Puerto Princesa limits number of daily visitors to underground river to 780

MANILA, Philippines—The Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) is fast becoming a top tourism draw, but those wishing to get a glimpse of this natural marvel may have to get on a waiting list.

Authorities have placed a cap at 780 on the number of daily visitors that would be allowed to enter the subterranean attraction to preserve its ecological balance.

The constant stream of tourists into the PPUR has affected wildlife in the area, particularly the bats that reside there, according to Protected Areas Superintendent Gaspar Bactol. Some of the bats have moved to other locations in the underground river cave, he said.

With the PPUR’s increased popularity following its designation as one of the new seven wonders of nature, more and more people have been flocking to Puerto Princesa, filling hotels to capacity and causing long queues at the protected park that contains the underground river.

In 2011 alone, half a million visitors came to Puerto Princesa City.

A study by the environment department’s Ecosystem Research and Development Bureau has recommended that the carrying capacity of the PPUR be limited in order to preserve the ecological balance inside the area, according to Bactol. The Protected Area Management Board has taken up the recommendation.

Due to the daily visitor limit, city officials are recommending that tourists and visitors book their visits in advance.

City officials are also developing other attractions in the city to offer as alternatives to tourists and to highlight the city’s other treasures.

Bactol said local officials managing the PPUR have been trying their best to adhere to the 780 limit.

“If people want, we would open everything, but tomorrow all of these would be destroyed. Do you want that? We would have it good today, but tomorrow we would have nowhere to go to,” he said.

And Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn would not want that, he said.

City tourism officer Rebecca Labit said the PPUR was not even initially planned to be a tourist draw.

“Nobody envisioned the underground river to become the centerpiece of tourism because it was being taken care of for purposes of environment protection, conservation and reservation. It turned out to be the main attraction of the city,” she said.

The PPUR is 8.2 kilometers long but visitors are only taken through a 1.5-km stretch.

One of the main draws is a cavern called the cathedral, which features rock formations resembling the statue of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Family, an angel and a giant melting candle. Another is an area that has been dubbed the market because its formations resemble fruits and vegetables.

Bactol said that among the planned alternatives for tourists waiting for their turn at the PPUR would be a firefly-watching tour of the Iwahig River, a project developed by the local government and the ABS-CBN Foundation.

Labit said the city government is also developing more tourism circuits and community-based sustainable tourist projects, such as beach, adventure, heritage, religious and sports tourism.