COMMUNICATION

     Four telecommunication companies provide local and international direct distance dialing and fax services. Inter island communications is available through the government’s telegraph network and the Provincial Radio Communication System.

     In addition to the government’s postal network which has 19 post offices, a number of cargo forwarders provide air parcel and freight services.

     The province has access to two satellite-linked television stations. Cable television in the City of Puerto Princesa offers dozens of foreign channels while smaller firms provide cable services in selected towns. Individual cable facility (Dream Cable) is available locally. Seven radio stations are based in Puerto Princesa City, four on the AM and three on the FM bands. Community-based radio stations operate in some of the municipalities in the north and south of the province. Additional stations are expected to set up local affiliates in the capital city of Puerto Princesa.

     Two mobile phone companies, Smart Communications Inc. and Globe Telecom, are operating in the province. Sun Cellular is expected to start operations in the province soon.

     There are three Internet Service Providers in the Province-Kawing Internet, Mozcom Puerto Princesa and Pal-Isla Globelines Broadband, PLDT My DSL and Smart Amazing Wireless Broadband are also available.

FINANCE

     The banking community in Palawan is steadily growing, an indication of increasing economic activity. Most banks are located in the City of Puerto Princesa while others are found in nearby municipalities.

• Universal Bank (private)

• Equitable PCI-Bank

• Metro Bank

• Bank of the Philippine Islands

• Philippine National Bank

• Rizal Commercial Banking Corporations

• Allied Bank

• Thrift Banks

• Banco Filipino

• Palawan Bank

• First Consolidated Bank

• Rural Banks

• Rural Bank of Narra

• United Coconut Planters Bank

• Cooperative Bank of Palawan

• Marikina Valley Rural Bank

• Universal Bank (Government)

• Land Bank of the Philippines

• Development Bank of the Philippines

• Commercial Bank

• Philippine Veterans Bank

Transportation

SEA

Major vessels plying the MNL-PPC-MNL and other routes are as follows:

• WG&A Superferry

       MNL-CORON-PPC-Once a week, Friday

       PPC-CORON-MNL-Once a week, Sunday




• Negros Navigation

       MNL-CORON-PPC – Once a week, Thursday

       PPC-CORON-MNL – Once a week, Saturday




• M/V Milagrosa

       ILOILO-CUYO-PPC-CUYO-ILOILO – Twice a week, Monday & Thursday




• M/V Romblon Bay

       MNL-CORON-LIMINANGCONG-CORON-MNL – Once a week

       MNL-CUYO-MNL- Once a week




• M/V Josille II

       MNL-CORON-LIMINANGCONG-CORON-MNL – Once a week, Thursday




• San Nicolas Lines

       MNL-CORON-CULION-CORON-MNL – Twice a week, Wednesday & Saturday

A I R

The following airlines serve passengers to and from Manila and various Palawan destinations:

• Philippine Airlines

       MNL-PPC-MNL- Daily




• Air Philippiens

       MNL-PPC-MNL-Daily

       PPC-Cebu-ILOILO-Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday




• Cebu Pacific

       MNL-PPC-MNL-Daily




• SeAir

       MNL-BUSUANGA-MNL- Daily

       MNL-TAYTAY-MNL-Daily

       MNL-EL NIDO – Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday

       PPC – Busuanga via El Nido – Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday

       PPC – CUYO-Tuesday & Saturday




• Asian Spirit

       MNL-BUSUANGA-MNL – Twice daily




• Inter Island Trans Voyager (Soriano Aviation)

       MNL-EL NIDO-MNL- Daily




• Sempadan Aerospace

       Kota Kinabalu – PPC-Kota Kinabalu

LAND

Tricycles and multi-cabs are the main modes of transport in Puerto Princesa City. Several buses and shuttle vans provide regular trips to municipalities.

Car rental services are also available at the travel agencies.

PUBLIC UTILITIES

POWER CAPACITY

NAPOCOR PLANT/LOCATION CAPACITY

• Agutaya Power Plant          .217 mw

• Araceli Power Plant          .326 mw

• Balabac Power Plant          1.620 mw

• Cagayancillo Power Plant          .217 mw

• Culion Power Plant          .423 mw

• Cuyo Power Plant          1.651 mw

• El Nido Power Plant          .423 mw

• Linapacan Power Plant          .108 mw

• Delta P (IPP)          16.000 mw

• Puerto Princesa Power Plant          9.000 mw

• Roxas Power Plant          1.543 mw

• San Vicente Power Plant          .586 mw

• Taytay Power Plant          .423 mw

• NPC Modular Power Plant (Irawan)

Total 51.363 megawatts

WATER

SOCIAL SERVICES

Education

ENROLLMENT in public elementary schools is steadily increasing. From 146,114 in 2003, the number of students in the public elementary schools went up to 147,013 in the year 2004 while enrollees in public secondary schools reached 55,887.

