New eco-tourism project to rise in Roxas City

ROXAS CITY, Philippines – A 250-hectare eco-tourism development will soon rise in this city as its proponents hope to hitch on the economic boom in the Visayas region.

Dubbed as the newest commercial business district in northern Panay, Pueblo de Panay is owned and masterplanned by the Sacred Heart of Jesus Prime Holdings, a family-owned company engaged in various businesses.

“Pueblo de Panay is the only master-planned development which strategically connects to two of the three Roxas City highways. Its link to Lawaan and Sibaguan Highways connects the property to downtown Roxas City and to the districts of Capiz, Boracay, Iloilo, Aklan and Antique,” said Pueblo de Panay vice-president for administration Victoria Ong-Banzon in a recent briefing here on the sidelines of the 2013 Capiz-tahan Festival.

The proponents envision Pueblo de Panay as an eco-tourism business district which would have various investors as locators and at the same time promote eco-tourism activities in the city and the rest of the province.

“Pueblo de Panay aims to encourage, cultural and educational advancement,” Banzon said.

She said the first phase of development covers 130 hectares, to be developed in five to 10 years.

At least three hotels have already set up in the area and commercial establishments, including banks, will also be locating in the world-class business district, a portion of which provides a hilltop view of the city.

“It’s a city within a city with small business hotels. Up there in the hilltop, there will be a 50- room hotel overlooking the entire city. It attempts to blend nature and culture with progress,” Banzon said.

To make the business district more attractive to potential investors, Pueblo de Panay would be partnering with the government to provide tax perks and other incentives to locators.

This would be done in partnership with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority and Enterprise Zone Authority.

Aside from providing tax perks to investors, Pueblo also aims to become a manufacturing and processing hub for agriculture products from the province to provide jobs for the people of the province.

To assure investors and locators a steady supply of energy, Pueblo is applying for a direct connection to the grid.

This, Banzon said would help lower the cost of power.

Ultimately, Jose Nery Ong, chief executive officer, said the business district would help in the development of Roxas City in Panay Island. It could also provide a side trip for visitors going to Boracay.

With Capiz as the country’s seafood capital, Ong said tourists from Boracay and nearby areas could enjoy fresh seafood catch in Roxas.