This Week in Palawan (March 2 to 8, 2019)

This week starts with a morning shower on Saturday, but fret not since the rest of the days will be mostly sunny [1]. Whether you want to go island hopping, caving, waterfall chasing, or hiking, Palawan lends an endless list of adventure-filled activities to try out this sunshine-filled week. Day and night temperatures range from 260 C to 280 C and 260 C to 270 C, respectively. Although the week will be warm and the cold wind still prevails, it’s best to apply sunscreen and use an umbrella to protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet rays when you go out in the sun.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has advised vehicle owners to visit the Palawan District Office in Puerto Princesa City and get their plate numbers to avoid hassle [2]. Vehicle owners who can claim theirs are those who applied in 2017 onwards. LTO Palawan District Office chief Antonia Dela Cruz said they have already released over 1,000 plates since three years ago, even as they have been continuously distributing plates every time it arrives from their regional office. Dela Cruz said clients should identify where they have registered, because they don’t cover plates applied for in the National Capital Region.

See Also: Gas Up for Less When Traveling

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), an agency under the Department of Transportation (DOTr), has opened 19 new Roll-on/Roll-off (RORO) missionary routes, including the Cuyo, Palawan to San Jose de Buenavista, Antique route [3]. A RORO missionary route involves one or more direct links covering two RORO-capable ports that have no existing shipping service due to geographic limitation and/or absence of market viability. MARINA encourages shipping companies to operate in any of the newly-opened RORO missionary routes in support of the enhancement of the country’s RORO Terminal System, a seamless stretch of roads and ports to improve inter-island transportation, enhance tourism, and expand regional markets, among others.

To attract more tourists, the Palawan Provincial Government is encouraging farm owners to open their properties as agri-tourism sites [4]. The Provincial Tourism Promotions and Development Department has identified farms all over the province that have potential for agri-tourism. This initiative is part of the strategic action plan for farm tourism development in Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan (MIMAROPA), as prescribed under the Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016. The action plan, jointly crafted in February by provincial tourism officers and representatives from the tourism, agriculture, and trade and industry departments, contains programs and projects for farm tourism development in the MIMAROPA region.

Reality television show Survivor Russia continues its filming in Palawan’s top tourist destination, El Nido [5]. The municipal government has granted the show a special permit to conduct filming from January 26 to March 5 in selected island and beach destinations in town. For this week, Pinagbuyutan Island (under Tour B) and Cadlao Lagoon (under Tour D) are closed to the public from 7 AM to 3 PM on March 2 and 4, respectively. If you’re planning on availing no-frills island hopping tours, choose Tour A (PHP 1,200/head – Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-payong, Secret Lagoon, and Seven Commandos) and Tour C (PHP 1,400/head – Secret Beach, Hidden Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Tapiutan Island, and Helicopter Island) instead.

See Also: 10 Best Palawan Beaches for Your Next Best Vacation in the Philippines

The Palawan Provincial Board has passed a measure requesting the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) to build a floating dock in the Calauit Safari Park in Busuanga [6]. This measure also intends to ask TIEZA to put up a tourist information center in the said attraction in northern Palawan, which is being managed by the Provincial Government. According to its proponent, Board Member Francis Ponce de Leon, the construction of these two facilities would help improve visitor experience. The local lawmaker said it would also cause the Provincial Government to save up and channel more funds to the maintenance of animals in the game reserve and wildlife sanctuary.

To learn more about the latest in Palawan, visit Yoorekka.