SLEEPING DRAGON OF THE SOUTH: Iloilo The Next Big Thing Series Part 6: Iloilo - Guimaras Island Ferry Terminal

 Propose Guimaras - Iloilo Ferry Terminal
@ Rotary Park at Fort San Pedro ( Parola ) Iloilo City
Two international firms are interested to invest in the public-private partnership projects of Iloilo City that are still in the pre-feasibility study stage, Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said.

The pre-feasibility studies of both the central business district and Guimaras-Iloilo ferry terminal (GIFT) projects were already evaluated to pave the way for a formal feasibility study that will be submitted and recommended to the Regional Development Council 6 and the National Economic Development Authority 6.

Mabilog said he will ask for an authority from the Sangguniang Panlungsod to sign a document for the eventual proclamation by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III for the almost one-hectare Rotary Park at Port San Pedro for the GIFT project.

Embodied in the pre-feasibility study at no cost to the city government and submitted by Concept Consultants headed by Nathaniel Von Einsedel, the project proposal was approved by the Cities Development Initiative Asia.

The GIFT project will connect Guimaras island-province to Iloilo City through a modern terminal for ferry boats and calls for the improvement of Jordan and Buenavista wharves in Guimaras to complement the Iloilo City ferry terminal for Buenavista and Jordan ferries.

Mabilog said President Aquino is enthusiastic about the project and has ordered the Presidential Management Staff to review the Iloilo City project for possible foreign and national government funding.

He said the Asian Development Bank is also expected to help in the project by providing a loan facility complemented by an ideal public and private partnership with 51 percent from the private and 49 percent from the government.

Under the same PPP set-up, the central business district is expected to be converted into a modern multi-storey edifice for wet and dry sections and other stalls.

A CBD pre-feasibility study was also conducted by Concept Consultants calling for the rehabilitation of the Iloilo central market into a world-class shopping center complete with a podium and mall stores.

During the City Council’s regular session on September 8 this year, the issue was given priority attention by the city councilors who wanted a new and modern ferry terminal at Fort San Pedro.


City Council committee on rules chairman Joshua Alim said the authority given to Mabilog will pave the way for the establishment of a multi-million peso modern Guimaras Iloilo Ferry Terminal (GIFT) project in the area of abandoned Rotary Park aimed to service commuters between Iloilo City and the island province of Guimaras.


A pre-feasibility study was conducted by Concept Consultants more than two years ago and funded by Asian Development Bank for the development of a ferry terminal in Parola Fort San Pedro area and the ferry terminals in the municipalities of Buenavista and Jordan in Guimaras.


With a Presidential Proclamation over the area, the project is expected to be given priority attention by the regional development council and National Economic Development Authority for possible government or foreign funding.

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo – The construction of the P135-million Iloilo-Guimaras Ferry Terminal will soon start, with the formal signing of an agreement October 1 between the Iloilo City government and the DoubleDragon Properties Corporation, which has been contracted for the project.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the existing Parola Terminal in Iloilo City will serve as a world-class ferry facility for passengers going to and from the neighboring island province of Guimaras.

The 1.3-hectare land allocated for the project will include a state-of-the-art ferry terminal, a mini-mall and a fueling station for pump boats.

“This is another public-private partnership (PPP) project that aims to boost tourism and investment opportunities in both Iloilo and Guimaras province,” remarked Mabilog.

Owned by billionaire Edgar Sia II of Mang Inasal food chain fame, DoubleDragon Properties Corp. will build-to-operate the ferry terminal within a 25-year period.

“The city is not spending a single centavo for the project, but it will have a share from the revenues and taxes which will be placed in the city’s general fund,” Mabilog said.

Said ferry terminal will rise in what used to be the Rotary Park complex, which was turned over last year to the Iloilo City government through Presidential Proclamation 201.

The complex will also host the Iloilo district office of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).


