Bridges: A partnership of transformation

BY SAMMY JULIAN

IT is a partnership that signals the transformation of Sicogon Island into a sustainable and master-planned tourism hub that will open doors to other island destinations in Western Visayas.

The leading, most diversified and fully integrated property developer in the Philippines, Ayala Land Inc., confirmed over the weekend that it is exploring a joint venture agreement with Sicogon Development Corp., owner of the prime island property located in Carles town.

According to Jose Emmanuel “Junie” Jalandoni, ALI senior vice president and concurrent president of Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts Corp., that company’s eco-tourism development initiative in Sicogon Island is “moving forward in the right direction.”

He disclosed that work on the project starts as soon as its partner, Sicogon Development Corp., has already settled pending issues.

LARGE-SCALE DEVELOPMENT

In a presentation entitled “Sicogon: Changing the Eco-Tourism Landscape in Northern Iloilo” made during the General Assembly of the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (ILEDFI) held at the Amigo Terrace Hotel in Iloilo City, the ALI head said the construction of a 1.2-kilometer airstrip will come first in the five-year development phase of the island..

Under Ayala Land’s initial development plan for Sicogon, the joint venture will develop a total of 60 hectares or 7.4 percent of the island’s total land area.

Aside from the airport, Ayala Land will also develop the jetty port as well as the coastal areas. It will also build a resort, a town center, residential areas, forest trails, shopping centers, retail shops and diving spots, among others.

Jalandoni explained that the project is expected to generate 20,000 employment opportunities with revenues pegged at P3.2 billion.

Visitor arrivals are also expected to reach 500,000 in 2019.

During the same period, Jalandoni said, Sicogon island tours and tour guides are projected to rake in P200 million, while souvenir makers are expected to earn P190 million.

Land transportation, including van rentals’ revenues, are projected at P100 million, with the boat transport sector surrounding Sicogon taking in a combined total of P85 million in earning.

UNIQUE TOURIST DESTINATION

Jalandoni said ALI envisions Sicogon Island to be the new tourism hub in the Philippines because of the centrality of its location and its accessibility to such other destinations like Boracay, Guimaras Island, Negros the nearby Gigantes Island, Bantayan Island in Cebu and Malapascua, among others.

Its choice of Sicogon was anchored on the fact that the island was once a top tourist destination prior to the tourism boom with its pristine white sand, clear blue waters and rich aquatic resources fit for snorkeling and diving, the ALI executive said.

Tumaquin, a neighboring islet which is about a 150-meter walk during low tide, is another natural attraction for visitors.

Other natural features of Sicogon that will certainly lure tourists, he pointed out, are the island’s 281-hectare protected forest area, home to diverse species of flora and fauna; the Mt. Opao, which commands a majestic view of Sicogon’s environs, and the lagoon located in the northern part of the island that can be turned into a natural water reservoir. A township is also being planned around the lagoon area.

ALI’s success in creating the Makati Central Business District, Alabang Business District, Cebu Park District, Bonifacio Global City, NUVALI and other growth centers, he added, serves as platforms for Ayala Land’s full line of real estate products that generate value over time./PN