This Week in Palawan (July 13 to 20, 2019)

Cloudy skies will hover over Palawan throughout the week, forecast shows [1]. Bring your umbrella when you go out on Saturday (July 13), as well as on Wednesday to Saturday (July 17 to 20) when showers are expected. Along with a couple of thunderstorms, the sun would peek through the clouds on Sunday to Tuesday (July 14 to 16). Day and night temperature for the week will range from 28 °C-30 °C and 24.4 °C-27 °C, respectively. With the onset of rainy season comes the proliferation of dengue-carrying mosquitoes, hence the need to protect yourself with mosquito repellent. Earlier this month, local health authorities declared a dengue outbreak in Barangays Buenavista and Cabayugan in Puerto Princesa City [2]. Cabayugan forms part of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

Newly-elected Councilor Elgin Damasco is pushing for the lowering of traffic penalties in Puerto Princesa City [3]. Damasco, who now chairs the City Council transportation committee, claimed that the imposition of existing penalties of PhP3,000 to PhP5,000 isn’t a be-all and end-all solution to reducing the number of road policy violators. The councilor said public consultations have to be held with regards to this move. He also suggested suspending the franchise of erring tricycle drivers and operators instead for them to really shape up for good. “I believe if we lower the penalties, our drivers would still avoid committing traffic violations, because doing such would leave them losing their franchise and their very source of livelihood,” Damasco said in a privilege speech recently.

Skyjet will start offering direct flights from Manila to San Vicente starting July 16. The airline will fly four times a week to San Vicente every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday [4]. Air travel time is 50 minutes, shorter than the road travel from Puerto Princesa City to San Vicente that lasts up to three to four hours. Located in the northwestern part of Palawan, the emerging tourist town is known for its 14.7-kilometer Long Beach, which is three times the size of Boracay. It also boasts of stunning islands, waterfalls, and other natural attractions. Aside from Skyjet, Philippine Airlines has been flying to San Vicente five times a week since October 2018. If you opt to visit El Nido, San Vicente is an ideal jumpoff as El Nido is just two hours away.

Palawan ranked 8th in Lonely Planet’s “10 best places to visit in the Asia Pacific” list this year [5]. “Long known as the Philippines’ last frontier, Palawan has ridden a slew of media accolades to the cusp of international superstardom. Fortunately, it’s not there yet,” the travel website stated. Lonely Planet noted that “new air routes and upgraded roads” make exploring Palawan “easier than ever.” The travel website said this 400-kilometer long main island features “dramatic seascapes and wildlife-laden jungles.” It also mentioned El Nido as the province’s “crown jewel,” where “skyscraping karst formations rise out of blue water in Bacuit Bay.” For those who want to skip the crowd, Lonely Planet recommends backpackers haven Port Barton, a coastal village in the up-and-coming San Vicente town. Australia’s Margaret River, meanwhile, got the top spot in the list.

Visiting Palawan anytime soon? Check out Yoorekka.com for the latest travel updates!