Vol. XXI, No. 191 [ Business World Online ]
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone and Freeport Authority has earmarked P6 million this year to develop a nature park in the 15,000-hectare agro-industrial complex.
"The project is part of the vision to expand the Zamboanga economic zone not only for industrial use but also [as] a place for tourism and agro-tourism," said Georgina P. Yu, administrator of the ecozone.
Currently, the nature park site has lighting facilities, a staff house that can accommodate 50 persons, three swimming pools, two pavilions, a multipurpose center, 10 cottages, a boating area, six boat houses and other recreational facilities, a statement quoted Ms. Yu as saying.
The free port zone is in the final stage of developing its retirement complex, dubbed "Mare y Monte" (sea and mountain), which is scheduled for a soft launch this August, officials said.
The retirement complex, which has an initial outlay of more than P10 million, will be expanded later to include casinos, a golf course and a theme park.
Ms. Yu said her office has coordinated with the Philippine Retirement Authority, the Department of Tourism, and various groups that could help in achieving the project’s objectives. The retirement complex will eventually be equipped with a hospital and other medical tourism facilities, commercial centers and duty-free shops.
Luis Ramon V. Rodriguez, in-house doctor of the economic zone, said they are initially targeting 150 retirees coming from South Korea, Japan and China. Mr. Rodriguez said 10 residential houses have been built in the economic zone for retirees. "Aside from being a retirement home, the complex will eventually offer cosmetic and aesthetic surgeries," he said in a separate interview.
The Zamboanga ecozone has a three-kilometer stretch of seafront ideal for beach resorts and hotels. The 300-hectare property overlooks the sea in the south, with a view of the mountains in the background.
Members of the Tourism Association of Zamboanga said that the free port has been identified as agro-tourism site to be promoted by the Department of Tourism as well as by tour operators.
"The free port has the advantage of being an agri-tourism and industrial-tourism site. Tourists, for example can visit several organic farms here," said Vicente A. Lim, president of the Insular Travel and Tours, who is also a member of the organization.
Agribusiness entrepreneurs from Cagayan de Oro have also inquired about sites for orchards and vegetable gardens, said eco-zone information officer Marlon B. Simbajon.
Tourism regional director Ricardo A. San Juan said agro-tourism, in general, is the practice of attracting travelers or visitors to an area used primarily for agricultural purposes. "Agri-tourism can be viewed much like eco-tourism, specifically focused on education purposes," he said. — Darwin T. Wee
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