Sources: 

iloiloilove.com 

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/375672/construction-of-new-p135m-iloiloguimaras-ferry-terminal-set#.UMh20fJM604 

http://www.thenewstoday.info/2010/08/27/2.firms.interested.in.cbd.ferry.terminal.projects.mayor.html 

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/iloilo/local-news/city-council-okays-deal-ferry-terminal?sort=asc&order=Combinations

SLEEPING DRAGON OF THE SOUTH Iloilo The Next Big Thing Series Part 5: Iloilo IT and Business Park

Iloilo Business Park Master Development Plan 

Festive Walk 

Some of the Exciting Places in the Business Park 

Megaworld Avenue 

Here’s  A General Summary of the Iloilo Business Park Project: 

54.5 hectares total land area, the largest IT park yet of publicly-listed Megaworld Corporation 
- P18B investment by Megaworld over the next 10 years 
- P2.5 billion initial investment to develop the road network 

Once completed, the project is expected to create 24,000 BPO seats, 200,000 square meters of commercial space, and around 35,000 jobs

A six-lane highway will serve as the main artery running through the entire length of the property 

Richmonde Hotel Iloilo and Richmonde Tower features: 
12-storey building 
Hotel component will host 90 guest rooms, which will cater to businessmen and tourists 
Seventh level amenities deck features play amenities such as a lap pool, children’s pool and fitness center, while the business center on the same level will include meeting rooms and a conference room. 

Richmonde Tower will occupy the second to sixth floors of the hotel, offering more than 9,000 square meters of prime office space for BPO locators. 

Festival Walk 
Two kilometers total length, which will be the longest shopping and dining strip in the Philippines once completed 
Initial 200 meter section of the Festival Walk will be opened alongside Richmonde Hotel Iloilo and Richmonde Tower 

Le Grand Richmonde Hotel 
High-end Hotel counterpart of Richmonde Hotel Iloilo with convention facilities 
Construction to begin after the completion of Richmonde Hotel Iloilo 

Two Additional Business Process Outsourcing Towers

SLEEPING DRAGON OF THE SOUTH: Iloilo The Next Big Thing Series Part 4: Iloilo Convention Center

The Proposed Iloilo Convention Center and Its Unveiling

A GRAND DESTINATION CHANGING THE ILOILO LANDSCAPE

The Iloilo Convention Center is set to transform the Western Visayas Region into a world-class business tourism, convention and events destination. This grand new setting located at the Il oilo Business Park in Mandurriao affirms the vibrancy and vitality of Iloilo, the South’s new city of tomorrow.

CULTURAL INSPIRATIONS
Designed by Ilonggo Arch. Willy V. Coscolluela
With 15 exterior fins that evoke the beauty of Iloilo’s colorful Paraw Sail
Glass Walls feature abstract designs of the Dinagyang Festival 
Use of indigenous stones for the façade and interiors


EXCEPTIONAL FEATURES 
Can accommodate over 3,700 guests 
Main convention hall at the ground level 
8 function rooms at the second level 
State-of-the-art audio and video equipment 
Kitchen designed to international standards 
Museum / souvenir shop

STRATEGIC LOCATION 
Part of the 54-hectare Iloilo Business Park, and near the community’s hotels 
BPO offices and retail and leisure attractions 
Near the Iloilo international airport

SLEEPING DRAGON OF THE SOUTH Iloilo The Next Big Thing Series Part 3: Iloilo To Have A 5-Star Luxury Hotel In A Pristine Island In Iloilo

Gigantes Island, Carles, Iloilo

Quantum International Philippines Official Website Describing Their Major Projects In The Philippines 

Including A Luxury Resort in Iloilo 

Here is the report about the planned luxury resort to be put up in a pristine island in Northern Iloilo. Click the link below.  

Iloilo To Have A 5-Star Luxury Hotel In A Pristine Island Jewel Paradise In Iloilo

SLEEPING DRAGON OF THE SOUTH Iloilo The Next Big Thing Series Part 2: International Avenue, Santa Barbara, Iloilo

The INTERNATIONAL AVENUE 

by Global-Estate a Sister Company of Megaworld Corp. 

It's More Fun In Iloilo 

Because We're BOOMING Non Stop. 

ILOILO means BUSINESS. Invest Now! 

