Travelers driving through the southern corridor of Palawan now have a reason to pull over after dark. City officials officially launched a new nighttime attraction on Thursday evening, draping the historic rain trees of Barangays Inagawan and Inagawan-Sub in thousands of glowing rope lights.
Spearheaded by Mayor Lucilo Bayron, the project is designed to transform a previously dark stretch of the highway into a vibrant roadside destination, encouraging tourists and locals alike to linger outside the city center.
“We should not belittle small projects, because every new attraction adds a reason for tourists to choose Puerto Princesa,” Bayron said during the switch-on ceremony.
Beyond the visual upgrade, the installation anchors the Inagawan Acacia Tunnel Park Community-Based Sustainable Tourism (CBST) initiative. Local officials reported that the growing night traffic has breathed new life into the local economy, with roughly ten community vendors now operating park-side stalls selling regional food, beverages, and souvenirs.
Bayron directed the City Tourism Office to coordinate directly with the CBST vendors to identify further municipal support needed for local micro-entrepreneurs. Punong Barangays Ariel Lacao and Benjamin Salazar welcomed the initiative, noting that the ongoing illumination efforts since last year have created steady alternative livelihoods for residents.
The ceremonial lighting concluded with the traditional banging of the gong, officially opening the canopy to the public as a new staple of Puerto Princesa’s nocturnal landscape.
