This Week in Palawan (April 27 to May 3, 2019)

Continue to befriend sunscreen as it will remain sunny throughout the week [1]. With the day temperature ranging from warm to hot at 28.330 C to 34.40 C, drinking plenty of water and consuming watery fruits should be on your to-do list, especially when you’re on a vacation and out in the sun. Doing these life-saving rituals would spare you from experiencing dehydration and even heat stroke. Summer weather will continue to be felt at night at 26.10 C to 28.30 C, so wear something light and thin for a comfortable sleep. Although it will be a sunshine-filled week, there would be a few passing showers on Monday up to Wednesday.

The Puerto Princesa City government has given 1,683 tricycle franchise holders a 30-day extension to process the renewal of their mayor’s permit [2]. Mayor Lucilo Bayron granted the said extension beginning April 12 upon the request of tricycle operators and drivers who failed to meet the deadline last February 28. This was due to technical glitch in the Land Transportation Office server, and lack of fund for renewal, among other reasons. Tricycles are one of the primary modes of transportation in the City. Out of the estimated 6,250 tricycles, 4,000 of which have regular franchises, while the remaining ones have been granted special permits to operate.

Puerto Princesa City will cap off its week-long “Pangalipay sa Baybay” 2019 celebration today, April 27 [3]. The festival’s name is a local dialect Cuyono phrase translated as “Merry Making at the Bay.” In the past five days, the City Baywalk saw fun-filled activities such as cars and bikes shows, a food festival where the public can sample the specialties of participating accommodations, and Zumba sessions and electronic dance music party for the young and young at heart. Meanwhile, the festival will feature a Baywalk Bodies 2019 competition for its final night tonight.

Tourists from Taoyuan, Taiwan can soon fly directly to Puerto Princesa City in Palawan via Tigerair [4]. This will be possible as the international budget airline will be launching the said new route on June 7. Taoyuan is a special municipality in northwestern Taiwan. The management said it will offer three flights every week, departing from Taiwan Taoyuan International airport at 1:15 PM every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. This is in addition to the existing direct international flights from Taipei, which is seen to further boost the City’s tourism industry. Last year, arrival data shows that Taiwanese tourists ranked fourth among top foreign nationalities who visited the city.

In southern Palawan, around 60 tourist establishments, including accommodations, were inspected by tourism authorities for their compliance with the Tourism Act of 2009 [5]. Once these primary tourism enterprises meet the requirements set in the Philippines’ Building Code, Solid Waste Management Act and other tourism and environment-related laws, they will be accredited to operate by the Department of Tourism (DOT). According to the Provincial Tourism Promotions and Development Department (PTPDD), the inspected establishments are complete in documentary requirements, but particularly need to put up rest areas, safety deposit boxes and ramps for persons with disabilities. Their staff also needs to be trained on basic life support to get DOT accreditation.

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