Early History

There is no existing document that shows who or when the underground river was first discovered, but it is widely accepted that the islands early inhabitants were the first to have known of its existence. The earliest mention one could hold of would be that of an Assistant Professor of Zoology at the University of Michigan who later became the Secretary of Interior at the first decade of American rule, Dean C. Worcester who wrote in 1887 while touring the island of Palawan "if accounts are to be believed, of a lake opening to the sea by a Subterranean River".

As early as 1950, environmentalist and other concerned parties proposed that the area be declared as a protected area. It was established in March 26, 1971 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation (PP) No. 835. Formerly known as the St. Paul Subterranean National Park, it consisted three thousand nine hundred and one hectares (3,901). To adequately protect the watershed of the Underground River and ensure the long-term viability of significant biodiversity, PP No. 212 was issued in November 16, 1999 expanding the area of the Park to 22,202 hectares. The name of the Park was also changed to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park to properly identify it with the place.

Management of the Park falls under the scope of Republic Act No. 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Area Systems (NIPAS) Act and Republic Act No. 7611 or the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) Law for Palawan. Based on the Provisions of RA No. 7160 or the LG Code of the Philippines