Zambales gov OKs development of Mt. Tapulao to rival Baguio

PALAUIG, Zambales – Finally, a challenge to Baguio City as the country’s summer capital.

Dongho Co., Ltd., a prominent Korean urban planner and developer has announced the completion of a comprehensive study that would “significantly change” the landscape of this town to make it a premier tourist destination in Asia.

Gov. Amor Deloso said that Mt. Tapulao can rival Baguio City, the summer capital of the Philippines, as it also possesses “the same charms and pine trees in a semi-temperate climate usually found in the Cordillera provinces.”

“Actually, the name, Tapulao, in the local dialect means pine tree,” Deloso said.

In a project presentation here, Dongho vice-chairman and director for overseas project division Sang-Hyun Park said the Mt. Tapulao tourism complex project was patterned after the popular Genting Highlands in Malaysia.

“The project was designed using the W-Growth corridor as an integrated development program in Central and Northern Luzon,” Park said, referring to the W- shaped centers of growth identified by the government in Central and Northern Luzon provinces.

Also known as the “Zambales high peak,” Mt. Tapulao rises at 2,037 meters above sea level and forms a contiguous chain of mountains in Central Luzon.

The study estimated the need to initially invest $2 billion for the construction and operations of five-star hotels, leisure facilities, casinos, conference centers, concert hall, condominium and villas, and a world-class 18-hole golf course in the area.

A 450-hectare portion of Mt. Tapulao will be transformed into a world-class eco-tourism complex “through sustainable development to preserve the pristine environment of the mountain.”

“Dongho specializes in environmental conservation to mitigate the negative impacts of massive land developments. Dongho will carry-out to plan, design and monitoring before, during and after the construction of various development projects,” Deloso said.                

He said that to ensure the protection of the environment, Dong Ho will provide services on water quality management, air pollution prevention, environmental impact study, soil erosion and sedimentation deterrence, waste treatment facilities and development of recycling system.  – Ding Cervantes