MANILA, Philippines - Ayala Land (ALI), together with its joint venture partner Sicogon Island Development Corp. (Sideco), will initially invest P1 billion for infrastructure and development projects in Sicogon Island in Iloilo where it is building a mixed-use tourism estate.
For this year, ALI is set to open a 1.3-kilometer runway and airport facility as well as a jetty port in Iloilo as part of the first phase development of its Sicogon Island Tourism Estate.
The project will give rise to a mixed-use of commercial and residential establishments and an integrated transport system, which will cater to a diverse mix of local and international markets.
This is in support of the government’s Western Visayas tourism drive and is anchored on a sustainable tourism development program.
ALI said there would be a resort town center with retail shops surrounding a 4.3-hectare lagoon, and a series of accommodations including a bed and breakfast, a budget-friendly hostel, and a 50-room boutique hotel with direct access to a five kilometer coastline with pristine ivory sand.
Sicogon is envisioned to be a model for sustainable planning and construction. Its retail shops and beachfront hotels will only have three floors and will have a setback of at least 40 meters from the coastline. About 282 hectares will be kept as protected forested area, said Ryan Ybanez, general manager of Sicogon Island Tourism.
“All our efforts are geared towards upholding responsible eco-tourism, as well as bringing about inclusive growth in communities such as Sicogon,” Ybanez said.
“As much as possible, retail will be localized and will feature Filipino-inspired architecture,” he said.
The Sicogon estate opened early this year its first hotel offering, Balay Kogon, a cluster of modern Filipino-inspired casitas that provide guests with personalized service by the locals, sea-to-table home-cooked meals, and activities to Mt. Opao and Islas de Gigantes.