Maldives-like Bantayan Bay in Cordova eyed

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia recently met with industrial designer Kenneth Conbonpue and architect Buck Sia to discuss developments on the “Cordova Ideas: Bantayan Bay Design Competition”.

The said development is part of the proposed Cordova eco-tourism development plan which aims to rehabilitate Bantayan Bay, the site used to be the home to illegal floating cottages which the governor ordered demolished.

It can be recalled that the controversial floating and fixed cottages in the town ceased operations beginning August 29, 2022 after a high level of fecal coliform was found out within the seawaters where these cottages were illegally constructed in the absence of a mayor’s permit.

Cordova Mayor Cesar Suan earlier asked the more than 400 operators/owners for their full cooperation and sacrifice for a while as both the provincial and municipal government wanted this area to be a world class destination in the future.

According to Sugbo News, the official news portal of the provincial government, Sia initially presented to the governor the accommodation types and amenities that will be developed at the site, eyed to be patterned after the world-famous Maldives, a top beach destination in South Asia.

The provincial government has collaborated with Cobonpue and Sia in efforts to attract the interest of the best architects and designers around the country through a nationwide design competition.

Meanwhile, Suan recently inspected the two-storey Mangrove Propagation and Information Center (MPIC) facility located in Barangay Day-as that is seen to undergo a total renovation after this was devastated by typhoon Odette.

The facility will be used as mangrove propagation while the second floor will be used as a viewing deck for bird watching activities.

This facility is a project of Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC), and the municipal government.

The Cordova MPIC will develop the area as mangrove nursery and for the people to get information about mangrove propagation and how to protect it. — (FREEMAN)