PALAWAN - The Puerto Princesa Underground River Management is mulling over increasing the entrance fee to the world famous natural wonder.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, commonly known as Underground River, made it to the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2011. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

According to Beth Maclang, park superintendent, thousands of tourists flock to Sabang everyday to visit the Underground River.

Maclang said the increase was proposed since times have changed, as there is a need to raise funds for the maintenance of the caves, as well as the whole park where it sits.

She added, however, that the Underground River is self-sustaining: all expenses of the Sabang Wharf and salary of the staff come from the cave entrance fee.

Under the proposal, starting March 1, 2017, the cost of the one-day cave tour will increase to P500, from the current P150 for locals and P250 for foreign tourists.

Local residents will get a discount of 20 percent.

Part of the increase will pay for the paperless transaction and bar-coded cards for access to the cave tour.