The Natural and Historical Foundation of Palawan and the City of Puerto Princesa (NHFPCPI) that runs Palawan Museum in Mendoza Park is considering the offer of the National Museum of the Philippines to take over and manage the first historical museum in Puerto Princesa that is situated in the Old Hall City Hall Building.
It has long been offered but the board of directors of the foundation are not in a hurry to decide about it; they are still looking for some options on how to continue its operation. Currently the Palawan Museum is only getting P1 million aide from the City Government annually along with the very minimal earnings from the entrance fee they collect from its visitors. At present, the museum has 4 regular staff.
According to Palawan Museum Assistant Treasurer Myla Esguerra, the foundation President Dra. Nellie Abueg is trying to discuss it with the board but received opposition. Her very reason is that many of its members are in their senior age already, and some are living in different places or mostly out of the province.
Another reason is that they cannot give in right away to the offer because the building they occupy is not owned by the foundation; they are just leasing it to the City Government for P1 yearly.
“’Yun ang suggestion na gusto ng National Museum. Napag-uusapan din ng board of BOD kaya lang wala pang closure, nag-iisip pa rin talaga sila. So inalok din sa City Government, parang wala pa rin,” Esguerra said.
Even with booming tourism before the pandemic struck, the museum is not getting a huge chunk of its tourists in the City. According to Esguerra, it is because majority of the tour operators in the City does not include them in tour packages due to the fact most tourists prefer to see Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm or Puerto Princesa Underground River rather than seeing the gallery inside the museum.
“Naapektuhan kami dahil sa mga tour agencies, sila mismo ang nag-co-control sa mga visitors. Mas gusto pa nilang dalhin sa souvenir shops [ang mga turista], tsaka siyempre priority nila is yung Underground River,” Esguerra added.
Despite this, the foundation made a lot of plans for the museum, like renovations and updating its content; however, it did not push through due to the pandemic. Funding is also a major concern for the foundation.
Palawan Museum opened on March 4, 1991, and it houses a replica of Manunggul Jar, a national treasure and a landmark of Palawan as a cradle of Philippine Civilization. The foundation that manages it was established in 1986.
The museum is still open to public from Monday to Saturday starting at 8:30 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon. Admission fee is P60 for foreign tourists, P50 for locals, P20 for students, and P10 for children.
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