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This Week in Palawan (March 8 to 14, 2021)
Palawan travel guidelines will still require COVID-19 testing.
By: Denisse Shawntel Tan | March 08, 2021
Along with its COVID-19 vaccination campaign, Palawan is also preparing for tourism. For one, the local government unit is still deciding on whether it would follow the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF)’s latest domestic travel guidelines. In addition, tourist spot Calauit Safari Park is planning to reopen after almost a year of temporary closure. The government is also preparing for the 2021 Palawan Division plebiscite which will see whether Palawan will be divided into three separate provinces.
Lockdown News: Isolation polling places installed for the March 13 plebiscite
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) placed isolation polling places (IPPs) during the plebiscite that will occur on March 13, 2021, Comelec Commissioner Antonio Kho Jr said in a virtual press conference. The IPPs, which can accommodate five voters at a time, will be used by voters who are showing signs of COVID-19 infections such as fever, cough, and colds. Any voters who would refuse to use the IPP wouldn’t be allowed to vote [1].
The result of the 2021 Palawan plebiscite will decide if Palawan should be divided into three: Palawan del Norte, Palawan del Norte, and Palawan del Sur. The IPPs can also be utilized by Palawan LGU for the May 2022 election if they prove effective.
Travel Updates
Palawan LGU undecided about adopting new IATF travel guidelines
Palawan’s local government unit is still deciding whether to adopt IATF’s latest domestic travel guidelines released last February 27, 2021. The main revision in the guidelines include the removal of mandatory quarantine upon arriving at the destination. This change is currently being studied by City Administrator Atty. Arnel Pedrosa and Provincial Information Officer Winston Arzaga.
According to Pedrosa, the changes might not be suitable for Palawan given the situation in the province. In contrast to the removal of mandatory COVID-19 testing, Palawan travel guidelines will continue to require negative RT-PCR test results within 48 hours of departure from all tourists [2].
Calauit Safari Park will reopen soon
The Palawan Information Office (PIO) announced last February 22 that they are planning to reopen the Calauit Safari Park in Busuanga to local tourists in order to recover losses from the year-long lockdown. The PIO also said that they will evaluate the readiness of the safari park before it formally reopens. The evaluation will cover the park’s capacity to implement standard health protocols that can lessen the spread of COVID-19 [3].
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) and Palawan Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Chief Jeremis Alili also said that visits to the safari will be allowed at limited capacity. An isolation room will also be placed within the premises in case a tourist exhibits COVID-19 symptoms. In addition, park rangers will also be trained to conduct basic life support for emergency preparedness.
Shopping News: Robinsons Place Palawan adjusts mall hours
Robinsons Place Palawan adjusted its mall hours effective March 1. The new mall hours are from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM from Monday to Sunday. The supermarket hours are 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM from Monday to Sunday [4].
Health News: Palawan is among areas to be prioritized for vaccine
Governor Jose Alvarez said last February 27 that Vaccine Czar and IATF Head Carlito Galvez Jr committed to prioritizing Palawan in vaccine distribution after Palawan submitted its COVID-19 vaccination master plan [5]. In a letter written by Galvez, he said that no one will get left behind once the major volume of vaccines will arrive. Even months before the arrival of the first batch of vaccines, Palawan has already been training health workers and preparing cold chain storage facilities.
Provincial Spokesperson Winston Arzaga also previously said in an interview that Palawan’s vaccination programs might start by April 2021. The vaccination plan aims to inoculate over 400,000 residents.
Go to Yoorekka for more updates on Palawan vaccination plans and the COVID-19 situation in the province.
Sources:
[1] http://bit.ly/3eccJh0
[2] http://bit.ly/3qcSTEw
[3] http://bit.ly/3ebgP92
[4] http://bit.ly/38dEsdb
[5] http://bit.ly/3uV3Iia
About Denisse Shawntel Tan
Denisse Tan is currently a work in progress: she’s an aspiring writer, artist, and fashion designer! She’s trying to figure out how to manage her time in achieving all of her goals while also taking in life as humanly possible. Aside from art, she’s a big fan of the color pink, disco music, Bratz dolls, and Genshin Impact. By age 35, she plans to travel to New York City 🗽.
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