History of Puerto Galera

The 160.5 km long by 84.5 km wide island of Mindoro was first mentioned in Chinese annals when merchants from Cathay on ships carrying native products traded on the island in 982 AD. Ship captains and their men often referred to the island as Mai which was later corroborated by the Chinese Historian Chen-Jua Kuan in the first known description of Mindoro in 1225 AD. The name Mindoro was derived from Minoro, sometimes spelled Minolo a small coastal settlement northwest of the poblacion of present day Puerto Galera. Captain Martin de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo explored Western Mindoro on their way to Manila on May 8, 1570. After fighting with the Moro pirates and capturing the island of Lubang, Legaspi imposed Spanish rule upon the natives of Northern Mindoro the following year. While Moro piracy was in existence during the 17th century, the island was organized into a corregimiento, with Puerto Galera as the capital. The island became part of Bonbon (Taal, Batangas) under the encomienda of Calilaya (Unisan, Quezon Province). Since the 10th century, Puerto Galera was known to seafarers as a trading port and a strategic harbor along the important trade routes to and from the Near East, Indian coast, Indo-Chinese coast, China, various points within the Philippine archipelago, and the Kingdoms of Sumatra and Java. The Muelle Bay area, recognized as one of the safest natural harbors in Asia, was used extensively for dock repairs and as a safe anchorage for all types of sailing vessels. Sixteenth century reference to Mindoro often meant the harbor of Minolo, which was then the center of trading between the Chinese and the natives. Chinese merchants bartered glazed porcelains for gold, jade, corals, shells, birds, rattan, and other forest products that were abundant in the island. The antiques unearthed from an ancient gravesite near Minolo were traced back as early as 10th and 15th centuries. Most are Chinese, but substantial quantities from Thailand and Vietnam have also been excavated. When the Spaniards discovered the island of Mindoro in the early 17th century, the natural beauty and safe haven of Muelle Bay astonished them. They, thus, named the land Puerto de Galleon or Port of Galleon. It was later called Puerto Galera and was made the capital of the province of Mindoro. Guarding the coasts of Puerto Galera was a Spanish warship, named Caonero Mariveles. However, on November 18, 1879, the ill-fated battleship was hit by a powerful storm which caused it to sink outside the west coast of Muelle. As a tribute to the lost ship and its crew, a wooden cross was erected right at the center of Muelle with the following inscription: Ultima tierra que pesaron los tripulantes del Caonero Mariveles el 18 de Noviembre de 1879, Memoria de sus campaero. As one of the greatest relics of the past century, this cross was renovated in 1938 by an Spanish national named Luis Gomez y Sotto. The cross is still visible up to this date. Puerto de Galleon used to be an important stopover for vessels of the Manil-Acapulco Galleon Trade during the 18th century. Hence, due to the regularity of the Moro attacks, the Spaniards built watchtowers and stationed battleships outside Muelle Bay to deter the Moros. One such battleship was the Caonero Mariveles, which sunk due to a violent storm in 1879. Owing to their ingenuity, the Spaniards also built a rice granary in Puerto Galera that was used to stash grains ready for shipment. This grain storage was believed to have caught fire in the late 18th century, but the carbonized palay grains were preserved by sea water and remain scattered along Muelle Bay to this day. The natives primarily lived by fishing, crude farming and hunting. They raised animals, planted rice, corn, sweet potatoes and other root crops using the slash and burn (kaingin) to clear and prepare the land for planting. Later on, the Spaniards introduced the plow which helped increased the productivity of the land. However, the increasing tributes and taxes imposed by the Spanish government discouraged the farmers to come up with a good harvest and production instead, urged them to seek other means of livelihood. On November 2, 1902, Puerto Galera was again made the capital of the province until 1903 under Act No. 500 of the Philippine Commission. It was annexed to Calapan in 1905 as a barrio

