The Civil Service Commission (CSC) conducted the Supervisory
Development Course Track 1 at the DPWH-Region IV –A Training Room, EDSA, Quezon
City from August 14 to 17, 2012. The Course is specifically designed for first
line supervisors in the Philippine Bureaucracy and is a joint project of the
CSC and the United Nations Development Programme.
The 48 participants, from different government offices as
far as Real Quezon, Tacloban and Puerto Princesa, who attended the program not
only had their managerial skills enhanced but also developed fun and camaraderie
among the trainees. Photos show the various workshops conducted and obviously
with all the smiles on their faces, the activities were really an enjoyable way
to learn. Congratulations to all the graduates!
(The pictures were from Mayette Guerrero. Better give her the credit as I might be
accused of plagiarism. However the
inserted callouts were on my own and were meant for fun. Buti na lang yung iba
walang unguarded shots or else, baka napasali din sila dito. Please comment if
you don’t like them so that I could delete the particular photos.)
When the
Underground River or St. Paul’s Subterranean River National Park of Puerto
Princesa City in the province of Palawan, was declared as one of the World’s
New Seven Wonders of Nature, a hundredfold increase in the number of tourist
was noted as compared to previous years. The entire province and the city have
never been busier, including two of Palawan’s
popular towns of El Nido and Coron. These places are among the country’s
must-see destinations famous for their breathtaking limestone rock formations,
their enticing crystal-clear waters that are best for snorkelling and scuba
diving and the powdery white sands.
The Philippine
Ports Authority (PPA), the government agency that manages all ports nationwide,
said that El Nido experienced the surge in tourism gauging from the influx of
tourists who were mostly from European countries. Tourism, aside from the
increasing volume of cargoes (basic commodities) to and from Manila and an
aggressive port collection contributed to the remarkable increase in port
revenue from Php 3.4Million in 2009 to Php 15Million as of December 2011.
The port has
recently been rehabilitated with improved port facilities which include a new
passenger terminal, concrete pavements, installation of lights and fencing for
security. It could not, however,
accommodate bigger vessels especially the Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) type of sea
crafts because of its low water draft. The PPA’s plan in 2009 to dredge the
area at the cost of Php 29 million was met with stiff resistance from local
officials and community groups because of environmental concerns. After a
series of consultations and with the affirmation of the local authorities to go
ahead with the dredging, the budget already ballooned to Php120 million. RoRo
vessels would definitely bring in more tourists as these would lower the cost
of travel to the island just like what has happened in Puerto Galera in Mindoro
and Boracay in Aklan. At daytime, guests may hire a "banca" for P250,00 per person and tour around the nearby islets, chose an island to while away the time and go snorkeling. An island with a cove for me was the best. Going back late in the afternoon though is not advisable because waves already get bigger.
At night time,
pub houses and bars in El Nido teem with foreigners that local visitors might
think that he or she is transported to a foreign land if not for the nipa house
façade of the establishments.
Ms. Nerissa Dado, the manager of
El Nido’s cargo handling operator Bacuit Arrastre Association, Inc., said that
the El Nido port community is all-out in supporting the activities that would
ensure the cleanliness of the port and the environment and the safety and
security of passengers. She opined that it will be for the benefit of the
townspeople to always present the best of what the place could offer.
The welcoming atmosphere of the port was enhanced with decorative
and edible plants in its surroundings. The PPA’s terminal port manager, hopes for a much bigger port of El Nido in the
near future so that bigger vessels could be accommodated and bring in more
Filipinos to marvel the beauty of their own country and at the same time, meet
the demands of increasing foreign tourist arrivals.
During the 16th and 17th Century, galleons sailed the Philippine waters trading porcelains, silk, spices, precious metals and commodities which made the Manila port one of the busiest in the world. The ships that sailed between Manila and Acapulco signaled the beginning of a global trade between Asia, America and Europe.
Three hundred years later, the "Andalucia", a replica of a 17th century Spanish galleon came and docked at the Port of Manila last October 6-9, 2010 in celebration of the Dia del Galeon Festival or Day of the Galleon. Andalucia's journey to our country relived the famous Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade.
The huge wooden ship arrived at Pier 13 of the South Harbor on October 6, 2010 to a warm welcome of the Filipinos. The 51-meter galleon built for more than two years was named after a region in Spain where Seville is the capital. Centuries ago, these sea crafts were made out of Philippine hardwood in Cavite.
The Philippine Port Authority's port of Manila gym served as the receiving and briefing area where visitors had the chance to buy souvenir items from stationed booths. Due to the galleons limited capacity, guests had to queue in batches for their turn.
The galleon trade which promoted cultural exchange during the Spanish rule in the Philippines was an important piece of history shared with other nations as our country became a central part of the trade route. The Andalucia rekindled the Filipino pride that, in the olden times, the Philippines measured up in the field of maritime trade.
