PalawanEast coastSince 1951

Roxas

Uwi na.Come home to the east coast of Palawan, where the morning comes up out of the Sulu Sea.

Roxas faces east. Every morning the sun comes up out of the Sulu Sea.

The Municipal Hall at golden hour. Photo: LGU of Roxas

In this issue

Some places you visit once. Roxas is the one you come back to.

From Puerto Princesa the road runs north up the east coast, about 135 kilometres, to a town of 31 barangays and almost seventy thousand people, made by law in 1951 and still young.

135 kmFrom Puerto Princesa by road

1951Created by Republic Act No. 615

Puerto PrincesaStart Roxas0 km West Philippine Sea Sulu Sea

About 135 km up the east coast from Puerto Princesa, facing the Sulu Sea.

Aerial view of Roxas: rooftops among trees, a wide bay and islands on the horizon

01 · The town from above

The town from above.

Tin roofs under green canopy, roads running down to the water, and the Sulu Sea along the whole horizon.

The poblacion and the bay. Photo: LGU of Roxas

A young town on an old coast

Roxas was made by Republic Act No. 615 on 15 May 1951, from nine barrios of Puerto Princesa: Tinitian, Caramay, Rizal, Del Pilar, Malcampo, Tumarbong, Taradungan, Ilian and Capayas. Its first seat was a sitio called Barbacan. It took the name of President Manuel Roxas.

Tin roofs under green canopy, roads running down to the water, islands scattered across the bay. In 2015 the town's median age was about 23: it is still a town of young people.

Aerial view of the town with islands scattered across the sea beyond — The poblacion and the bay

Close aerial view of rooftops, streets and trees in the poblacion — Streets of the poblacion

Aerial view of a green field among the houses and trees — Open ground in town

Aerial view of the town spreading along the coast — Along the coast

Aerial view of a crowd on the plaza in front of the Municipal Hall — A morning on the plaza

Aerial view of a road running through the town toward the sea — The road to the water

Aerial view of the Municipal Hall and its plaza — The Municipal Hall

1951Created by Republic Act No. 615

69,729Roxaseños in the 2024 census

31Barangays, two of them islands

1,177 km²Of land on Palawan's east coast

For Roxaseños far from home

Been away a while?

I left Roxas in 2010

19602026

What you missed

Aerial view of a thin white sandbar curving over a reef in deep blue water

02 · Sandbars

Roads of white sand.

At low tide the sea pulls back and leaves long white roads across the shallows. A few hours later it takes them back.

A sandbar on the reef. Photo: LGU of Roxas

The island stops

The LGU's list of destinations reads like a day on the water: Purao Island, Kabugan, Madlys Sandbar, Shell Island, Stanlake Island, and Johnson Island with its sandbar.

At low tide the sea pulls back and leaves white roads across the shallows; by afternoon they are gone. The Municipal Tourism Office arranges tour packages. Check the sea before you go.

Today's sea conditions

People walking along a long sandbar that runs out to sea — Walking out with the tide

A hooked sandbar off a green island, seen from above — A hook of sand

A crescent-shaped sandbar in clear shallows with a bangka — A crescent of sand

Top-down view of an outrigger bangka on clear water — Bangka, from above

A curving white sandbar between deep and shallow water — Deep water, shallow flats

A white sand spit reaching into pale green shallows — A sand spit

A long white sandbar curving to a small wooded island — The long sandbar

Visitors around a large piece of driftwood on a sandbar — Driftwood and friends

A small island with a white beach ringed by reef — Ringed by reef

A wooded island with a white beach and bangkas — Bangkas on the flats

A small inhabited island ringed by reef — An island village

Bangkas pulled up along a white beach, seen from straight above — Bangkas on the shore

03 · Islands

Three islands, three ways to stay.

Bamboo cottages and hammocks, a private island in the Sulu Sea, and a quiet beach at the end of a rough road.

