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Friday, April 28, 2006
Plans for Malapascua to benefit resorts too
If the development plan of Malapascua will be carried out, the island located in the Municipality of Daanbantayan will be the first “organized” tourism attraction in Cebu Province.
According to Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 Director Patria Aurora Roa, the development of Malapascua, one of the top 10 diving sites in the Philippines, includes the drafting and implementation of a zoning plan.
“(If carried out), there will be zoning in the island. Unlike here in Cebu and other areas, which do not have master plans (and) establishments are located anywhere. We would like to avoid that kind of scenario in Malapascua and other tourism sites,” she said in an interview on the sidelines of the Manila launch of the Cebu Business Month 2006 at the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati last Monday.
Of the top 10 diving destinations in the Philippines, four are located in Central Visayas, said Roa. These are: Malapascua and Moalboal in Cebu; Apo Island in Dauin, Oriental Negros; Balicasag Island in Bohol.
Demolition
The development plan of Malapascua Island involves the demolition of sea walls, ripraps, cottages and other structures that are inside a 30-meter easement, which is from the point reached by seawater during high tide up to 30 meters inland.
Roa said this should not discourage prospective investors from doing business in the island.
“The structures that will be demolished are those violating the law, which has been there since 2002. They will just have to follow the rules,” Roa said.
Earlier, resort owners complained against the municipality’s implementation of the 30-meter easement zone in the whole island. Several cottages of 22 resorts in Malapascua are found in the easement zone.
There are 48 resorts in Malapascua.
Task force
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, after witnessing the growing garbage problem in Malapascua, said she will also assign a task force to oversee the development of the island.
In a separate interview, Hong Kong-based businessman Carlos Yeung, who is married to Cebuano Mari-quita Salimbangon, earlier said he will develop his 30-hectare property in Malapascua into a resort.
“Cebu is booming, and the best industry in Cebu is tourism. Cebu has a lot of potential. Many people in Hong Kong want to come to Cebu (which) is already known to the world,” he said. (JBN)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 28, 2006 issue)
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