Pueblo de Panay to put up P1-B township

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.