This Week in Metro Manila (June 25 to July 1, 2018)

A cloudy week looms ahead as the rainy season continues to bring occasional thunderstorms. The entire Manila area will be covered with dark clouds, and light to moderate rainfall is expected to occur during the day. As the weather will be rainy, the temperature will be a bit cool with a range of 31 °C to 32 °C. To be prepared for the rain, a sturdy umbrella will be suitable to bring every day along with a sweater, jacket, or coat [1].

Despite several protests from transport groups, the new modern jeepneys have been rolled out last week. Transport officials have released 15 units of modern jeeps that take selected routes around Pasay City.

Some of the routes include one from Star City or Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC); another from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) or Senate to the SM Mall of Asia and finally to the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange and back [2].

Philippine Airlines (PAL) will start to limit the amount of allowed free baggage on both domestic and London flights as an effort to lessen the impact of jet fuel costs. For domestic flights, PAL cut down the baggage allowance to 10 kilograms from 20 kilograms. A spokesperson from PAL said only promo fares on domestic flights would be covered by the reduction.

Meanwhile, London flights which previously allow two pieces weighing 23 kilograms each are now limited to only 30 kilograms for a single piece in economy class. For business class passenger, free baggage allowance is modified from two pieces at 32 kilograms per piece to 40 kilograms for a single piece [3].

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is instructed by President Rodrigo Duterte to arrest loiterers (specifically those who smoke, urinate, or drink alcohol in public) along Manila in an effort to reduce the crime rate in the city. As such, tourists who are staying in Manila must avoid drinking and smoking in public places.

Along with loitering, half-naked or shirtless men would also be captured, as well as minors who are out past the curfew [4].