Ayala Corp to invest more in Bacolod, Negros Occ

CEBU, Philippines - Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, chairman and chief executive officer of Ayala Corp., has reiterated his company’s interests in bringing in more investments to Negros Occidental, especially on tourism, particularly in Bacolod City.

“It is no secret that the Ayala group is very deeply interested in the whole Negros area and your potential for tourism,” Zobel said in his speech at the Bacolod Government Center Tuesday, August 27, addressing city officials and businessmen.

“We wanted to contribute as much as we can to make the city and the province reach the potential it clearly has... In Negros we have a lot of plans, wonderful plans that we would like to meet in time,” Zobel added, noting that the province has had a long history in agriculture.

Zobel and other Ayala officials were in Negros Occidental for various functions. They met with Bacolod officials, led by Mayor Monico Puentevella, and Negros Occidental officials, led by Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., during the turnover rites of Text2Teach, an educational program of Ayala Foundation, in Silay City; and launching of the Ayala Museum’s Botong Francisco travelling exhibition at Ayala North Point’s The District Mall in Talisay City.

Zobel also reiterated the continued interest of Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) in pursuing its multi-billion peso development project on a prime property owned by the Negros Occidental provincial government in Bacolod City, said Marañon who also met ALI president Antonino Aquino, and senior vice presidents Jose Emmanuel Jalandoni and Emilio Tumbocon.

In July 2011, ALI had bid to the 7.7-hectare property of the Negros Occidental provincial government, with a plan to develop the property into a Capitol Civic Center with an investment of P6.2 billion. This was however stalled for the past two years, when SM Prime Holdings Inc questioned in court the province’s deal with ALI. The case is still pending before the RTC-Bacolod Branch 50.

Meanwhile, in a press conference at the opening of P1-billion The District Mall at Ayala North Point in Talisay City last April, Tumbucon said ALI had de-prioritized the P6.2-billion Capitol Civic Center project, and instead re-focused on a much larger, 215-hectare development project in Ayala North Point, with P7 billion in investments.

Zobel said they are planning to construct a hotel and a small clinic in Ayala North Point soon. In a latest development, Marañon recently ordered the demolition of three provincial government-owned buildings along the North Capitol Road, saying ALI wanted to start the lease of the Capitol property by September.

“You will be seeing us here more and more often as we move on,” said Zobel. “This is an exciting time, for island groupings like Negros, ... So, our team will continue working … and see where we can work together with both the province and the cities to add value to the province,” he said.

Puentevella said: “The fellowship and public appearance of Zobel with the people of Bacolod is one of the rarest that they will all treasure. As his presence among us manifests his support for Bacolod City as one of the potential economic growth centers down south.”

Alfredo Barcelona, director of the Bacolod Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said any investment Ayala brings will generate employment and this is a positive development.

Robert Montelibano, of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the business sector welcomes the entry of Ayala to the province, as it will bring in more development to the city and the province. (FREEMAN)