Despite Palawan’s district re-assignment from Southern Tagalog (Region IV) to Western Visayas (Region VI) under Executive Order 429, the province’s capital city has continued to show its support to its previous constituency by participating in the second phase of the Philippines’ Bests! Southern Tagalog Exhibit, which started last July 21 and will run until the end of the month at Clamshell 1 in Intramuros, Manila.

“We are very pleased with the gesture shown by the local government and private sectors of Puerto Princesa by joining this year’s Southern Tagalog exhibit,” said Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano. He added, “The city is one of the top tourist drawers in the country. Mayor Edward Hagedorn has been consistent in promoting the city and we laud him for that.”

The Best of Southern Tagalog, which was formally launched last July 8,
features MIMARO (Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Marinduque, and Romblon), with Palawan’s hub city as the guest, for the event’s second part.

Puerto Princesa’s booth displays its different tourist products and services such as the St. Paul Underground River, crocodile farm, and a variety of tourism establishments.

The province of Mindoro offers different delicacies, including dried sea
foods and boasts of Puerto Galera, a popular dive destination that features a wide range of outdoor adventure and top-quality accommodation facilities.

Romblon, the marble capital of the country, has its Mount Giting-Giting that promotes eco-adventure tourism in the province.

On the other hand, Marinduque, known for the annual staging of Moriones Festival has handicrafts and furniture items for sale at very reasonable prices. It even has butterflies that serve as ornaments to promote the province’s butterfly farms, which can also be availed for special occasions.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab, who represented Secretary Durano, and DOT Region IV Director Louella Jurilla, headed MIMARO’ s opening. Oriental Mindoro Governor Arnan Panaligan, Marinduque Governor Carmencita Reyes, Occidental Mindoro Governor Josephine Sato, and Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Romblon Committee on Tourism Chairman Alice Fetalvero joined them.