represented by Hilarion Axalan in the Calapan town council in 1916. In 1919, under Act No. 2324, it was made a municipal district with Isidoro Suzara as municipal president. After more than two centuries, the capital of the province was transferred to Calapan (the present capital of Oriental Mindoro), which was geographically blessed with wide agricultural lands. Puerto Galera then became a barrio of Calapan. It was only on December 7, 1927, when the Philippine Congress passed Act 3415, created Puerto Galera - a Municipality. Anacleto Atienza became its first municipal presidente. Estanislao Cobarrubias, Sr. was the last municipal presidente of the civil government and the first municipal mayor of the Commonwealth government. On February 27, 1942, the town was occupied by the Japanese air force and naval auxiliary. Leoncio Axalan, who was supposed to end his term as mayor in 1942, was made to extend his term until 1946 because of his courage and integrity. It was indeed a great test for a man to run the affairs of the municipal government amidst the warring parties, the guerillas and the Japanese. After the liberation in 1946, then Governor Arturo Ignacio appointed Rafael Garcia as the municipal mayor of Puerto Galera. In 1948, Estanislao Brucal, an officer of the guerilla unit in Mindoro during the Japanese occupation, became the first elected municipal mayor of Puerto Galera under the republican form of government. The people of Puerto Galera then engaged in shipbuilding and repair, mat weaving, fishing, and crude farming until such time where tourism came into advent. It was only in the early 1970s that Puerto Galera, by word of mouth, was established as a tourist destination. The earliest tourists would stay in the homes of locals for several weeks to several months. This type of hosting, called bed and breakfast in other settings became the backbone of the thriving tourism program in the municipality. This trade benefited not only private homes turned pension houses but also local traders, market vendors and stall owners as well as those who found new and brisk markets from visitors. The local transport operators had to expand their fleet to accommodate heavier volumes of visitors particularly during the peak tourist months of March to June and November. The inland caves and coves, sparkling white sand beaches and underwater coral gardens make the town the number one tourist destination in the province.

The Location
Puerto Galera is a Y-shaped peninsula located at the northern tip of Mindoro Island, 150 kilometers from Manila, the Capital of the Philippines and 14 nautical miles from Batangas City. The municipality is consists of twelve coastal barangays and one mountain barangay scattered over an area of 25,247.23 hectares. On the north of the municipality is the Verde Island Passage. Mt. Baco and Mt. Malasimbo are in the south. The northeast boundary of the town is San Teodoro municipality and in the northwest is the municipality of Abra de Ilog in the province of Occidental Mindoro.

The Climate and Seasons

Puerto Galera is characterized by a mildly hot temperature during summer and a brisk cold temperature during rainy season. The rainfall and temperatures are the same as those in Manila. But the seaside in Puerto Galera is favored with cool wind and the highland with cold breeze of air. The windy climate makes Puerto Galera far more comfortable to stay and live. The dry season falls on from January to April and the rainy season from June to October. The aggregate rainfall accounts for more than 80% of the annual total of rainfalls. Twice year monsoons interpose between the dry and the wet season.

Land History and Soil Characteristics

The basement complex of Puerto Galera is pre-Jurassic. It is made of undifferentiated amphibolites, quartzofeldspathic and mica schist, and phyllites-slates frequently associated with marble and quartzite. The landform is broadly folded, with some narrow zomes of close folding broken by up thrusts. The prevailing schistosity is generally parallel; some are oblique and/or perpendicular to the bedding. About the oldest form of life found in the Philippines belongs to the horn coral (Gshelia), a conical marine form that once lived during the Carboniferous some 350 million years ago. These were recovered in Puerto Galera. Also from Mindoro, thorn species of foramifera have been identified as having lived about 30 million years ago. These are the Reusella spinolosa, found in Puerto Galera, similar to a type from the Miocene in Europe, the Globigerinoids rubber, also going back to the Miocene and the Haurina flagilissima known in Oligocene rocks. The characterization of the soil of Puerto Galera was undertaken through a process which began by conducting field mapping. Landscape and underlying formations were examined systematically in several representative locations. Soils were then characterized morphologically. These considered the complexities of the landscape, changes of physiography and soil profile. Five soil series were found and described. These are the following: A. MOPOG SERIES. Soils are deep, well drained under the coarse loamy family formed on level to nearly level landscapes, which are formerly on fluvial regions, bordering the narrow coasts surrounded by hills and mountains. These are located at 140 meters, N 60degrees W of Balatero Elementary School and 507.5 hectares in extent. B. LUGO SERIES. Soils are moderately deep, well drained and under the fine clayey family. Located at 2,650 meters N 65 degrees E of Puerto Galera and about 350 meters north of Barangay Sinandigan, 465 hectares in extent, more or less. 1. Lugo Clay: 2.0 to 7.0 slopes. Mapped adjacent to the narrow beaches in the northeastern portion of Puerto Galera, approximately 25 hectares in extent. 2. Lugo Clay: 7.0 to 15% slopes. Mapped at the tip of Mindoro Island in hilly portions towering the sea, 65 hectares in extent. 3. Lugo Clay: 15 to 25% slopes. 375 hectares in extent. Occurs in the hilly to mountainous or elevated lands. Located at the mortheastern portion of the town proper of Puerto Galera. C. MAASIN SERIES. Soils are moderately deep, well drained, under the fine clayey family. This series is formed in moderately deep, hilly and mountainous locations; developed from shale 1. Maasim Clay Loam 15 to 25% slopes. Occurring on hilly landscapes, mapped in the Northern part, south of Puerto Galera, 715 hectares in extent 2. Maasin Clay Loam 25 to 40% slopes. Occurring on steep landscapes. Mapped in the eastern, northern and southern portions of Puerto Galera, 2110 hectares in extent. 3. Maasin Clay Loam 40 to 60% slopes. Occurrring on very steep landscapes in the western portion and extending up to the portion of Puerto Galera, 4760 hectares in extent. D. MALALAG SERIES. This soil is fine clayey, moderately shallow and well drained. Located on rugged mountain ranges, this soil was developed from shale and other quartz material, approximately 300 meters, S 20degrees W of Barangay Dulangan. This soil occurs on very steep landscapes. Mapped from the central part of the area extending to the southern and western sides of Puerto Galera, 2,907 hectares in extent.

