Puerto Princesa city officials have rolled out key investment opportunities across tourism, infrastructure, fisheries, real estate and commercial development at the 2026 Puerto Princesa City Investment Forum in Conrad Manila, aiming to draw private capital to fuel faster economic expansion. Led by Mayor Lucilo Bayron, the event gathered investors, business leaders and government partners to advance public‑private collaboration for integrated development.
Centerpiece plans include a 15,000‑to‑20,000‑seat convention complex at the Sta. Lucia Environmental Estate to boost the city’s MICE sector, surrounded by sites earmarked for hotels, retail and dining. TIEZA presented a 63.31‑hectare Sta. Lucia Tourism Enterprise Zone master plan — a 10‑year phased build covering hospitality, ecotourism and agri‑tourism projects, plus protected mangrove areas and smaller convention facilities. Additional growth drivers include expanded night‑time economy zones and the proposed Puerto Princesa Integrated Fish Port, set to attract cold‑storage, seafood‑processing and logistics investment to strengthen local supply chains.
Latest data cited by PIDS senior research fellow John Paolo Rivera shows Puerto Princesa’s economy grew 5.4 percent in 2025, exceeding the national 4.4 percent rate; he stressed sustained expansion requires better infrastructure, technology and job‑creating investments. The Board of Investments confirmed streamlined support for proponents via its inter‑agency facilitation network and Green Lane for strategic projects, which had endorsed ₱6‑trillion‑worth of initiatives nationwide as of end‑September 2026, with priority openings for Palawan in agribusiness, logistics and renewables.
Major firms including Megaworld — committing an initial ₱7‑billion for its mixed‑use Baytown Palawan township — Palawan Group of Companies, DDTKI Group, One‑of Collection and William Tan Group reaffirmed confidence in the city’s long‑term outlook, noting its shift from a transit stop to a growing tourism and business hub. The forum concluded with a city‑wide commitment to convert Palawan’s development potential into tangible gains through stronger public‑private partnerships.
