MANILA -- Palawan reclaimed the top spot in Travel + Leisure's "World's Best Islands" list for 2020 after getting the most number of votes from the magazine's readers.

In an article published on July 8, Travel + Leisure writer Sara Clemence described the popular Philippine destination as "dramatic at sea level, with mountains rising directly from the ocean palm-edged beaches."

"Though it's difficult to reach from many parts of the world, once travelers get there they can dive in World War II wrecks, explore old-growth rain forests, and paddle one of the world's longest subterranean rivers at Puerto Princesa," Clemence wrote.

On Thursday, the Department of Tourism (DOT) celebrated Palawan's latest achievement through a post on its Facebook page.

"Palawan reclaimed its rightful place in the World's Best Awards. The citation as the Best Island in the World is all the more important because this is voted upon by the readers of the prominent Travel + Leisure magazine," said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

"It's wonderful to see that our rehabilitation and sustainable development efforts last year, especially in El Nido and Coron, were well-received by tourists everywhere," she added.

The DOT noted that Palawan has so far topped the World's Best Islands four times.

Another Philippine destination that made the cut this year is Boracay, which ranked 14th.

The complete list can be found here.