E. ALIMODIAN SERIES. This soil series occurs on very steep landscapes.

Two major fault systems, however, indirectly affect Puerto Galera. An east-west trending high angle fault has its eastern terminus in the vicinity of the town. The other is a northwest-southeast trending normal fault with its north terminus pointing towards Puerto Galera.

Political Units
Puerto Galera, the first capital of the province of Oriental Mindoro during the Spanish period, is composed of 13 political units or barangays, all characterized by their scenic beauty and white sandy beaches, and are eager to strengthen and improve the economy of the municipality. These are: Brgy. Villaflor Brgy. Dulangan Brgy. Tabinay Brgy. Poblacion The seat of Tamaraw Falls The marble capital of the municipality Houses python caves Houses the Excavation Museum The Heart of the Municipality and houses the One of the Most Beautiful Bay in the World; Home of the Black Rice and Galleon Port of the Spanish Era The Home of Varadero Bay and Punta Buwaya Diving Capital of the Municipality The Lighthouse of the Municipality, seat of Escarceo Point The Youngest Barangay in the Municipality and Site of the Windsurfing Competition Seat of the Roll-on, Roll-off ferry Houses Mt. Malasimbo, Ponderosa, and Reptile Zoo Site of the Mangyan settlement; the aborigines of the municipality, Home of Aninuan Falls Water Reservoir of the Municipality, The eye to progress and development The island within the island

Brgy. Palangan Brgy. Sabang Brgy. Sinandigan Brgy. Sto. Nio Brgy. Balatero Brgy. San Isidro Brgy. Aninuan Brgy. Baclayan Brgy. San Antonio

Each of these units is capable of bringing the best in the copper of the municipality, having natural beauty and resources of its own.

Demographic Profile
As of 2007, approximately 25, 000 productive and visionary citizens are inhabiting in the municipality. Each family is composed of an average of 5 members. Most are living in an average to above average level of income, while few are living in luxury and wealth. Though some natives do not have actual schooling, most are still capable of conversing in English. Hence, some foreigners have already acquired and exercised the beauty and grace of the native language Tagalog. Foreigners are allowed to have ownership and properties provided they comply with the requirements and standards set forth by the local government.

TOURISM

VISION
By 2018, Puerto Galera is an environmentally and culturally sustainable tourist destination equipped with competitive, high standard and world class facilities and services, investor friendly and gallant to provide quality life for the community.

