This Week in Palawan (August 17 to 23, 2020)

A new food delivery app is now accessible in Puerto Princesa City. Happy App was launched last August 3 by a team of Palawenos with a goal of helping local businesses of Puerto Princesa. The app charges PhP45 per delivery within the city to other areas such as Barangay Irawan and Barangay Sta. Lourdes. The rate is fixed and does not include an additional charge per exceeding distance. Happy App also includes contactless payment for safer transactions, and deliveries are open from Monday to Sunday at 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM [1]. The app is available for iOs and Android devices. As of writing, it has 8 drivers and does not allow multiple orders.

Residents of Puerto Princesa are taking a huge step in helping the environment by using eco bags and baskets while shopping in public markets [2]. Months ago, Ordinance no. 993 or “the Single Use Plastic and Styrofoam Regulation in Puerto Princesa” was implemented in the city. The ordinance was announced in September 2019 and implemented in all Puerto Princesa establishments last April 16 [3].

Its main goal is to help in reducing plastic wastes and in protecting the environment. The ordinance prohibits the use of plastic cups, bags, drinking straws, cutleries, coffee stirrers, and styrofoam. Violators will be fined PhP1,000 for first offense; PhP3,000 for the second, and PhP5,000 for succeeding offenses. They will also have their business and mayor’s permits cancelled.

The Norwegian Embassy in the Philippines donated over 300 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) to Puerto Princesa last August 6 in order to help the health workers in the city. The donation, which is estimated to be worth around PhP1 million, consists of masks, head covers, hazmat suits, googles, surgical gloves, medical gowns, shoe covers, and face shields. Other donated items include medical supplies such as pulse oximeters, alcohol bottles, and non-contact thermometers [4].

Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates and lockdown news in Palawan.