Zambales unveils P64M hotel

IBA, Zambales -  As part of its major push to make Zambales a tourism destination in the North, the local government of Zambales unveiled a four-storey hotel worth P64 million designed to boost its tourist capacity.

Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said that the new hotel would help bring in revenue to the local market of Zambales as weel as boost its tourism.

Ebdane said that the hotel will be operated by the provincial
government and open primarily to accommodate meetings and seminars of local government units and other community groups.

“Before, Zambales LGUs had to go to other provinces for their
training-seminars because we don’t have a venue like this. Now, we’re encouraging them to conduct their meetings and training here because it is more convenient and ultimately cheaper,” the governor added.

His Excellency John L. Momis, president of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea, was the guest of honor during the unveiling.

Ebdane and Momis also inaugurated the two-storey Zambales Training Center, which has housed the two batches of trainees from Bougainville.

Ebdane said the inauguration of the hotel signals the entry of
Zambales in the MICE market to complement the provincial government’s goal to tap the potentials of natural tourism attractions.

“For so long, our beaches and islands have attracted tourists, and our rivers, mountain trails, and lahar dunes have drawn sports enthusiasts. Now, we’re trying to develop another market — those who go out of town for meetings and conventions,” Ebdane said.

“Now, they can have the best of both worlds here — they can have
conferences here, and on the side they can enjoy the sights, the food, and the hospitality of Zambaleños,” he added.

The Zambales Hotel is located within the Zambales Sports Complex and overlooks the track oval and Olympic-size swimming pool. - Anthony Bayarong