“Island Tours Roxas Palawan”, Roxas Palawan Tourism

An island resort seen from the water: palms, cottages and a long jetty — Seen from the water

Once Coco Loco

Modessa Island

Formerly: Coco Loco Island Resort
Getting there: About 45 minutes by boat from the Roxas wharf
Stay: Bamboo cottages with hammocks; full-board packages
The sea: A protected island with a reef for snorkelling

A thatched beach hut among palms — A hut by the shore

Cottages among palms beside clear turquoise water — Cottages by the water

A hammock strung between palms over the sand — A hammock between palms

A white beach curving away under palms — The long beach

Leaning coconut palms over white sand — Shade, all afternoon

A wooden bench on the beach facing a pink sky over the sea — A bench facing the sea

Clear blue water over the reef beside a white beach — The protected reef

A white beach with palms and a bangka on Coco Loco Island — When it was Coco Loco · Carrie Kellenberger, CC BY 2.0

A private island

Banwa

Where: In the Sulu Sea, with a Roxas, Palawan address
Size: About six to seven hectares, inside a marine protected area
Getting there: About ten minutes by helicopter from San Vicente
Stay: An ultra-luxury private island resort

A guest resting by the sea under the palms — Afternoon rest

A beachfront villa behind palms — A villa on the beach

A catamaran with a yellow sail on the beach — Sails on the sand

A catamaran sailing on turquoise water near the island — Out on the flats

An aerial view of green lawn and trees on the island — Green, from above

Palms and a white beach along the shore of Banwa — The shore

Guests dining by the beach — Dinner by the sea

Off the main road

Mecaja

Also listed as: Mecaja Dive Resort and Mecaja Beach House
Setting: Beachfront cottages a few steps from the sea
Getting there: About 10 km off the main road, on a rough unpaved road; an SUV helps
Stay: Garden, terrace, restaurant, bar and water sports, as listed

Palms silhouetted against the evening sky over a calm sea — Dusk at Mecaja

A hammock under trees looking out over the water — A hammock with a view

Bougainvillea over a garden terrace by the sea — Bougainvillea

A palm trunk framing the shore — A few steps to the sea

A wide sky with white clouds over a quiet beach — Big skies

A calm shore with trees and tidal flats — Low tide

A wooden deck looking out over the beach — The deck

The bow of a blue bangka over turquoise water — A bangka to the reef

Bare trees standing in the shallow water of the Sulu Sea — Trees standing in the Sulu Sea, Roxas. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0.

04 · The coast

The sea keeps us.

For generations the Sulu Sea has fed this town. Lately, the town has started looking after it in return.

When the fish came back

In 2007, with help from WWF-Philippines, Roxas set up marine protected areas. Some fishers protested at first. Once the fish returned, they were the ones asking for bigger no-take zones.

WWF Coral Triangle blog ↗

Seaweed on Green Island

Green Island, in Barangay Tumarbong, is a fishing village small enough to walk end to end in five minutes. Its families farm seaweed. After typhoons Tino and Uwan in November 2025, BFAR brought new farm inputs to 200 fisherfolk there. Panulo sa Banua, catching fish and crabs by torchlight, still has its place: in 2006 all 31 barangays competed in it.

A wide quiet beach with green mountains behind it — Tumarbong

Tall coconut palms leaning over the beach — Coconut palms

A sandy cove with mountains beyond — A cove below the hills

A river mouth meeting the sea with hills behind — Where the river meets the sea

A visitor walking on a beach with hills behind — On the beach

A visitor on the shore with mountains behind — Mountains and sea

Bangkas and small boats gathered on calm turquoise water — Bangkas off the shore

Aerial view of a waterfall in dense forest — A waterfall inland

A boat cutting a white wake across the bay — Across the bay

Clear shallow water and trees along the Sulu Sea shore — The Sulu Sea shore · Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0

A wooden outrigger boat anchored on calm water — At anchor · Kingnaharry, CC BY-SA 4.0

Rocks and trees at the edge of the sea — Low water · Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0

A lone tree on the beach leaning toward the sea — The old tree · V. Argenberg, CC BY 4.0

A quiet beach with trees on the shore — A quiet beach · V. Argenberg, CC BY 4.0

Trees standing in the shallow sea — Trees in the sea · V. Argenberg, CC BY 4.0

Visitors smiling aboard an island-hopping bangka — Welcome aboard

Dugong Habitat Local Conservation Area

The meadows where the dugongs feed are protected now.

On 1 December 2025, Ordinance No. 1057 made the town's seagrass meadows a local conservation area. A survey that year counted eight seagrass species, and fishers describe dugong feeding trails weaving through the shallows. In 2023, villagers in Malcampo and the Bantay Dagat team rescued a stranded dugong.

05 · Cashew country

One harvest, a whole town waiting.

Inland, the land belongs to the cashew. Roxas grows more of it than any other town in Palawan, the province that grows most of the country's cashew.

