ay galing lang sa pag-transport noong mga bagay… so, pagkatapos po ng 76 million maubos, wala pa po kaming nakikitang funds na additional,” she said.
The Tubbataha Management Board does not have enough money to finance the remaining work and continues to rely on appropriations from national government agencies.
Songco said Palawan 2nd District Rep. Jose Ch. Alvarez has committed to seeking additional funding from other agencies to complete the project.
“Although si Congressman Alvarez po ay hindi pa rin binibitawan yung project na yan.. he has expressed his willingness na mag-secure ng funds sa other agencies para matapos na itong station,” she said.
The project has no target completion date because its progress depends on the availability of government funding.
“Dapat mayroon tayong timeline pero umaasa tayo sa pera na nanggagaling sa iba’t-ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan… ang Tubbataha Management Board ay wala naman siyang sapat na funds para ipagawa itong station na ito,” Songco said.
Once completed, the complex will include among others a research facility, visitor center, helipad, and renewable energy systems powered by solar and wind.
