Ayala eyes more projects in Negros

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines   â€“ Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, chairman and chief executive officer of Ayala Corp., has reiterated his company’s interests in bringing in more investments to Negros Occidental, particularly its capital,  Bacolod City, especially on tourism.

“It is no secret that the Ayala Group is very deeply interested in the whole Negros area and your potential for tourism,” Zobel said in his speech at the Bacolod Government Center last week, addressing city officials and businessmen.

“We wanted to contribute as much as we can to make the city and the province reach the potential it clearly has... In Negros we have a lot of plans, wonderful plans that we would like to meet in time,” Zobel added, noting that the province has had a long history in agriculture.

Zobel and other Ayala officials were in Negros Occidental for various functions. They met with Bacolod City officials led by Mayor Monico Puentevella and Negros Occidental officials led by Gov. Alfredo Maranon Jr.

The Ayala executives led the turnover rites of Text2Teach, an educational program of Ayala Foundation in Silay City; and the launch of the Ayala Museum’s Botong Francisco travelling exhibition at Ayala North Point’s The District Mall in Talisay City.

Zobel also reiterated the continued interest of Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) in pursuing its multi-billion peso development project on a prime property owned by the Negros Occidental provincial government in Bacolod City, according to Maranon.

The governor had met with Zobel, ALI president Antonino Aquino, and ALI senior vice presidents Jose Emmanuel Jalandoni and Emilio Tumbocon.

In a press conference at the opening of the P1-billion The District Mall at Ayala North Point in Talisay last April, Tumbocon said Ayala Land is focusing on a much larger, 215-hectare development project in Ayala North Point, with P7 billion in investments.

Zobel said they are planning to construct a hotel and a small clinic in Ayala North Point soon.

“There are so many things for us to be able to contribute, we have many plans that we would like to evolve over time in Negros,” Zobel said.

“You will be seeing us here more and more often as we move on,” he added.

Zobel said they would be talking to the governor and the mayors and see what else they could do to contribute both to the cities and the province in general.

“This is an exciting time, not only for the Philippines but for island groupings like Negros,” he said.

“So, our team will continue working…and see where we can work together with both the province and the cities to add value to the province,” he said.

Puentevella said Zobel promised to contribute to his vision for Bacolod.

“We look to many years of engagement in Bacolod and Negros Occidental,” Zobel said.

Zobel also lauded Puentevella’s video presentation of his vision for Bacolod, saying it is a “clear sign of wonderful things to come.”

“The fellowship and public appearance of Zobel with the people of Bacolod is one of the rarest that they will all treasure. As his presence among us manifests his support for Bacolod City as one of the potential economic growth centers down south,” Puentevella said.

Puentevella said Zobel reiterated his good relationship with him, saying that their friendship has built up over the years and his trip to Bacolod is his promise to Puentevella to visit him under his administration.

Alfredo Barcelona, director of the Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry said any investment Ayala brings would generate employment and this is a positive development. He said he believes Bacolod is progressing and investors would continue to come in.

Robert Montelibano of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the business sector welcomes the entry of Ayala to the province. He believes the Ayala investments will bring in more development to the city and the province.