Coral Bay Nickel Corporation (CBNC) met with officials of the Municipal Government of Bataraza and Barangay Bulalacao on October 7, 2026, at the Bataraza Municipal Hall to present the status of the Pineapple Park & Museum and discuss plans for its proposed turnover.
As one of CBNC’s legacy projects for Bataraza, the Pineapple Park & Museum stands as a testament to the company’s commitment to the community and its efforts to promote local tourism, preserve cultural heritage, and create opportunities for local residents. With CBNC preparing for its planned operational closure in 2028, the proposed turnover aims to ensure that this legacy continues to benefit the people of Bataraza long after the company’s operations have ended.
The proposed turnover has been the subject of initial coordination with barangay officials and the Municipal Tourism Office. During the meeting, Bataraza Mayor Al Shariff Ibba welcomed the initiative, although no final agreement has been reached on the proposed management arrangement.
The municipal government also recognized the responsibilities involved in managing the facility, including staffing, maintenance costs, and other operational requirements. These considerations will be discussed further to determine a practical and sustainable arrangement for its continued operation.
Mayor Ibba expressed mixed emotions about the proposed turnover, welcoming CBNC’s initiative while acknowledging the sadness associated with the company’s eventual closure.
“Kami sa LGU Bataraza ay talagang masaya. Actually, mixed emotions eh kasi though pinasaya niyo kami, may kaakibat naman ‘yon na kalungkutan dahil iiwan na ninyo kami. Pero naniniwala kami na tuwing may umaalis, may pumapalit,” Mayor Ibba said during the meeting.
CBNC emphasized that the proposed turnover goes beyond transferring ownership or management of the facility. It aims to establish a sustainable management system that will preserve the project’s value and ensure its continued contribution to the community.
A Legacy Rooted in Bataraza’s Pineapple Industry
Established by CBNC in August 2018 in Barangay Bulalacao, the Pineapple Park & Museum was inspired by the hardworking pineapple farmers of Bataraza. The initiative grew into a broader effort to promote local tourism, strengthen the municipality’s identity as the Pineapple Capital of Palawan, and create opportunities for local residents.
The facility opened to the public in 2021 and continues to serve as a community-based tourism destination. Its operations generate revenue that helps support facility maintenance and barangay development projects.
The museum’s exhibits showcase CBNC’s industrial heritage alongside Bataraza’s agricultural and cultural identity. The first floor features information about CBNC’s operations and contributions to its host community, while the second and third floors highlight the municipality’s pineapple industry, local culture, Indigenous crafts, and locally made products.
Beyond its role as a tourism attraction, the Pineapple Park & Museum represents one of CBNCs enduring contribution to Bataraza – a shared legacy that recognizes the community’s agricultural roots, celebrates its cultural identity and provides a venue for tourism development, and local enterprise.
Sustaining CBNCs Legacy Beyond CBNC’s Operations
The proposed turnover is part of CBNC’s broader efforts to prepare its community projects for continuity beyond its eventual closure. Through continued consultations with the municipal and barangay governments, the company hopes to identify a management arrangement that will keep the facility operational and beneficial to the community over the long term.
While the proposed management structure and other turnover details remain subject to further discussions, the initial meeting marks an important step toward securing the future of the Pineapple Park & Museum.
For CBNC, sustaining the facility is an opportunity to leave a lasting contribution to Bataraza—not only through its industrial legacy but also through a community asset that celebrates local culture, supports tourism, and creates opportunities for future generations.