A close view of many whole cashew nuts — The harvest · Freepik

Cashew nuts spilling from a burlap sack into a wooden bowl — Roasted and ready

Trays of roasted cashew nuts on display — Pasalubong

Cashew trees here fruit once a year; the lean months run roughly from June to December. In Malcampo, the Roxas Seed Growers Multi-Purpose Cooperative runs the Palawan Cashew Processing Center, roasting nuts and pressing the shells for their oil.

2,400+Hectares of cashew in Roxas, the most in Palawan

~90%Of Philippine cashew comes from Palawan

Top 3Roxas, El Nido and Dumaran lead the province

1×One harvest a year

Every evening, before sunset

The flying foxes.

Most evenings, just before the sun goes down, thousands of giant fruit bats cross the sky over Roxas. Find a spot on the pier and look up.

Be on the pier before sunset

06 · Our story

Nine barrios, one town.

Made by law in 1951 and filled out barrio by barrio. This is how Roxas grew.

1949
A parish before a town

The Church of St. Isidore the Farmer is founded two years before the municipality.
15 May 1951
Nine barrios become Roxas

Republic Act No. 615 separates nine barrios from Puerto Princesa and sets the new town's seat at the sitio of Barbacan, in Del Pilar. Today's barangay New Barbacan still carries the name.
Republic Act No. 615 ↗
1961
New names on the map

Republic Act No. 3331 turns the sitios of San Miguel, Arasan, New Cuyo, Salvacion and Narra into barrios. Arasan is Magara today.
1965
Tagumpay, and Abaroan

Sitio Buayan becomes barrio Tagumpay, "victory". The sitios of Baututo and Egruroan join to become Abaroan.
Today
Thirty-one barangays

Almost 70,000 Roxaseños in a first-class municipality. Poverty incidence fell from 60.62% in 2000 to 16.69% in 2023.

Under the ground

Roxas is historically known as a major silica zone, a mineral-rich municipality in the north of the province.

After WWIIHigh-grade silica is found in the town.

Into the '70sMining gives many families their work.

LaterIt stops because of the harm it does to the land.

Our people

Cuyonon roots

Roxas has one of Palawan's largest Cuyonon communities, and Cuyonon is still spoken at home and in the market alongside Tagalog.

Our elders

The Batak

Batak families live in the uplands of Caramay. In 2013 Roxas hosted the first Batak cultural revival festival, where leaders signed the "Roxas Resolution" for their land and resource rights.

Our flagship

Balintong

In 2020 the town named the Palawan pangolin, Balintong, its flagship species. The first Pangolin Day in 2021 opened with a bike ride: Padyak Para Kay Balintong.

07 · Fiesta

When the town celebrates.

When Roxas turned 55 in 2006, the Panalaminan Festival had motocross, dance and singing contests, a grand parade and fireworks. The town still knows how to throw a party: pageant nights, races on the sand, bands under the lights, and the whole town at the Municipal Hall.

Dancers in barong and patadyong with salakot hats performing a cultural dance on stage — A cultural dance at the Municipal Dome

A performer leaping through a ring of fire held by two others — Through the ring of fire

A dance troupe in black and silver performing on stage — Dance night

A pageant candidate in a gold costume with a sunburst headdress — Pageant night

A motocross rider on a sand track — Motocross on the sand

A band on the Battle of the Bands stage — Battle of the Bands

A dance group performing in the gym — On the gym floor

The 2026 founding-anniversary celebrations at the Municipal Dome, 10 and 11 May, and the races, pageants and contests of fiesta season. Photos: LGU of Roxas.

The town fiesta

Panalaminan Festival

Panalaminan means to mirror the past, present and future of the town: its culture, its practices and its traditions. It is how Roxas celebrates its founding, which falls on 15 May.

Founding day: 15 May, since 1951
In 2006: The 55th founding anniversary, 8 to 15 May
On the programme: Panulo sa Banua by torchlight, motocross, dance and singing contests, a grand parade, fireworks and a concert at the Municipal Plaza

A ripe red cashew apple with its nut hanging among green leaves — The cashew apple · David Stanley, CC BY 2.0

The crop the festival is named for. Festival photographs to come.

The harvest

Kasuy Festival

Kasuy is cashew, and Roxas grows more of it than any other town in Palawan. The festival celebrates the crop the whole town waits for.

