PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — The consular office of the Department of Foreign Affairs here on Thursday disclosed that a large proportion of passport applications in Palawan province in the initial half of 2023 were for recreational travel rather than business or employment reasons.

DFA Regional Consular Office in Puerto Princesa head Carolina Constantino presented data for the first six months of the year, saying that out of the travel-related figures recorded from January to June of this year, 72 percent or 4,967 applicants sought passports for the purpose of leisure travel, while those applying for work-related passport purposes constituted only 25 percent.

Outside Palawan, she clarified that just 20 percent of individuals seeking passports nationwide were doing so for travel intentions.

She added that while the recent increase in passport applications could be linked to the resumption of direct flights after the pandemic, it also mirrored the high quality of life in Palawan.

"This implies that our applicants are well-off; they're not applying for work, and work comprises only a small percentage. Unlike in other provinces where the majority of passport requests come from individuals planning to work abroad. So, for me, this is a very, very positive outcome. It suggests that you are content with your current location and have the means to travel," Constantino said.