Western Visayas To Experience Global-Estate Resorts, Inc.'s 'Township' Lifestyle 

       Something new is coming to the shores of Western Visayas – the 'township' lifestyle. This 'township' lifestyle brought by Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI) to the Sta. Barbara Heights development will follow after the “live-work-play” concept pioneered by its sister company, Megaworld. 
       Sta. Barbara Heights is a mixed-use development that will consist of residential spaces, a town center, an IT park and various establishments. The 170-hectare property, which is the first of its kind on its region, is poised to propel Iloilo into a future 'central business district'. 
       “As pioneers of the township concept in Metro Manila, we would like to revolutionize how our fellow Filipinos live in other parts of the country, starting with Sta. Barbara Heights in Iloilo,” says Noy Mercado, GERI's Head of Sales and Marketing. 
      The residential estates signify the 'live' component of the township. All are residential lots, complemented by Sta. Barbara's expansive rolling hills and natural lake as backdrop. Topnotch amenities include a multi-purpose clubhouse with a 260 square-meter swimming pool and tennis and basketball courts, children's parks, a picnic area and other activity areas. 
      The 'work' and 'play' element, on the other hand, will be incorporated in the upcoming Iloilo International Business Park. This six-hectare park will be home to an IT cyberpark, BPO centers and various office strips. Future residents will benefit the ease of access with the 2.7-kilometer Iloilo International Avenue that runs through the township, bringing the nearby Iloilo International Airport closer. Adjacent to Sta. Barbara Heights are the historical landmarks of the Iloilo Golf Course and Country Club as well as the Santa Barbara Church and Convent, to the advantage of its future tourists. 
      Other projects on the pipeline for the development include commercial strips, food chains, hotels, an international school and a football field, with the aim of fusing business and pleasure into one hotspot. 
      “By putting the 'live', 'work' and 'play' aspects side by side, we are bringing a new lifestyle that's tailor-made for the fast-paced lifestyle of the Ilonggos,” Mercado adds. 

About Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. 

Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI) is a subsidiary of Alliance Global Group, Inc., (AGI) one of the Philippines' largest conglomerates, under the leadership of its Chairman and CEO Andrew L. Tan. The company handles the development of the country's world-class tourism estates such as those in Boracay (Boracay Newcoast), Tagaytay (Twin Lakes) and Iloilo (Sta. Barbara Heights), all marketed by Megaworld Global-Estate, Inc.

SLEEPING DRAGON OF THE SOUTH Iloilo The Next Big Thing Series Part 1: Proposed Iloilo Central Market

Iloilo Central Market Promenade View From The Podium

           The Iloilo Central Market is a proposed building construction project with a heritage restoration feature for its front facade. The present structure occupies 1.37 hectare and is bounded by major avenues in the city such as Iznart, Rizal, Aldeguer and Guanco streets. 
        Once completed, much of the area of the central market will be occupied by a 3 five-storey mixed-used structure that will be leasable to private establishment and businesses. It will also include a parking building and internal roads to improve traffic and accessibility. 

Land use components are the following: 
a) Commercial arcade for the existing Heritage building; 
b) Office/residential towers and a parking building linked by a podium for the main area behind the Heritage building; 
c) Wet market and dry goods area under the podium; 
d) Open public promenade adjacent to the Heritage building; and 
e) Miscellaneous commercial stall strip along Aldeguer and Guanco strips. 

           The beautiful art-deco 2 storey V-shaped facade of the central market will be preserved and restored. Between the retained facade and the main complex will be a promenade that will include open spaces, restaurants, and possibly an activity center. 
           The project also calls for another effort to take the welfare of present vendors into consideration. The pre-feasibility study suggested the creation of training and organization programs with the help of NGOs, including microfinance mechanisms, in order to enhance business practices and consumer services of local vendors or “hawkers”. 
            It is important to note that the basic concepts of this project is to improve infrastructure and utility to make the present market an interesting and convenient urban consumer area while preserving the city’s heritage. By making the heritage feature an integral part of this redevelopment effort, the city hopes to attract more tourists and foster a pride of place for Ilonggos in general. 


Source: Iloiloilove.com

SLEEPING DRAGON OF THE SOUTH ILOILO: The Next Big Thing Series

The Proposed Iloilo City Bridge at the Diversion Road 

Iloilo City by Night featuring the Iloilo Customs House (right) and Iloilo City Hall (left) 
 

I will be featuring a few series of proposed, planned and on-going projects and investments for Iloilo in the next few years for this decade. The real "Queen City of the South" also known as the "Sleeping Giant of the South" is waking up and is now gearing towards being one of the most livable and elegant city in the Far East. We are hoping that more big businesses and investments will come into the province providing more jobs and opportunities to the people.