Saturday, August 30, 2008 Jalosjos 'attends' Minbizcon in style
DIPOLOG CITY -- High walls and steel bars of the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa proved no match to the desire of convicted rapist and former Dapitan congressman Romeo Jalosjos to join the 17th Mindanao Business Conference (Minbizcon) held at Dipolog City on Friday.
Taking advantage of the technology on video teleconferencing, Jalosjos spoke before hundreds of delegates at the Zamboanga del Norte Convention Center Friday morning.
The huge screen at the stage showed Jalosjos in blue shirt inside an office and facing the webcam that's being telecast in real time.
The jailed lawmaker thanked the delegates for attending the Minbizcon and went on talking about the various projects his family corporation is undertaking in the City of Dapitan.
In his 30-minute talk, Jalosjos told delegates that their family corporation is now building hotels, roads, boulevards, malls, golf course, condominiums, casino, marina and a theme park in Dapitan City.
About 220 hotel rooms are now nearing completion. An 18-hole golf course is also under construction as well as the 100 condominium-type apartelle in Dakak.
The second casino in Mindanao will soon rise in Dakak, with about 200 slot machines and three rooms for card games.
Jalosjos said he is also planning to build a marina in Dapitan that will cater to luxury yachts from Metro Manila. The biggest theme park outside of Metro Manila will also be constructed in Dapitan that will be composed of 35 rides comparable to the Disneyland theme parks. Jalosjos said he will call the park "Fantasy Land."
A cable car project is also being planned and Jalosjos enjoined other investors to join him in this project.
Aside from the major developments, Jalosjos said he also plans to reconstruct historical sites in Dapitan to preserve the city's heritage.
A grandiose plan from a man behind bars some may say. But Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Western Mindanao and (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) regional Governor Edwin Capili said nothing is impossible for Jalosjos when it comes to Dapitan.
"Ongoing na yung lahat ng projects nya. He has the money, he owns Eat Bulaga's Tape Production," Capili said. (BOT)
