By Donnabelle L. Gatdula (The
Philippine Star) | Updated May 30, 2014 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines - Pueblo de Panay
Inc. (PdP) is putting up a 400-hectare mixed-use master-planned township in the
country’s seafood capital of Roxas City, a more expected to bring in tourists
and investors to Panay Island in the next three to five years.
Dubbed a ‘city within a city,’ the
P1.5-billion project is strategically located at the heart of Roxas City and
borders two of the country’s top tourist spots Boracay on the west and the
Gigantes/Sicogon Group of Islands on the east and spans the major expansion
areas of Roxas City.
Its link to two of Roxas City’s major
highways (Lawaan and Sibaguan) connects the property to downtown Roxas City,
and the major access roads leading to the districts of Capiz, Boracay, Iloilo,
Aklan and Antique.
“Pueblo de Panay is the first
master-planned township development in Northern Panay, and the largest
contiguous development among the regional cities in the Philippines. There are
various investment opportunities in Pueblo de Panay, and to make it even more
attractive to potential investors, we are currently partnering with the
government to provide tax perks and other incentives for locators,” PdP
president and CEO Jose Nery Ong said.
Pueblo de Panay is working with the
Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the Tourism Infrastructure and
Enterprise Zone Authority to provide incentives for business process
outsourcing (BPO) companies and tourism and export locators/investors.
Pueblo de Panay TechnoPark, which
would house the BPOs, has secured PEZA board approval as a special economic
zone.
Quality tourism facilities, Ong said,
are also currently being built to showcase the property’s rivers, lagoons and
mountainous terrains, and highlight Roxas City’s famed seafood cuisine.
At present, two hotels are operating
in the area. Retail giant Robinsons Place has also recently opened in the
township, along with the new Roxas City police station.
Other establishments include El
Circulo Convention Center, CHILD’s Academy School, Terraza Café and several
restaurants, and national government offices.
The new Roxas City Public
Transportation Terminal is also in its finishing stage, and is expected to open
within the year along with Punta Dulog, a 24-hour commercial center, and Panay
Cold Chain Services, a world-class cold storage facility. Prime mixed-use
property Sitio Uno and riverside recreation area Pampang Suba are also expected
to be launched before the end of the year.
Ong said the rising eco-tourism and
commercial business hub would not only foster economic growth in the region,
but also cultural, historical, educational and culinary advancement.
“Only about 50 percent of the area
will be developed into commercial uses and eco-tourism attractions to retain
and enhance the natural attractions of the area such as its rich river
ecosystem, pristine lakes, diverse flora and fauna, and scenic hills and
mountains, which offer a commanding view of Sibuyan Sea, just to name a few,”
he said.
According to Ong, Pueblo de Panay is
an emerging eco-tourism landmark that seamlessly combines the amenities of a
progressive city and the charm of a small provincial town.
With its world-class features and
scenic natural landscapes, Pueblo de Panay would not only help in the
development of Roxas City, but also the whole Northern Panay region as a whole.
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