By MELODY M. AGUIBA
June 1, 2010, 4:07pm [ Manila Bulletin Online ]
Belle Corp. is allocating P7 billion for greening and ecotourism development projects in Tagaytay Highlands after securing preliminary qualification clearance (PQC) from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).
Belle Corp. vice chairman and founder Willy Ocier said the company believes the developments in Tagaytay Highlands will further make Tagaytay and its surrounding provinces a major attraction for local and foreign tourists.
This can generate more income to the three provinces surrounding Tagaytay Highlands. The Highalnds sits on a 1,500-hectare land occupying the highest peaks within the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas.
“Tagaytay Highlands is the biggest employer in Cavite,” said Ocier.
Ocier said that just like American media mogul Ted Turner, CNN’s founder, and other American celebrities who have acquired tracts of vast land in order to turn them into forest preservation areas, more Filipino investors should infuse money for greening projects.
The publicly-listed company, which started developing Tagaytay Highlands 20 years ago, will finance the development through various means.
“We’ll have to look for funding. We’ll also develop this through internally generated fund,” said Belle Corp. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Joselito R. Consunji in an interview.
Belle is also now seeking an environmental clearance certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
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