The city government launched the new firefly watching eco-tour located within the boundaries of Barangays Salvacion and Sta. Cruz, Thursday.
City Councilor Roy Ventura who attended the launching said that it is one of the new Community-Based Sustainable Tourism (CBST) sites of the city that will boost its tourism industry.
He said the new attraction is intended not only for tourists but also for locals.
“Ito ay dagdag sa ating mga tourist attraction pero hindi lang ito para sa turista kundi para sa lahat. Makikita natin kung paano mahalin ng pamahalaan ang ating kalikasan,” he said.
Recently, City Tourism Office (CTO) chief Aileen Cynthia Amurao said this is part of the tourism industry expansion program of the office as Puerto Princesa brands itself the “firefly capital of the Philippines.”
“Ito ay pagpapalawig pa rin ng ating turismo dito sa lungsod ng Puerto Princesa. Sabihin na nating isang bagong activity at tourist attraction. Sabi ko nga talagang the city can already claim that it is the firefly capital of the Philippines dahil sa dami ng fireflies all over the city. The presence of fireflies is an indication [na] maganda ‘yong environment,” Amurao said.
Amurao said that they consider the Nagsaguipi area as the “home of the firefly” because it is a rich habitat to these numerous light-flashing insects.
Because of the great number of fireflies in the site, the tour can be done by just walking at the riverside, she said.
“Iyong iba na ayaw nang magbangka, but they have the option na mag-boating, pero ang main activity talaga [dito] is walking tour siya dahil andiyan lang ang mga fireflies and we call it, ‘yong place, as the home of fireflies,” said Amurao.
Salvacion barangay captain Jerry Samosa said that the newly launched project will also serve as an additional income for the residents of the barangay.
“Ito po ay isang malaking tulong para sa community dito sa aming barangay. Ito ay dagdag din kabuhayan sa ating mga residente,” he said.
Meanwhile, according to the records of the CTO, the 25 CBST destinations in the city are: Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour; Pambato Reef Snorkeling; Bacungan Mangrove River Cruise; Maoyon River Cruise and Rafting; Babuyan Twin Sandbars; Sabang Sea Ferry-PPUR; Mangrove Paddleboat Tour; Isla Felomina Diving Site; Buenavista View Deck/Ulugan Bay, and Iwahig Firefly Watching.
The other CBST sites are the: Olangoan Waterfalls; Floating Fish Cages; Nagtabon Beach; Sabang Falls; Salakot Waterfalls; Langogan Village-Arutayan Falls; Hundred Caves; Taraw Cave; Ugong Rock; Jungle Trail; Batak Cultural Village; Plaza Cuartel; Palawan Ecological Adventure Trail; Kayulo Falls, Bahile, and the Wonder Paradise Cave.
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