Wednesday, December 24, 2008 Negrense investor abandons P300M eco-tourism project By Jerson O. Coronica
A NEGRENSE investor who bought Pitogo Island in 2003 decided to abandon her eco-tourism project in the island.
Jeanette Tongoy had spent over P300 million for initial development works in the island that is now duly registered with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) as Eden Island Resort and Spa.
She, however, said the minimal support and lukewarm attitude of government agencies and continued harassment by private individuals made her decide to stop the project.
In a press statement, Lean Mandid of the Eden Island Resort and Spa said: "Tongoy will now abandon the project because of the problematic situation that arose shortly after the start of activities".
He added that the investor and her husband, the spa employees and her entire family are being harassed, thereby derailing the project.
Mandid alleged that some individuals hinder the installation of electric power supply in the island.
Tongoy said that her main goal in putting up that hundred million-peso project is to promote Hinoba-an town as an eco-tourism area and create jobs for over 500 fulltime employees.
Now, Tongoy plans to transfer her investment to a place where she can find a more friendly and conducive atmosphere.
Tongoy, through Mandid, said she was dismayed that the efforts of some local and national officials who have endeavored at all costs to assist and protect her and her staff would be for nothing.
She, nonetheless, expressed gratitude to those who supported her and mentioned the DENR and DOT as the government agencies that greatly helped her in pursuing the project.
The island will now be open to family members, as well as family friends and religious denominations that wish to conduct retreats and seminars in the resort, said Mandid.
Pitogo Island is located in Barangay Talacagay in Hinoba-an town, a third class municipality in the southernmost part of Negros Occidental.
