New Palawan governor lists goals

PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan -- Running water,

adequate farm to market roads, electrification,

health services and housing for Palaweños comprise

the short-term goals of the new provincial

government in Palawan, newly installed Gov. Joel T.

Reyes said yesterday.

He explained that providing the basic infrastructure for

Palaweños is also equivalent to developing and promoting

the province's tourism industry, adding that Palawan

welcomes a robust tourism industry because more than

the dollar income it generates for the country's economy,

tourism creates job opportunities in cities and towns

faster and at less cost to the government.

"All we need to encourage growth of tourism in Palawan is

to create the appropriate atmosphere where the private

sector can invest in their projects in the province and

operate their businesses with adequate return and then

we'll see more jobs for Palaweños," Governor Reyes

explained, adding, he does not believe in putting up

unnecessary regulations that stifle and hamper private

enterprise in tourism.

Aside from completing basic infrastructure for the

province, Reyes said he would like to see a higher

employment level among Palaweños.

He said this is also possible through tourism as the major

industry in the province, adding that unlike factories,

tourism does not pollute the air, rivers and the beautiful

beaches around the various islands of the province.

Reyes batted for tourism as "socially and environmentally

responsible industry," explaining that tourism can spark a

renaissance of historical and cultural consciousness

among Palaweños.

Reyes took his oath of office as governor of Palawan

before Secretary Alfredo Lim of the Department of Interior

and Local Government last July 25 at the DILG office in

Quezon City.

The former Palawan vice governor said he only agreed to

take the oath of office of governor and the helm of the

provincial government after consultation with the family

of Gov. Salvador Socrates who has been missing and

presumed dead together with 12 other passengers of the

Nomad 22-C military plane that crashed in Cagayancillo

sea in the Northern Palawan area last July 2.

The DILG press statement issued last week said "Mr.

Reyes took his oath as governor out of the need to

provide proper direction, order, continuity, and authority

for him to pursue the programs and projects of Gov.

Socrates." (Frankie M. Lagniton)