Puerto Princesa City woos private capital to sustain 5.4% economic growth
Puerto Princesa City is seeking private investments in tourism, infrastructure and other industries to sustain its 5.4% economic growth in 2025. At the 2026 Puerto Princesa City Investment Forum, the city government presented development projects including the Baytown Palawan township, a convention
Puerto Princesa City is seeking more private investments in tourism, infrastructure and other industries to sustain its economic expansion, after its economy grew by 5.4% in 2025, outpacing the national growth rate of 4.4%.
At the 2026 Puerto Princesa City Investment Forum in Manila on 23 Oct, the city government presented development projects and business opportunities aimed at attracting capital, creating jobs and strengthening local economic activity. Philippine Institute for Development Studies Senior Research Fellow John Paolo R. Rivera said sustaining growth would require investments in infrastructure, technology, connectivity and workforce development.
Among the projects presented was Baytown Palawan, a 5.4-hectare township by Megaworld Corp. with an initial planned capital expenditure of ₱7 billion over seven to 10 years. The development will combine residential, commercial, dining and entertainment establishments. Megaworld First Vice-President Harold C. Geronimo said the company intends to increase its investments as the city develops into a business, tourism and cultural hub.
The city is also looking to expand its tourism infrastructure through a proposed 15,000- to 20,000-seat convention and events centre at the Sta. Lucia Environmental Estate, which is expected to support the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry. Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority representative Niño Aquino presented a master plan for a 63.31-hectare development within the larger Sta. Lucia Tourism Enterprise Zone. The plan includes nine districts and 245 lots for hospitality, commercial, ecotourism and agri-tourism developments, as well as 10 proposed hotel sites and a 1,000-square-metre convention hall. The plan also allocates 14.75 hectares for mangrove protection and scientific research, with development to be implemented in phases over 10 years.
Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron said the city wants to develop an integrated tourism destination, with complementary investments in hotels, restaurants, retail and commercial facilities around Sta. Lucia and the City Coliseum. The city is also pursuing the proposed Puerto Princesa Integrated Fish Port in partnership with the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority. The project is expected to create opportunities in ice production, cold storage, seafood processing, logistics and distribution.
The investment push comes as the city seeks to broaden economic activity beyond tourism by linking local businesses and producers to larger supply chains. Board of Investments representative Hannah Jamaign Barroquillo said the agency could help investors navigate regulatory requirements and align projects with national investment priorities. As of 30 Sept, the BOI had endorsed 247 Green Lane projects representing more than ₱6 trillion in investments.
Other companies cited their existing investments in the city as a basis for further expansion. DDTKI Group of Companies President Joseph V. Garcia pointed to the company's investments in Best Western Plus The Ivywall Hotel, which opened in 2015, followed by The Miren Enclaves in 2019 and Napsan Villas in 2025.
