This Week in Metro Manila (August 25 to September 1, 2018)

It will continue to be rainy on the first half of the week; rainfalls ranging from light showers to thunderstorms are forecasted to occur on Monday to Wednesday and Friday to Saturday. The predicted temperature range for the whole week is at around 29 to 31 °C [2]. To prepare, bring an umbrella with you always. Bringing a sweater can also be helpful to cope with the cold winds that come with the thunderstorms.

Good news for Caviteños who regularly commute to Manila: there are now Point-to-Point (P2P) bus routes available from Cavite to the metro: Bacoor to Alabang and Dasmarinas to Alabang. Both routes are operational from Mondays to Fridays.

The Bacoor to Alabang route is available from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM and has a fare of PhP50 for a one-way ticket. Students, PWDs, and senior citizens have a discounted fare of PhP40. Meanwhile, the Dasmarinas to Alabang route’s trip is from 5:30 AM to 7:30 PM and the fare for one-way ticket costs PhP70. The discounted price for students, PWDs, and senior citizens is PhP56 [3].

Official declarations of protests during the National Heroes Day are yet to be announced, but motorists who will pass by near the usual venues such as Mendiola, Rizal Park, and España should pack extra patience or possibly look for alternative routes.

Philippine Airlines has stated that their operations will return to normal after the Xiamen airline fiasco last August 17 wherein a Xiamen Airlines aircraft skidded on the runway of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) due to the intense rain. The airline has also started to operate special flights for those who were stranded during the accident [4].

Those who have flights this week should keep alert for last-minute cancellations due to terrible weather conditions. Monitor the social media pages or websites of the major airlines.

With last year’s celebration as an indication, President Rodrigo Duterte is expected this year to visit the Libingan ng Mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery) to pay respect to Filipino heroes who have helped the country achieved its freedom. Those who are planning to visit Libingan ng Mga Bayani or other nearby establishments can expect tight security at the area.