This Week in Palawan (March 30 to April 5, 2019)

Summer is indeed here! Hot temperature ranging from 27 °C to 28 °C throughout the week will be felt all over Palawan [1]. And what better way to cool off during these scorching hot days than going to a beach or waterfalls? However, prolonged exposure to sunlight is harmful to your skin, so better slather on sunscreen before doing anything else. Of course, drink plenty of water and munch on watery fruits to keep yourself hydrated. Generally, the weather this week varies from partly cloudy with a few showers to mostly sunny.

Palawan should impose a speed regulation on tourist vans to avoid road accidents, according to provincial board member Dennis Sabando [2]. The local lawmaker cited recent vehicular collisions in northern Palawan, particularly in his hometown Roxas, which involved tourists as passengers. Sabando said it could have been avoided had the tourist van observed a speed limit of not less than 100 kilometer per hour, instead of plying the road at around 120 kph. On social media, netizens, on one hand, raised a study that says the safer speed cap is less than 80 kph. Some suggested the tourist vans should be electronically or mechanically limited to ensure the policy’s enforcement.

Travelers coming from northern Philippines can now fly from Clark, Pampanga to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan via local carrier Royal Air Philippines [3]. This developed as the airline firm’s AVRO 146-RJ100 had its inaugural flight to Puerto Princesa City International Airport on March 4. Royal Air initially flew 80 passengers in its maiden flight, but each of its aircraft will carry 97 passengers four times a week every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Royal Air CEO Ed Novillas, meanwhile, announced they would be launching a second commercial flight from Cebu to Puerto Princesa City by the end of May 2019.

Cuna Hotel was recently shut down by the municipal government for numerous violations [4]. In a notice dated March 16, the municipal mayor cited the following violations of the luxury hotel: operating without a business permit; no occupancy permit; illegal disposal of untreated wastewater to the nearby barangay; no test result of the hotel’s safe water quality; and hotel management continuously defying closure order. “Please be a responsible tourist and stop patronizing incompliant businesses,” the notice read. The municipal government, on one hand, issued lists of compliant accommodations as alternatives and recommended tourists to get their refunds through their booking agents.

The municipal government of Bataraza is encouraging tourists to visit Barangay Sandoval’s Gangub Cave this summertime [5]. Gangub Cave, also known as Panuyon Cave, is a 30-minute drive south of the town proper. “Panuyon” is a native term for “bat,” and it’s fitting since the cave is home to a colony of bats. In 2017, the House of Representatives passed House Bill 5794 declaring it a tourist destination. Currently, the municipal government is working on the budget approval for the concreting of an access road leading to the cave.

The Provincial Board urged local government units all over Palawan to install fire hydrants in public places within their jurisdiction [6]. In a privilege speech, Board Member Eduardo Modesto Rodriguez said this equipment is needed in areas like commercial establishments, public markets, and government offices where many people converge. “It’s important to have available sources of water, especially in places with establishments made up of light materials,” Rodriguez said. The installation of fire hydrants is especially needed this fire prevention month of March up to summertime, and should be considered a priority in the LGU planning. The provincial fire bureau has so far recorded 53 fire incidents from January up to the first week of March.

For more updates on the latest happenings and newest attractions in Palawan, visit Yoorekka.