NATURAL ATTRACTIONS
Puerto Galera, noted for its beautiful bays, scenic beauty, and irregular shorelines rimmed with dazzling white beaches, inland bays and coves which are perfect sites for diving, surfing and snorkeling, and terrific natural beauty is considered one perfect tourist destination not only in the country but in the whole wide world. There are 37 world class dive sites in the municipality that are abundant with fields of corals and rare species of fishes. Lately, Puerto Galera was declared Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO making it as one of the few marine sanctuaries in the world. With the growing tourism industry in Puerto Galera, more investors, small entrepreneurs, and even single proprietors from other localities are engaging in tourism related activities in the town. These provide a strong competition for the municipalitys indigenous capitalists and labor force. The town, therefore, is intensifying local tourism based on nature and agriculture. These have strong potentials in insuring growth in the local economy. This therefore necessitates the proper rationalization of the industry. Puerto Galera is endowed with many unique, scenic and interesting natural landscapes and seascapes. These are enhanced by the rich and diverse culture of the place. Capitalizing on these natural assets, the promotion of tourism becomes a major development thrust of the municipality. The wide diversity of attractions includes outstanding coral reef fringed islands, mountain ranges, pristine natural settings, and cultural attractions including arts, crafts, and lifestyle. Most of the people, in their own way, are undertaking active and multi-faceted tourism development in the form of hotel and resort complexes, parks and gardens, beach resorts, inland resorts, eco-villages, wildlife sanctuaries, and others. Ecotourism is at present a buzzword in keeping with growing global environment concerns. But because of this fashion, very few understand the real meaning of ecotourism. In this regard, the municipality is charging the municipal residents as well as the guests, travelers and visitors reasonable amount for the protection, development and conservation of the municipalitys natural beauty and grandeur. In the view of UNESCO, Ecotourism is a type of tourism which: 1. enables environmentally sound and sustainable development; 2. is based on environmental attraction (the main product proposed to the ecotourist for environment contemplation or environment discover); 3. is not destructive to the environment. In this respect, the organization and management of ecotourism must be based on constant monitoring of the impact of the industry on the natural and human environment. Therefore, a system to monitor environmental changes has to be installed within any ecotourism site.

If intrusion in an ecotourism site goes beyond capacities established for outdoor recreation, this can cause;

1. damage to land, water and wildlife, 2. depressing psychological impact on visitors of sites where viewing the wilderness is an isolated experience and must not be part of the mob. Experience shows that tourism development responds to market forces that are usually short term. It ignores environmental and long-term consequences. A tourism master development plan with its attendant development guidelines, rules and regulations is an answer to a more responsive thrust in Puerto Galera. Tourism to be sustained depends on the maintenance of good environment, natural attractions that continue to be attractive, and that the environment will not lose its capacity to rejuvenate. In implementing sustainable tourism development, the key factor is the tourism carrying capacity of a particular site. This covers the environment including its physical and social aspects. Involvement of the community is vital in making critical decisions regarding tourism development. Before, tourism activities were concentrated along the coastal areas. However, with the introduction of ecotourism and agri-tourism, the activities have extended inland and into the mountain areas. When tourism programs are rationalized, a revival in art, literature, music, dance, drama, and historic awareness come together with pride of place. The impact on culture can also resort in a systematic program to establish exhibit venues for ethnology, natural history, and archaeology. Clearly, culture is the way of life shaped by people as they interact with their built and natural environments. It is what culture arbiters of the country call ang pamana ng kagalingan. Culture includes why people do things, how they do things, and what they do with the things; the values, customs, and traditions are of interests to other people. UNESCO defines culture as encompassing the whole complex of distinctive, spiritual, material, intellectual, and emotional features that characterize a society or social group. It includes not only arts and letters, but also modes of life, the fundamental rights of the human person, value systems, traditions, mores, and beliefs. It is now recognized that people would like to know more and understand more of the variety of cultures of the world-a true ingredient in global tourism.

CULTURE LIMITS TO TOURISM

Basic cultural services include libraries and reading rooms. Museums ranging from large to small, archives, conservation groups to protect monuments and heritage sites are common examples of these cultural settings. Areas where ordinary people can learn to assess themselves, express themselves, and decide how to reform themselves and their communities are practical settings where visitors can meditate in keeping their desired futures. These are fodder to tourists. It is getting clear that tourism is a culture industry in the sense that it markets culture products to tourists as cultural experiences. The three elements of tourism as culture are: 1. the foundation of tourism products, 2. the sophistication of the tourists perception and experiences, 3. the cultural consequences of tourism development on the recipient communities. These elements must be taken seriously and with equal considerations as the economic and environmental aspects of tourism. The changes and cultural consequences of tourism on the culture of Puerto Galera as well as the culture of tourists should be a lynch pin to sustainable tourism development. It is now necessary to consider tourism as a form of cultural policy as much as an economic one. Tourism is becoming a dominant cultural industry; tourism packages and market destinations as cultural products; tourism and the presence of tourists transforms the culture of destinations and has a range of cultural consequences; tourists perceive and consume tourism as a cultural experience.

