El Nido, Palawan

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El Nido Bayan ng El Nido

Municipality Municipality of El Nido

View of El Nido

Seal

Nickname(s): Heaven on Earth[1]

Map of Palawan showing the location of El Nido

El Nido
Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: Country Region Province District Formed

1120N 11941ECoordinates:
1120N 11941E

Philippines MIMAROPA (Region IV-B) Palawan 1st district 1916

Barangays Government[2] Mayor Vice Mayor Area Total Elevation

18 Edna Gacot-Lim Edgardo O. Trinidad 465.10 km2 (179.58 sq mi) 609 m (1,998 ft)

Population (2010)[3] 36,191 Total Density 78/km2 (200/sq mi) Time zone Zip Code Dialing code PST (UTC+8) 5313 48

El Nido (officially the Municipality of El Nido) is a first class municipality[4] and managed resource protected area[5] in the province of Palawanin the Philippines. It is about 420 kilometres (260 mi) southwest of Manila,[6] and about 238 kilometres (148 mi) northeast of Puerto Princesa, Palawans capital.[5] According to CNNGo, it is the Best Beach and Island destination in the Philippines [7][8] for its "extraordinary natural splendor and ecosystem.

Geography
Situated in Bacuit Bay, El Nido, covering a land area of 465.1 square kilometres (179.6 sq mi)[5][10] in the northernmost tip of mainland Palawan, is bordered by the Linapacan Strait in the north, the Sulu Sea in the east, and the South China Sea in the west. It is composed of 45 islands and islets,[6] each has its own unique geological formations. The highest peak is at Cadlao Island, towering up to 640 metres (2,100 ft)[11] above sea level.

Together with Sulu Archipelago, Sabah, and South China Sea, El Nido, being part of Palawan, is located in the tectonically active and seismically active Sunda Plate,[12] a plate that is entirely separate from the Philippine Mobile Belt to which the rest of the Philippines belongs. The Permian to Paleogene rocks and limestone cliffs of El Nido are similar to those that can be found in Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, Guilin inChina, as well as Krabi in Thailand, all of which are part of the Sunda Plate.[12][13] [edit]Barangays El Nido is politically subdivided into eighteen barangays. Four of which are situated in the Poblacin (town proper), and are also known by their respective zones.

Bagong Bayan Buena Suerte (Zone II) Barotuan Bebeladan Corong-corong (Zone IV) Mabini (formerly Oton) Manlag Masagana (Zone III) New Ibajay Pasadea Maligaya (Zone I) San Fernando Sibaltan Teneguiban Villa Libertad Villa Paz Bucana

Aberawan

[edit]Poblacin

(Town proper)

Poblacion, El Nido

The Poblacion, consisting of barangays Buena Suerte, Corongcorong, Maligaya and Masagana, sits in a sheltered bay with a pier at one end along a crescent beach, and is flanked by the area's famous limestone cliffs on the eastern section and hills on the western side. It is a small town center with tree-lined streets, and the lifestyle is laidback. The Municipal Building, which houses the offices of the head of the municipality, the local legislature and several local government agencies, is located at the middle of the town square between Calle Real and Abdulla Street. It is interconnected with other buildings that house other government facilities such as the Rural Health Unit, Municipal Circuit Trial Court, El Nido Post Office, just to name a few. [edit]History El Nido has been inhabited by humans as early 2680 BC, or even up to 22,000 years ago.[14] This was confirmed by the fossils and

burial sites, dating back to the Late Neolithic Age, that can be found in many caves and excavation sites surrounding the municipality, particularly the Ille Cave in New Ibajay. Chinese traders had been regularly visiting the area of El Nido for its edible birds' nests during the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 BC). In fact, El Nido is specifically mentioned in Chinese records as far back 1225 BC. Caho Ju-Kua, a member of the Chinese Royal Family, Trade Commissioner and Superintendent of Customs of the Port of Chuan How wrote about the island, Pa-Lao-Yu or Land of Beautiful Harbors in his book Chu Fan Chai.[6] The town traces its roots from a small Tagbanwa village called Talindak. Some time in the 16th century, waves of migrants from Cuyo Islands came here to settle. In the 1800s, the Spaniardsarrived, and they moved to the part where the present-day Poblacin and Mabini are located.[6] The first Spanish families were the Canovas, Vzquez, Ros and Rey. In 1890, the Spaniards renamed it as Bacuit. At the time, the center of the town was Cabigsing, then known as Inventario. Chinese families moved into the area about the same period, first settling in Langeblangeban. The first Chinese settlers were named Lim, Chin, Liao, Edsan, Ambao, Que-Ke, Lim Piao, Yu His, Pe Phan and Pe Khen.[6] During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, the town was under the jurisdiction of the Municipality of Taytay, which was the capital of the former Province of Calamianes from 1818, and the Province of Castilla, the area of what is now known as

