This Week in Palawan (November 24 to 30, 2018)

What a better way to kick off this week than to have fun under the sun, as its first few days will give us some sunshine, AccuWeather forecast shows [1]. If you’re itching to go to the beach, then the best days to get tanned would be on Saturday and Sunday, November 24 and 25. The rest of the days are going to be filled with showers and thunderstorms, with the chance of rain set at around 60%. Travel buffs with a sense of adventure, however, may find this weather ideal for extreme water activities like chasing waterfalls.

There isn’t much traffic congestion this week particularly at the city, except during the early morning and late afternoon rush hours when students and workers are heading to and from schools and workplaces. If you’re new in Puerto Princesa, its traffic might seem tolerable compared to that in big cities like Manila and Cebu. But if you’re running out of time to tick off all in the bucket list of your tight-scheduled Palawan escapade, go out on the road way earlier or late at night to maximize your stay.

Worry not! El Nido wouldn’t face the same fate as Boracay, which was plagued with various environmental law violations and was shut down for six months for rehabilitation. But starting this November up to the next six months, expect El Nido to shape up for good. During your visit, you might see the demolition of some 50 business establishments with structures encroaching on the coastal easement zone in Barangay Corong-corong [2]. If you’ve already booked with an inn or hotel located along Corong-corong Beach, check with its staff if your stay is affected by the demolition and if yes, ask to be transferred to another accommodation in case a refund isn’t applicable.

The El Nido municipal government is planning to pass a carrying capacity ordinance that would control the entry of tourists to its famous Small and Big Lagoons [3]. The measure is seen to promote authentic visitor experience. Under the proposed policy, only 40 visitors and 20 kayaks can be allowed in Small Lagoon, while twice the amount is allowed in Big Lagoon at a time. Each batch could stay there for up to 1.5 hours before the next one comes in. The proposal is subject to adoption of the municipal board and eventually slated for immediate implementation.