This Week in Palawan (September 7 to 13, 2019)

If you’re planning to explore the great outdoors, this week gives you the perfect weather to do just that. Take advantage of the sunny days by going to the beach or chasing waterfalls. This is also the ideal time to go hiking to visit upland cultural communities and appreciate their way of life, or to check out historical sites that will let you cherish the island’s rich past. But when you go out under the scorching sun, make sure you bring your reusable water bottle to keep you hydrated as the day temperature ranges from 29°C to 32°C [1]. At night, it’s also going to be warm at 25°C to 26°C. Meanwhile, expect rain to pour down starting September 13 up to the succeeding days.

The tourism offices of the city and provincial governments are pushing for the development of various heritage tourism sites in Puerto Princesa City [2]. The partnership between the said local governments focuses on the preservation of historical sites, such as the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral, Governor’s Residence, Plaza Cuartel, and Eulalia Park near the city port. Also part of the planned cultural tourism development are the surrounding vintage houses with authentic interior and exterior designs dating back to the Spanish Colonial era. After their initial meeting, the key officials from the said tourism offices will meet again this month to discuss the partnership details.

In relation, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) recently trained representatives from the provincial and municipal governments on crafting their own cultural development plan [3]. The said plan will serve as the local governments’ guide to identifying, preserving, and enriching local cultural properties which are deemed important to the country’s rich cultural heritage. The NCCA, meanwhile, has required the local governments to provide funds for the programs, projects, and activities that support the culture and arts development at the local level.

Puerto Princesa City’s tourism hub, Sitio Sabang in Barangay Cabayugan, popular for hosting the underground river, is now powered by solar energy [4]. The micro-grid solar power plant of the Sabang Renewable Energy Corporation (SREC) was launched this second week of September. This plant produces 1.4 megawatts of electricity from solar energy, which is combined with 1.2 megawatts from generators. As it went full operation, it benefits a total of 650 households, as well as hotels, restaurants, and resorts, primarily the Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort. SREC sells power at a subsidized cost of PhP15 for commercial establishments and PhP12 per kilowatt-hour for residential. With much of its power supply come from solar, SREC aims the project to be a model in sustainable renewable energy generation in the Philippines.

The next time you visit one of the white-sand beaches of Puerto Princesa City, you won’t consider taking home anything as a souvenir. This is due to the ban City Councilor Roy Ventura wants to impose on collecting, extracting, and selling sand, pebbles, and other similar resources from any beach within the city [5]. Ventura said this is to maintain the natural beauty of beaches and keep the coastal-marine ecosystem healthy. Individuals caught violating this proposed policy would be fined PhP1,000 up to PhP5,000 and could be jailed for one to six months, depending on the number of offenses. For business establishments, the third offense comes with the revocation of business permits and licenses.

For the best restaurants, hotels, and tourist spots Palawan has to offer, visit Yoorekka Magazine.