100 hectares in Paquibato eyed for foreign retirees

THE World-Class Retirement Complex Inc. (WRCI) is set to acquire a 100-hectare property in Paquibato District in Davao City tp be utilized as a farming area for retirees who will be staying at the Healing Garden of Asia in Catigan, Toril.

WRCI chief executive officer Carlos Vargas told reporters on Wednesday they have already identified an area in Paquibato, but there are no negotiations yet with the landowners.

He said this came about when he, together with his Japanese partners, met with a farmers association in Japan.

"They mentioned to my partners, they will come to retire here if we can provide them a farm to work on," Vargas said.

He said the area will be transformed into a liesure farm, but will be operated as a plantation wherein the dividends will be distrubuted to the retirees.

Vargas said the farmers are interested in using their profits for giving scholarships to the children of the farmers who will assist them.

Vargas said a retiree will be provided a one hectare property wherein he or she can farm. They will also be provided two assistant farmers, who aside from assisting the retiree will also be taught Japanese farming techniques. He said the farmers assosication will be the one to fund the further training in Japan.

"After the assistant farmers learn the Japanese language, they will be brought to Japan for further training," he said.

Vargas said the trend now for retirement facilities is not only to have "a beautiful facility," but also have a program or activity that retirees have to look forward to.

The retirement complex will have some 400 units and its construction will begin around the third quarter of this year.

Healing Garden of Asia will rise on a five hectare property in Catigan,

Recently the facility was recognized for being the Most Outstanding Retirement Plan in Asia for 2014 by the Global Over 50s Housing Awards.

The award will be handed this November 2014 in London, United Kingdom.