SAN JOSE, Romblon — Foreign and local investors yearning for a share in the tourism boom in Boracay but were turned away from the famous island have started flocking in this island town which is now being developed into an alternative tourism paradise.
Only a 15-minute boat ride from world-famous Boracay, San Jose has taken advantage of the construction moratorium on its neighboring island by welcoming foreign and local investors willing to develop this carabao-shaped island into the next tourism haven in the country.
Already, some investors from the European Union,Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan have been talking with government officials on the prospect of establishing businesses in San Jose, which is only a 30-minute flight from Manila.
Concerned about the overcrowding and congestion in Boracay, where resorts and buildings continue to rise, the Deparment of Environment and Natural Resources recently ordered a moratorium on construction on the island.
Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona said the DENR order is a good opportunity for Romblon to offer to foreign and local investors the potentials of San Jose where the proposed Romblon Special Economic Zone Authority will soon rise. (BR)
from: Manila Bulletin
Romblon promotes islet as the 'new Boracay'
from: www.sunstar.com.ph
THE decision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to ban construction on Boracay Island could lead the way for the discovery of another world-class tourist destination near the area.
Romblon Representative Eleandro Jesus Madrona said foreign businessmen are eyeing the island-town of San Jose in Romblon as an alternate site for their tourism investments.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
Madrona said some investors from the European Union, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan have begun talking with government officials on the prospect of setting up businesses in San Jose, a carabao-shaped island that is only 30 minutes by plane from Manila and 15 minutes by boat from Boracay.
Alarmed by the overcrowding and congestion in Boracay where resorts and buildings continue to rise, the DENR recently ordered a moratorium on constructions on the island.
Romblon officials, headed by Madrona and Governor Natalio Beltran III, said the DENR's move is a good opportunity for the province to offer to foreign and local investors the beauty of San Jose where the proposed Romblon Special Economic Zone Authority will soon rise with the expected start of construction of a modern international airport in October.
The airport, which can accommodate airbuses and other huge aircraft, will cost an estimated P5 billion, of which P1 billion has already been reportedly advanced by its developer, Boracay Holdings, to buy out families holding titles to lands to be affected by the proposed project.
Madrona, Beltran and other Romblon officials said foreign investors have shown interest in relocating to San Jose following the DENR moratorium after discovering that the island also has powdery white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters that could rival, if not exceed that of Boracay.
The officials said the businessmen were also attracted by the real estate in San Jose which, aside from being four times bigger than Boracay, is still virtually unoccupied and owned by original settlers who have been residing in the area for years.
The price of real estate in San Jose is much lower, according to the officials, adding that the town's present population is only a little more than 8,000. "This means that the water and power supply in the island is sustainable until the next 15 or 20 years," they said.
The continuous and uncontrolled development and migration to Boracay, which a favorite destination of foreign tourists, have reportedly discouraged investors who also find taxes in the island "quite high."
In their meeting with investors from Europe, Taiwan, Korea and Japan recently, Madrona and Beltran assured that the province will impose "much less" local taxes compared to those imposed in the country's other tourist destinations.
"That is provided for in my House Bill (HB) 1629 that I filed recently," Madrona said. The measure outlines the potentials of Romblon as a tourist and investors destination and the incentives that it can offer to businessmen.
Madrona said foreign investors are interested in putting up multimillion-peso hotels, business centers, first-class restaurants, condominiums, a gold course and other facilities before the expected completion of the airport in 2010.
San Jose Mayor Filipino Tandog said this early, residents of the island are "ecstatic" with the scheduled construction of the huge airport, a project that will generate employment and other opportunities for the island-town where fishing and farming still remain as the main sources of the people's income. (Sunnex)
Only a 15-minute boat ride from world-famous Boracay, San Jose has taken advantage of the construction moratorium on its neighboring island by welcoming foreign and local investors willing to develop this carabao-shaped island into the next tourism haven in the country.
Already, some investors from the European Union,Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan have been talking with government officials on the prospect of establishing businesses in San Jose, which is only a 30-minute flight from Manila.
Concerned about the overcrowding and congestion in Boracay, where resorts and buildings continue to rise, the Deparment of Environment and Natural Resources recently ordered a moratorium on construction on the island.
Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona said the DENR order is a good opportunity for Romblon to offer to foreign and local investors the potentials of San Jose where the proposed Romblon Special Economic Zone Authority will soon rise. (BR)
from: Manila Bulletin
Romblon promotes islet as the 'new Boracay'
from: www.sunstar.com.ph
THE decision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to ban construction on Boracay Island could lead the way for the discovery of another world-class tourist destination near the area.
Romblon Representative Eleandro Jesus Madrona said foreign businessmen are eyeing the island-town of San Jose in Romblon as an alternate site for their tourism investments.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
Madrona said some investors from the European Union, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan have begun talking with government officials on the prospect of setting up businesses in San Jose, a carabao-shaped island that is only 30 minutes by plane from Manila and 15 minutes by boat from Boracay.
Alarmed by the overcrowding and congestion in Boracay where resorts and buildings continue to rise, the DENR recently ordered a moratorium on constructions on the island.
Romblon officials, headed by Madrona and Governor Natalio Beltran III, said the DENR's move is a good opportunity for the province to offer to foreign and local investors the beauty of San Jose where the proposed Romblon Special Economic Zone Authority will soon rise with the expected start of construction of a modern international airport in October.
The airport, which can accommodate airbuses and other huge aircraft, will cost an estimated P5 billion, of which P1 billion has already been reportedly advanced by its developer, Boracay Holdings, to buy out families holding titles to lands to be affected by the proposed project.
Madrona, Beltran and other Romblon officials said foreign investors have shown interest in relocating to San Jose following the DENR moratorium after discovering that the island also has powdery white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters that could rival, if not exceed that of Boracay.
The officials said the businessmen were also attracted by the real estate in San Jose which, aside from being four times bigger than Boracay, is still virtually unoccupied and owned by original settlers who have been residing in the area for years.
The price of real estate in San Jose is much lower, according to the officials, adding that the town's present population is only a little more than 8,000. "This means that the water and power supply in the island is sustainable until the next 15 or 20 years," they said.
The continuous and uncontrolled development and migration to Boracay, which a favorite destination of foreign tourists, have reportedly discouraged investors who also find taxes in the island "quite high."
In their meeting with investors from Europe, Taiwan, Korea and Japan recently, Madrona and Beltran assured that the province will impose "much less" local taxes compared to those imposed in the country's other tourist destinations.
"That is provided for in my House Bill (HB) 1629 that I filed recently," Madrona said. The measure outlines the potentials of Romblon as a tourist and investors destination and the incentives that it can offer to businessmen.
Madrona said foreign investors are interested in putting up multimillion-peso hotels, business centers, first-class restaurants, condominiums, a gold course and other facilities before the expected completion of the airport in 2010.
San Jose Mayor Filipino Tandog said this early, residents of the island are "ecstatic" with the scheduled construction of the huge airport, a project that will generate employment and other opportunities for the island-town where fishing and farming still remain as the main sources of the people's income. (Sunnex)
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