To consider tourism as a cultural industry is to acknowledge the value of the natural environment, built environments, artifacts, and attraction of destinations as part of the cultural package. Moreover, as tourism develops into a major industry, issues about sustainability, authenticity, social impacts, indigenous cultures, and commercialization of culture will have to be put into focus into the cultural dimensions of tourism. There is therefore an increasing need to elaborate, analyze, and formulate policies in a manner that will put in the forefront a better understanding of the more complex dynamism of tourism for the destinations as well as on the tourists. Moreover, new forms of tourism such as cultural tourism, ecotourism, rural tourism, indigenous tourism, and adventure tourism are increasingly intrusive and dependent upon the recipient communities. It can also undermine the existing ways of life and create rapid changes that are unwelcome. This often result in a growing number of communities that are hesitant to use tourism as an economic tool and want limits set on further development of tourism in their localities. As a strategy, Puerto Galera is anticipating changes and impacts; consequences and conflicts. With all these in place, Puerto Galera is sure to make significant take off in the field of tourism industry.

TOURISM CIRCUITS
Puerto Galera is endowed with many unique, scenic and interesting natural landscapes and seascapes. These are enhanced by the rich and diverse culture of the place. Capitalizing on these natural assets, the promotion of tourism becomes a major development thrust of the municipality. The wide diversity of attractions includes outstanding coral reef fringed islands, mountain ranges, pristine natural settings, and cultural attractions including arts, crafts, and lifestyle. Thus, to be sustained, maintenance of good environment and natural attractions should not cease so that Mother Nature will not lose its capacity to rejuvenate. Tourism circuits include tourist destinations in the municipality that are accessible by land or water. Each destination should be equipped with transportation facilities capable of picking up guests, visitors and travelers.

Tourism Destinations
ATTRACTIONS SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

Puerto Galera Yatch Club (Muelle Bay) Muelle Bay

Boating, yachting, surfing Souvenir hunting, wind surfing, snorkeling, historical relics and artifacts, concerts, shopping, diving, fluvial parade, PGYC Yacht, boat racing, diving, giant clam watching Fun shooting, shooting competition, trainings

Sto. Nio Shooting Range Golf, hiking, trekking, bird watching, sightseeing Ponderosa Education, conservation, protection Reptile Park and Zoo Mountain climbing, adventure, camping Mt. Malasimbo White Sand Beaches Tamaraw Falls/Aninuan Falls Sight seeing, swimming, snorkeling, fishing Long Beach Sight seeing, souvenir buying, education Mangyan Village (Talipanan) Sight seeing, history flashback, education Excavation Museum View deck, photo ops Lighthouse (Sinandigan) Photo ops, sight seeing, view of Muelle Bay Baclayan View Deck Tukuran&Ambang Falls/River Sipit Saburan (Mangyan Community) Swimming, sight seeing, water massage Hot Spring (Tabinay) Swimming, fishing, sight seeing, boating, surfing Talupak/Matala Beach View deck, Panoramic view of Verde Island Passage Kilometer 37 Agri-tourism, fruit pickings, trekking, camping, adventure Paraway and Kilometer 40 Aplayang Munti & Bulabod Wading, swimming Surs Place Tabinay River Python Cave Fishing, kiting, sunrise view, water sports, surfing, swimming, snorkeling Spelunking Cockfighting Swimming, snorkeling, boating, surfing, water sports Mangrove park, swimming, educational tour, fishing, picnic Swimming, water massage, carabao cart ride, trekking, sight seeing, kayaking Trekking, cultural presentation, souvenir items Swimming, picture taking, relaxing, boating, jet ski, outdoor sports, sun bathing Sight seeing, swimming

Cockfight Arena Hundura Bay

Cultural flashback, trekking, camping, sight seeing, Handicraft (weaving) Historical flashback, strolling, biking, activities, exercise area for senior citizens shopping, religious

Baclayan Diving, snorkeling, swimming, sun bathing, picnic, water sports, fishing, night life Poblacion/Town Museum, Illuminada Park, shopping Sabang/La Laguna Beach/Coco Beach San Antonio Molave Park, Long Beach, hibiscus hill, third plateau Educational trips, pictorial, hiking, trekking, picnic, fish feeding, fishing, diving, snorkeling, viewing