northern Palawan, from 1858. It remained part of Taytay until 1916 when it formally became an independent municipality.[6] The new municipality was then known as Bacuit. On June 17, 1954, Republic Act No. 1140[15] was approved changing the name of the town from Bacuit to its present name El Nido after the edible nests of swiftlets (collocalia fuciphaga), found in the crevices of its limestone cliffs. These nests, nido in Spanish, the main ingredient for the gourmet nido soup, are being sold at approximately US$ 3,000 per kilogram.[5] In 1957, the following barrios were created:

Villa Paz comprising the sitios of New Igabas, Candolay, Malapaho, Mabegeten, Dewel, Nalbekan, and Lapia; Bebeladan comprising the sitios of Mainlong, Bolabod, Balete, Culiong, Codongnon, Vigan, Pagawanen, Langeblangeban, Talulap, Bocboc, Miadiao, Avirawan, Pita, Deboluan, BalayBacaco, Kiminawit, Pamontonan, Simpian, Binabanan, Tegas, and Pinacpanacan; Bagong-Bayan comprising the sitios of Manogtog, Cadleman, Pinagtual, Omao, Nami, Tebey, Bato, Tugay, Cataaban, and Lomocob; Pasadea comprising the sitios of Lamoro, Cagbatang, Bulalacao, Pinagantegan, Quinawagan, Nagbaclao, Colantod, Loblob, and Badiang;

Sibaltan comprising the sitios of Turatod, Buluang, Santa Monica, Senodioc, Laolao, Cabogan, Tapic, Panian, Guitan, Loro, and Nagcalasag; Barotuan comprising the sitios of Taberna, Locaroc, Nagpan, Yocoton, Calitang, Wawa, Makinit, Canoling, Mabagaon, and Mapeldeten; San Fernando comprising the sitios of Panian, Madorianen, Dipnay, Maubog, Guenleng, Palabuayan, Paragaycayan, San Pablo, and Olac-olacan; and, Villa Libertad comprising the sitios of Calelenday, Taolili, Boloc, Inigtan, Mepague, Matolatolaon, Dao, Batbat, Madacotdacot, Nasigdan, Semenled, Bancalen, and Cagbanaba.[16] In the same year, the barrio of Oton was renamed to Mabini.[17]

Because El Nido was quite remote from most of the inhabited islands in the Philippines, its pristine beauty was hidden to the world until 1979 when a sea accident happened in Bacuit Bay. As the story goes, "a tuna line disabled a dive boat's propeller in the middle of the night forcing it to drop anchor in an inlet. The following morning, the divers woke up to an amazing scenery of skyscraping dark cliffs, thick green forest, white sandbeach, sparkling water and, rising above it, a series of magnificently sculpted jade islands."[6] In 1983, a dive station was established in Miniloc Island by a group of divers who were on board the diveboat M/V Via Mare. In the same year, major tourism commenced in El Nido, when the Ten Knots Development Corporation, a Filipino-Japanese joint

venture company, opened a divers' resort on Miniloc Island, and an airstrip (Lio Airport) at Villa Libertad on the mainland. In 1992, the company set up a second resort on Pangulasian Island, and in 1998, the third and largest Ten Knots resort on Lagen Island. The opening of the third resort coincided with the destruction of the Pangulasian Resort by fire. During this period several other tourism establishments were developed, paving the way for tourism to become a thriving economic sector.[6] El Nido is a showcase of the Philippines' geological and biological diversity. In recognition of the importance of its unique ecosystem, the Philippine government made the entire area of El Nido first to a turtle sanctuary in 1984, then to a marine reserve park in 1991,[18] and finally in 1998, to that of a managed resource protected area.[19] [edit]Government

Aerial view of the cape between Nacpan and Calitang Beaches in Bucana, one of the eighteen barangays of El Nido. Aerial view of Bucana, in the Northern partof El Nido.

El Nido is governed by a Mayor and a Vice Mayor, who are elected to three-year terms. The Mayor is the executive head and leads the municipality's departments in executing the municipal ordinances and improving public services. The Vice Mayor heads the legislative council consisting of eight councilors, or more commonly known as Sangguniang Bayan members.

