Tourism Secretary Christina G. Frasco has called on tourists to visit the tropical paradise of Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro, saying the area  remains unaffected by the oil spill triggered by the sinking of motor tanker (MT) Princess Empress on Feb. 28. To showcase the  beauty of Puerto Galera and prove that it remains 100 percent open for tourists, the Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary herself joined divers in a scuba diving activity on Wednesday, April 12. She was accompanied by Puerto Galera Mayor Rocky Ilagan, Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination and Resource Generation (TRCRG) Shahlimar  Hofer Tamano, and Region 4B Director Zeny Pallugna at the La Laguna Point, a popular dive spot in the local travel destination.  “Napakaganda ng Puerto Galera (Puerto Galera is very beautiful)! We are very hopeful that the message is sent across to everyone that they should come and visit Puerto Galera,” Frasco, who sits as the chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD), said. “Puerto Galera continues to be unaffected by the oil spill and it continues to open itself to tourism worldwide.” The chief of the DOT expressed optimism that the recovery and transformation of tourism under the Marcos Administration will be sustained thanks to the efforts of the Provincial Government of Mindoro. “Notwithstanding the difficulties, the challenges, and the calamities this province has and is facing, the Philippines, including Puerto Galera and Mindoro continues to be a beautiful tourist destination,” she continued. Ilagan, for his part, expressed gratitude to the tourism department for paying a special visit to the town, noting that Frasco was the first tourism secretary to step foot in Puerto Galera since 2003.  “For us dito sa bayan ng Puerto Galera, we are grateful na dumating ang Tourism Secretary. Maraming salamat din sa ating Regional Director ng DOT, kay Usec. na nandito rin ngayon, di ko maipaliwanag kung gaano kami kasaya after so many years (For us here in the town of Puerto Galera, we are grateful that the Tourism Secretary came. Also, thank you so much to our Regional Director of DOT, to Usec., who is still here today, I can't explain how happy we are after so many years),” the mayor of Puerto Galera said.  According to the DOT, Puerto Galera is known for its scuba diving places, which provide diving veterans and even enthusiasts a diverse view of the beneath, combining a spectacular view of shipwrecks, corals, and other marine life.  Local tourism data showed that a total of 18,757 tourists visited the tropical paradise between April 3 and 10, 2023, with China, South Korea, the United States of America (USA), Japan, and Germany being the major international market sources.  Despite the fact that there is no oil slick in the town, Frasco said at least 66 tourist sites and more than 1,400 tourism workers have been impacted by the oil spill from the sinking ship.