This Week in Palawan (March 16 to 22, 2019)

If you’re a sun, sand, and sea worshiper, you’ll surely rejoice this week as pleasant weather will continue to prevail over Palawan [1]. Schedule a beach getaway on Friday and Saturday when the sun is at its fullest. However, from Monday to Wednesday, you will see some morning and afternoon showers and thunderstorm around, but don’t cancel your planned adventure right away as this gloomy weather won’t last. Bask again in the beauty of nature in the remaining days of the week as the sun returns in all its glory. While there are some clouds and showers this week, it’s still better to slather on sunscreen and drink plenty of water to counter the heat. Temperature, meanwhile, will range from 26 °C to 27 °C.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has requested the Puerto Princesa City government to allow the construction of the national road up to Barangay Cabayugan’s Sitio Sabang, the jump-off point to the famed Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) [2]. Engr. Arthur Torillo, DPWH 3rd Engineering District’s spokesman, said the national road going to PPUR is only until Bgy. Bahile, while the remaining narrow paved road is covered by the city government. Since the said road links to a major tourist destination, Torillo said his district office can fund its conversion into a wider national road if their proposal sits well with the city government.

Hostelworld, a top hostel booking app, has recently named Coron town in northern Palawan as one of its 11 “up-and-coming destinations” for 2019 [3]. The list was revealed based on its “year-on-year increases in total bookings made from 2017-2018.” Hostelworld describes the tourist town as an “alternative to the country’s top tourist destination, Boracay,” and as a destination “for those who want a closer encounter of nature and the local culture.” “It’s home to an exceptional biodiversity unique to the island and its natural environment is rich in forests, coral reefs and pristine beaches,” Hostelworld added. Of all the Philippine destinations, only Coron made it to Hostelworld’s list.

The British government has vowed to support the El Nido local government in constructing a sewage treatment plant (STP) in the tourist town [4]. This developed after the town officials met with United Kingdom’s ambassador and prime minister at a dinner event in Manila last month. El Nido municipal administrator RJ de la Calzada said the British government would particularly help them in setting up a filtration system that will block larger particles so they would not reach natural waterways. In November 2018, El Nido was saved from being closed down but was ordered instead to undertake a six-month rehab, which primarily focuses on putting up the town’s second STP to bring back the “swimmable” water quality of some areas in Bacuit Bay found to have high fecal coliform levels.

Local government units all over Palawan have been reminded to implement their own anti-terrorism campaigns to maintain the reporting of potential threats to authorities [5]. The Provincial Board manifested this by approving a resolution authored by Board Member Clarito Demaala IV. The local lawmaker suspected Palawan, being a popular tourist destination, is among the provinces targeted by kidnap-for-ransom terrorist groups like the Abu Sayyaf. Aside from the military and police-led initiatives to ensure the safety and security in Palawan, he stressed that the LGUs should also be active in informing their residents of the need to be alert and watchful of suspicious persons or groups in their localities.

Visit Yoorekka to learn more about the latest happenings and attractions in Palawan.