BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO – One of the largest property developers in the Philippines operating prime commercial spaces throughout the country is interested in the redevelopment of Sicogon Island in Carles town.
Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) sees a lot of business and economic potentials in Sicogon, said Jose Emmanuel “Junie” Jalandoni, ALI senior vice president and Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts Corp. president.
During the general membership assembly of the Iloilo Economic Development (ILED) Foundation Inc. on Saturday, Jalandoni confirmed that ALI is exploring partnership opportunities to redevelop Sicogon Island.
Sicogon, with its white sand beaches and pristine waters, used to be the playground of the rich and famous in the 1970s until the early 1980s, but fell into neglect. It was eventually eclipsed by Boracay Island.
But despite years of dormancy in the tourism industry, Sicogon still has a “name recall,” said Jalandoni in his presentation titled “Sicogon: Changing the Landscape of Northern Iloilo” over the weekend.
This is one of the reasons why ALI is interested in the island’s revival as a tourist haven, he stressed.
Jalandoni also said the 1,160-hectare Sicogon has a lot more to offer aside from its white sand beaches.
It has rich aquatic resources, good snorkeling and diving sites, and has a protected forest area that is home to a diverse flora and fauna.
The island’s Mt. Opao – its highest peak – also offers a majestic view of the island’s surroundings.
An added attraction is a neighboring island called Tumaquin which is just a 150-meter walk during low tide, said Jalandoni.
Sicogon also has a lagoon in the northern part of the island that can be turned into a natural water reservoir, he added.
Once redeveloped, ALI sees Sicogon Island raking in some P3.2 billion in revenues by 2019.
ALI also sees Sicogon Island’s revival to generate at least 20,000 jobs by 2019 and some 500,000 visitors by that time, too.
Projected revenues from land transportation / van rentals by 2019 is P100 million, P85 million from boat transportation, and income from sales of souvenirs, P190 million.
Projected revenues from island tours by 2019 is P200 million.
Sicogon Island was declared a tourist destination zone by then President Ferdinand Marcos in 1976.
On June 2012, a municipal ordinance that declared Sicogon Island a tourist destination was recognized by the Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) of Iloilo. The declaration aims to revive the island as a tourist destination and to open it for commercial use.
A P10-billion development project was launched on May 9, 2013 by Sicogon Development Corp. (SIDECO) of the Sarrosa family, with the intent of reviving Sicogon as a world-class tourist destination.
The project included constructing a five-star hotel and resort, seaport and an airport on the existing airstrip.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. is hopeful that the revival of Sicogon Island as a tourism zone will improve the overall tourism industry of Iloilo./PN