Environmental Impact Tourism industry in the municipality may be new to the ears of some Galerans but the effect and clamor for it is tumultuous. However, good source of income as it is, problems are seen to hamper its significant take off. Pollution is seen to overshadow the area; air, water, and land. One common problem arising among restaurants, resorts and bar owners in the municipality is the absence of desired dump areas or disposals for solid and liquid wastes. These make the area messy and stinky to some extent adding enormous pollution to the land and water. In the analysis conducted by several bar and resort owners, it was found out that there is a poor garbage collection in different tourist destinations in the municipality. Solid wastes are seen scattered in visible areas which cause disappointment and dismay on the part of the guests and travelers especially the foreigners. They suggested however to have a common dumpsite that will be used as a common ground for dumping and waste disposal to lessen if not totally eliminate this problem. Social Impact/Community Preparedness Customary among Filipinos is the hospitality in entertaining visitors and guests. The Hispanic traits among many Galerans make them congenial, trustworthy, honest, cheerful and disciplined. It is noted that in the 1970s, tourists and visitors alike are welcomed in several houses for a night or so without payment or anything in return. Hence, the passing of time saw significant changes in the nature of hospitality among Galerans. Hospitality thus became a question of acceptability because from time to time, more and more locals are becoming so aggressive and flamboyant in their way of accepting visitors and guests especially tourists. Intrusion of several investors and stakeholders in planning and outsourcing also made the area vulnerable to social upheavals and vices. This not to mention the type of services they are offering to the

visitors/guests. Illegal drugs (shabu, marijuana, mushroom, ecstasy) which were not present then became the object of interest. This was followed by the presence of girls for rent or the prostitutes as other coined them coming from different provinces seeking for a good catch. This development tainted the picture of Puerto Galera to the local and even international tourists. In this regard, constant monitoring and information dissemination to and among resort and bar owners should be undertaken by the municipality to ensure peace and security and to guaranty positive criticism and feedbacks among visitors and guests. Peace and Order Abound by negative media publicity and mileage, poor justice system, insurgency and rebellion, inconsistency among government officials, corruption, and lack of promotion, peace and security had become a serious problem in the area. More and more tourists are complaining on the bad experiences they have had in their stay in several destinations in the municipality. Common complain raised by visitors and guests is the choice of service banca or tricycle to bring them to their destinations because some operators pull the arm of the passengers in order to get their attention. Hence, some are hurt giving them traumatic experience in their stay here. Thus, it is urged that Local Government together with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to combine their efforts and make a collective stand on this issue which basically hamper the growth and development of tourism industry in the municipality. Suggested further is the visibility or proper posting of law enforcers in several tourist destinations in the municipality especially during peak season of tourist arrivals where pick pocketing, snatching, robbery and other related activities are prevalent. Transportation Facilities It is a good view to see that Puerto Galera abounds with several transportation facilities all eager to serve passengers in bringing them to their respective destinations. However, due to the increasing demand for improvement and development and to comply with the changing demands for standardization and competitiveness, tricycle, jeepney, and banca operators are all encouraged to renovate and improve their facilities. To further promote the scenic beauty of Puerto Galera among travelers, guests and visitors, it was suggested that each service boat or ferry be installed with at least a television set and player to play shots or MTVof the best places in the area and how each place be reached by the aforesaid individuals. Taped materials however should contain the grandeur and richness in natural resources of the municipality, the culture and values distinct of Puerto Galera, and some other information vital in the promotion of tourism industry in the municipality and the promotion of Puerto Galera as a whole to the entire world. Thus, it is urged and highly moved that every transportation facility in the municipality be equipped and gauge with distinct markers that can be considered Only in Puerto Galera. Likewise, it was urged and recommended that shuttle services (thru land or water) that do not conform to the standard set forth by the Tourism Council be removed from their respective terminals and shall not be allowed to transport passengers irrespective of their destinations. With these in mind, it is hoped that in the near future, uniformity and standardization in the transportation facilities in the municipality be realized making Puerto Galera a truly world class tourist destination.

Convenience and Accessibility

Puerto Galera is a 1 hour bus or car ride from Metro Manila to Batangas and another 1 to 2 hours ferry boat ride from that point of departure. Trips are available every thirty minutes and changes only during bad weather and or the presence of typhoon. One inconvenience observed and raised by travelers and guests is the absence of ATM machines where they can withdraw and encashed their money. Fort hem, although the place is beautiful and abundant with natural beauties, there is still a need to improve the banking mechanisms whereby transactions for credit cards and some other international cards be made available for their withdrawals and exploits.