     Literacy rate in Palawan is increasing by 2% annually because of expanding access to education. Among these programs are the establishment of schools in remote barangays, non-formal education, multi-grade mobile teaching and the drop-out intervention program.

     Public schools in the province consist of 623 elementary schools, 126 secondary schools and two universities. Private schools are as follows: 26 – elementary; 19 – secondary; 4 private colleges and 10 vocational schools. Some of the private institutions are the Holy Trinity College, Fullbright College, Palawan Polytechnical College Inc., in Roxas, San Vicente and Puerto Princesa City, Systems Technology Institute (STI), AMA Computer Learning Center (ACLC) in Puerto Princesa City, San Francisco Javier College in Narra, Loyola College in Culion, St. Jpseph Academy in Cuyo, St. Augustine Academy in Coron and the Coron Technical School.

     Among the public institutions are the Palawan State University in Puerto Princesa City, Western Philippines University in Aborlan and Puerto Princesa City, Coron College of Fisheries, Puerto Princesa School of Arts and Trade and the Palawan College of Arts and Trade in Cuyo, Palawan.

Health

     There are nine provincial government hospitals, two national government hospitals, one military hospital and nine private hospitals in the province. The Ospital ng Palawan, managed and administered by the Department of Health, and the Palawan Adventist Hospital are located in Puerto Princesa City. The Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital in Culion is also a DOH-run hospital.

Hospitals in Palawan

Medicare Hospitals

• Aborlan Medicare Hospital

• Quezon Medicare Hospital

• Roxas Medicare Hospital

District Hospitals

• Brooke’s Point District Hospital

• Taytay District Hospital

• Cuyo District Hospital

• Coron District Hospital

Municipal Hospital

• Narra Municipal Hospital

• Dumaran Municipal Hospital

Rural Health Units with Lying-In

• Rizal Rural Health Unit

• Bataraza Rural Health Unit

• San Vicente Rural Health Unit

• Araceli Rural Health Unit

• Linapacan Rural Health Unit

• Busuanga Rural Health Unit

• Cagayancillo Rural Health Unit

Private Hospitals

• Palawan Adventist Hospitals

• San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City

• Sacred Heart Hospital - Narra

• Manipol Hospital – Brooke’s Point

• RTN Hospital – Rio-Tuba, Bataraza

• Palawan Baptist Hospital – Roxas

• Alfonso Birthing Home – Malvar St., Puerto Princesa City

• Leoncio General Hospital – Brooke’s Point

• Sagrado Hospital – Brooke’s Point

• Cooperative Hospital/Medical Mission Group - Burgos St., Puerto Princesa City

Peace & Order

     Palawan enjoys a relatively peaceful environment. There is a harmonious and cordial relationship between the civilian government and the military. A Peace and Order Council is in place government officials as well as representatives from the military, church, the academe, private and business sectors.

     Spearheading the maintenance of the peace and order situation are the Armed Forces of the Philippines – Western Command in Canigaran and the Philippine National Police-Palawan Command with headquarters in Tiniguiban, Puerto Princesa City. Military units in the province under the Western Command are the Philippine Airforce 4th Naval District IV, Delta Company and 10th Marine Battalion Landing Team located in Tiniguiban, Puerto Princesa City.

LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY

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Palawan is a narrow archipelago of 1,700 islands on the western border of the Philipines. Its geographical location makes it seem remote from the rest of the country, and in fact, some of its southern islands are closer to Malaysia than to other provinces. The waters of the South China Sea lap the western shores of Palawan, while the Sulu sea hugs its eastern coast. With a land area of nearly1.5 million hectares, Palawan is the country?s largest province.

Its irregular coastline stretches almost 2,000 kilometers long, indented by numerous coves and bays. Highlands and rolling terrain covered with lush forest create a cool and scenic landscape. Except for northern towns, which are occasionally visited by storms, Palawan is generally typhoon-free. Warn weather prevails from March to May, while the coolest months are from December to February. Heavy rainfall is usually experienced I July and August , often accompanied by the southwest monsoon.

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Palawan is one of the few relatively peaceful provinces I the country. Te crime rate is low and most Palawe??are contented to lead simple lifestyles. Food is abundant to all that are willing to work for a living. The province is a melting pot of migrants fro various parts of the Philippines ad other countries. The influx of settlers accounts for the high population growth rate of 3.64% annually. Based on the latest official census, Palawan's population is 755,412.