This Week in Palawan (August 28 to September 3, 2022)

Palawan, tagged as one of the best diving spots in the country, is more than ready now to welcome international divers to the Philippines. One is Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, located in the southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, and Coron in Palawan, belongs among the best diving spots in the Philippines, in an article by the National Geographic-United Kingdom website last June 2022.

An ongoing Philippine International Dive Expo 2022 (Phidex 2022) in the country has staged its biggest dive expo, highlighting its preparation to accept international divers after a hiatus in the diving sector for almost two years due to the pandemic.

The theme, ‘Back into the Blue: One with the Sea’, reflects a time of revival in showcasing the Philippines’s stunning diving spots to international divers from all over the world. This is also in line with Philippine borders now open for leisure travel.

Speakers from international source markets and international buyers from all over the world attended the big event coming from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Meanwhile, preserving the wildlife in the country is further boosted by strengthening the wildlife conservation and protection policies. According to Senator Cynthia A. Villar, despite RA No. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, crimes involving the destruction of wildlife still exist.

Protecting wildlife resources in areas of the Philippines like Palawan has also been affected by the pandemic, tracing the origins of the virus as coming from bats and might have infected traders of bat meat where initial cases of the virus were traced.

The Hotel Sales and Marketing Association of the Philippines (HSMA) organized an event encouraging travelers to engage more in exploring different places and to entice them to rediscover and experience leisure travel again.

With the theme, “Eat, Stay, Love,” the online travel mart showcased hospitality packages. It includes hotel room stays, exclusive recreational offers, weekend package deals, rejuvenating spa offers, vacation getaway experiences, group tours package deals, and food and beverage offers.

To avail of these leisure travel deals, travelers can book through this website, https://www.hsma.org.ph/sos/, from September 1 to 30 without the inconvenience of queuing in line and rushing to avail of the limited promotions, just like the setups in travel bazaars. This month-long online travel bazaar includes various offers and services of bars, restaurants, banquet packages, spas, and hotel amenities and accommodations, making the campaign for leisure travel more exciting and accessible to travelers and tourists.

Travel packages and lifestyle deals of hotels and vacation spots from all over the Philippines, including in Metro Manila, Boracay, Bohol, Cebu, Davao, and Palawan—all showcasing various travel deals inclusive for every traveler.

Vacation spots in Palawan are included among the 78 resorts and hotels from all over the Philippines featured in the month-long travel fair. These hotels and resorts are the following: Astoria Palawan, Bacau Bay, Club Paradise Palawan, El Nido Resorts in Pangulasian Island, Huni Lio in El Nido, Palawan, Miniloc Island Resort, and Seda Lio.

All vouchers purchased through this online travel fair have no expiration dates, and these packages can be availed through secured online payment platforms.

This event also acknowledges HSMA’s partners that helped make the event possible—Atlantis, Media Meter, The Department of Tourism, and the Tourism Promotions Board. The event is also made possible with the help of exclusive sponsors, namely Maya and Megaworld International.

Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital in Palawan is ordered to refund overcharged COVID-19 patients for the overall cost of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medicines.

The Commission on Audit (COA) released a 2021 report on the Department of Health (DOH) that this particular government hospital in Palawan should process the reimbursement of the overcharges for the medicines and PPE used by the medical staff.

Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital (CSGH) reported overcharging around 5.27 million pesos worth of PPE costs and PhP227,417.70 for the medicines. [1]

COA recommends the hospital’s health secretary connect with CSGH medical center chief for the refund of the said overcharges to the patients.

On another note, the United States Embassy Civil Affairs Team (CAT) donated and turned over medical relief donations, financial assistance, tents, and medical supplies to support local humanitarian aid and disaster relief preparedness in the province of Palawan.

During an event in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, the US-based embassy turned over the donations and assistance to the Palawan provincial government last August 12, 2022. Palawan Governor Dennis Socrates and US Embassy Acting Public Affairs Officer Nina Lewis were in the ceremony.

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard and sailors from the hospital ship in the US helped deliver the supplies to Palawan.

Palawan Governor Dennis Socrates expressed gratitude and assured us that the supplies received would help continue Palawan’s disaster preparedness and efforts.

The US CAT currently has a long-standing partnership with Palawan’s local government unit (LGU) and its military and coast guard. Training initiatives, outreach activities, medical programs, and other collaborative efforts are in the works with this collaboration in support of Palawan’s COVID-19 response operations.

Visit Yoorekka Magazine for more travel and COVID-19 updates and guidelines in Palawan!