The crop: More than 2,400 hectares of cashew, the most in Palawan
The season: One harvest a year; June to December are the lean months
From Roxas: Roasted cashew from the processing center in Malcampo

Students in uniform lined up at the Municipal Hall

A pageant candidate in a feathered headdress

A pageant candidate in a jewelled costume

Pageant candidates in gold costumes on stage

Crowds on the beach watching boats come in

A motocross rider in late-afternoon light

A concert stage in front of a crowd at night

A motocross rider in mid-air over the sand

Women cheering in front of the Municipal Hall

A motocross rider turning on a sand track

Officials holding a certificate on stage

Celebrations, races, school days and service: 47 photographs. Photos: LGU of Roxas.

08 · Municipal Hall

At your service.

Tell us what you came for, and we'll point you to the right office.

Aerial view of the Roxas Municipal Hall and its plaza — **Above**The Municipal Hall and plaza. Photo: LGU of Roxas.

Vision

A peaceful and progressive community with sufficient access and opportunities for livelihood, health, quality education and good infrastructure, employing sustainable protection and use of natural resources, and a municipality practicing honest, effective, competent and participatory governance.

Mission

Sustain and heighten people's active participation in development planning, project implementation and over-all governance.

Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Email: roxaspalawanlgu@gmail.com
Mayor's office: 0935 051 7854
Facebook: Bayan ng Roxas, Palawan ↗

What did you come for?

Today in Roxas

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eBPLS↗ Bids and Awards↗ Careers and Opportunities↗ Citizen's Charter 2026↗

In an emergency

Hotlines

MDRRMO0910 020 0456
Municipal Police Station0998 598 5872
Bureau of Fire Protection0948 037 7920
Philippine Coast Guard0966 963 6196
2nd Palawan PMFC0917 195 9233
MBLT 70917 303 8126
10SFC, Philippine Army0912 925 3382
Office of the Mayor0935 051 7854

From the LGU's hotline card. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911.

Thirty-one barangays

Find your barangay

Mayor Pedy B. Sabando speaking into a microphone on stage at night — **Portrait**Mayor Pedy B. Sabando at the Municipal Dome, May 2026. Photo: LGU of Roxas.

Mayor's corner

Hon. Pedy B. Sabando

Municipal Mayor

“…to make you feel that your local government is alive, present, responsive and accountable.”

Pedy B. SabandoThen Municipal Mayor-elect, at the inauguration of the newly elected municipal officials

10Rescue vehicles arrived by April 2026

31One for every barangay, the goal by 2028

FuelShouldered by the LGU

Call the Office of the Mayor Vice Mayor: Hon. Alfredo B. Enojas Jr.

News and advisories

From home.

What's new in Roxas, summarised in English, with links to the full stories. The Citizen's Charter 2026 (3rd edition) lists the steps, fees and time for every LGU service. Read it ↗

Clear shallow water and trees along the Roxas shore

1 December 2025 · Environment

Ordinance 1057 protects the dugong's seagrass meadows

The new Dugong Habitat Local Conservation Area sets up a management committee with C3 Philippines, PCSD and DENR.

The Municipal Hall with a crowd on the plaza

15 April 2026 · Health

Rescue vehicles arrive, with one pledged for every barangay

About ten vehicles are in service, with the LGU paying for fuel. All 31 barangays should have one by 2028.

22 April 2026 · Livelihood

Seaweed farmers on Green Island get help after the typhoons

BFAR gave farm inputs to 200 fisherfolk in Barangay Tumarbong after typhoons Tino and Uwan.

5 May 2026Residents are consulted on a proposed biomass power plant 23 April 2026A DBP loan will fund farm equipment and the Roxas People's Park February 2026Two Palawan leopard cat kittens rescued in Tagumpay go to rehab 5–20 January 2026eBOSS 2026: business permit renewals at the VRRM Municipal Gymnasium

The road home

Uwi na.

Come home, or come for the first time. From Puerto Princesa, the road follows the east coast north for about two and a half hours. Then the sea opens up on your right.

Watch the sun rise again Official website ↗

Van · Puerto Princesa to Roxas

Puerto PrincesaSan Jose Terminal

RoxasRoxas Transport Terminal

Travel: ~2 h 30 min
Fare: ₱500
By bus: 3 to 4 h

Departs 5:30 · 7:30 · 9:30 · 10:30 AM
1:30 · 3:30 · 5:30 · 6:00 PM

One operator's schedule (Eulen Joy Express) as listed in September 2026; fuel surcharges may apply. Confirm before you travel.

Admit onePauwiNo. 1951