The Municipal Council is in charge of creating the municipality's policies in the form of Ordinances and Resolutions. [edit]Seal The municipality seal shows a silhouette of the territory of El Nido inside an armour-shaped picture. The famous marble and limestone cliffs represents the nestling ground of the swiftlets. Behind it is the oil rig, representing the areas within its administrative boundaries that are found to be rich in oil andnatural gas such as the Malampaya Sound, which is 50 kilometers[20] within its borders, and the Cadlao Oilfield in Bacuit Bay area.[21] At the bottom of the picture is the ricefield, with the carabao head superimposed at the center, and on the other side, the sea, with the fish and the squid in situated the middle, representing farming and fishing, the two main industries of its people.

Protected Area status

Establishment
In 1984, the then Ministry of Natural Resources issued the Administrative Order No. 518, establishing a 360 square kilometres (140 sq mi) maritime area in El Nido as a turtle sanctuary. In 1991, the rest of the Bacuit Bay, including its island and islets, was proclaimed by the Philippine government as a marine reserve. A year later, by virtue of Administrative Order No. 14 Series of 1992 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, this area was expanded even more. In 1998, its

status was elevated to that of a protected area, and it included even the terrestrial ecosystem of El Nido and portions of Taytay.[18]

Extent and scope

The so-called El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area is the largest marine sanctuary in the entire Philippines. The Protected Areastatus accords the areas of El Nido and portions of its neighboring town of Taytay[18] a place among the eight priority sites[11][23] in the country in need of conservation. The Protected Area covers a total of 903.21 square kilometers,[24] of which 40% are terrestrial and 60% marine.[25] The provincial government has mobilized its citizenry to actively participate in various environmental conservation and protection programs, such as the "Bantay Gubat" for forest protection, and the "Bantay Dagat" for the marine life preservation.[20] Patrolling within the Protected Area especially in the marine zones is regularly conducted with the help of the World Wildlife Fund Philippines that allocates funds to support the said activity. Other logistic support is by the concerned municipal governments. The Palawan Council for Sustainable Management (PCSD) provides legal assistance during the litigation of cases filed by the Protected Area Office (PAO).[24] As a protected area, the Philippine government needs approximately US$ 180,000 annually to protect and manage its natural resources.[11][25]Tourists are encouraged to pay US$ 0.50

per day as conservation fee for the duration of their visit at the Municipal Tourism Office or the Office of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), which are housed in the Municipal Building in Calle Real.[25] This was embodied in the PAMB Resolution No. 08 series 2000 from the National Integrated Protected Area Program (NIPAP) of theDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).[20] El Nido, being one of the most diverse ecosystem in the country, is protected for its unique flora and fauna, and pristine geologic formations. These include:

limestone cliffs, the home of the swiftlets 50 white sand beaches 5 types of forest (the lowland evergreen rainforests found in the mainland and islands such as Miniloc, Lagen and Pangulasian; semi-deciduous forests; forests over limestone; beach forests; and, the mangrove forests found mostly around major rivers and creeks in the mainland) 3 major marine habitats 16 endemic and 10 threatened species of birds (including the Palawan Hornbill, the Palawan Shama, the Palawan tit, Palawan Scops Owl, and the Palawan Peacock Pheasant) 6 species of marine mammals endemic to Palawan (including dolphins and its native dugong) the Palawan Tree Shrew, the Palawan Stink Badger, the Palawan Spiny Rat, the Palawan Anteater, and the Northern Palawan Tree Squirrel

4 species of endagered marine turtles (hawksbill, olive ridley, leatherback and green sea turtles) 100 species of corals,[26] 45 of which belongs to the genera of hard corals 813 species of fish

Climate and sea conditions

Black snapper in El Nido

The climate in El Nido is distinguished by two seasons: generally dry, from December to May, and wet, from June to November. April and May are typically the driest months, while the heaviest rainfall occurs around August. The Northeast wind blows from December to March, occasionally interchanging with the North wind during December to February. The Southwest wind is felt from June to October while the East wind, the mildest of all winds, blows during the months of April and May.[27]

Surface Temperature
The average surface temperature ranges from a low of 22C to a high of 33C. The coolest temperatures are usually experienced during the month of January, while the hottest temperatures are felt in April and May.[27]

Water Current
The current in El Nido differ from very slight to moderate depending on tidal conditions. Divers and snorkellers can swim back to the boat without difficulty since currents are usually very manageable.[27]

Water Temperature
The average water temperature ranges from 24C to 26C during the months of December to March and 26C to 29C during the months of April to November.[27]

Water Visibility
Water visibility ranges from 3 meters to 10 meters from December to February, 10 meters to 30 meters from March to May, and 10 meters to 15 meters from June to November. The best time for diving at El Nido is during the months of March to May, as surface conditions are good.[27]