This Week in Palawan (May 25 to 31, 2019)

Cloudy skies are expected to prevail over Palawan throughout the week [1]. However, the scorching summer heat can also be felt with temperatures ranging from 28.30C to 30 0C, and 27.20 C to 280 C, day and night respectively. Stay hydrated with lots of water and summer fruits that can help replenish your body fluids, such as watermelon, mango, and pineapple. Wearing sunscreen is also a must, especially when you go outdoors under the blazing sun. Meanwhile, a couple of thunderstorms can also be spotted the whole week, except on Wednesday and Friday. The chance of seeing rain is at 25% to 63%. Bring your umbrella on Wednesday as it's forecasted to have showers.

The regional DOT inspected Busuanga's hotels and other tourism-related establishments last May 14 to 22 to ensure their compliance with the government agency's standards [2]. As an up-and-coming tourist destination, Busuanga is a third-class town in Busuanga Island in northern Palawan. Regional DOT Director Danilo Intong said the inspection coincided with their mobile accreditation in town, held in line with the DOT's tourism standards and enforcement development program. DOT accreditation is "a certification issued by the department to a tourism enterprise that officially recognizes it as having complied with the minimum standards for the operation of tourism facilities and other services." Owners, meanwhile, have been advised on ways to improve their establishments to serve their guests best.

Busuanga has so much to bring to the table, aside from its famed Calauit Safari Park that hosts African and Palawan-native animals [3]. Recently, the municipal tourism office conducted an assessment of potential tourist attractions all over the town. Tourism chief Angelo Davatos noted the possibility of offering wildlife watching around islands in barangays Maglalambay, Panlaitan and San Isidro, with surrounding waters serving as home to sea cows, whale sharks, and sea turtles. He said these barangays also boast of clean, white-sand beaches that can likewise be offered to tourists. “Restaurants serving seafood, a pasalubong center selling dried fish, squid, and the likes can be put up there,” he added. As part of readying the town for tourism, Davatos said they trained tour guides on community guiding and basic life support last month.

The City Council clarified that the City Ordinance 993 or the policy banning single-use plastics and Polystyrene foam in all establishments in Puerto Princesa will be implemented in 2020 and not this October 2019, as opposed to rumors circulating on social media [4]. One of the ordinance's authors, Councilor Nesario Awat, explained that the delayed implementation is for the owners to prepare for the transition. Awat reiterated that the ban on the use of plastic cups, drinking straws, cutleries, coffee stirrers, bags, and Styrofoam will help in reducing plastic wastes that are already harming the environment. Establishment owners caught violating the order will be fined PhP 1,000, PhP 3,000, and PhP 5,000 for first up to third offenses, respectively. Repeating violators will suffer the cancellation of both the permit from the mayor and their business permit.

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