Local investors eye Tuburan for vacation facility venture

A group of Cebuanos led by architect Tessie Javier is going to invest on the first Vacation Home facility at the northern part of Cebu in the municipality of Tuburan.

The 2.5 hectares Apalan Beach Villas located in barangay Apalan in Tuburan will have condo hotels, and 50-unit Mediterranean -Filipino designed villas.

In an interview with Javier she said that the group is now on the planning stage to start up its construction works next year.

"We will be able to start the project next year," Javier said in an interview.

The group already got financial support from a bank to start the project, however, Javier declined to divulge the exact amount of the vacation home facility, that may also become the hub of a foreign retirees seeking to settle in the tropical environments like the Philippines.

Javier said the facility will provide a wider choice of vacation home facilities in Cebu province.

The upcoming project, according to Javier will not limit its marketing target to the foreign retirees or balikbayans, but also local residents who may want to have vacation houses, away from the city.

Tuburan is a third class municipality in the province of Cebu with over 50 thousand residents.

Cebu is eyed as the best site for foreign retirees, however the non-availability of facilities such as retirement village and along the beach vacation homes is still a problem.

Last year, a Cebuana businesswoman spent over US$1 million as initial investment of the 1.5 hectare retirement village called A.C. Enclave Resort Homes, in Tabogon town, also located in northern Cebu.

Developed by A.C. Signature Developments Inc., this first "retirement village" facility in Cebu is now aggressively marketing the property to the foreign nationals, or the Filipino-American who want to retire in the Philippines.

"Cebu is an ideal place for retirement. I was prompted to develop this kind of project because a lot of our friends abroad are complaining and demanding for a facility that offers an integrated infrastructure and amenities inside the village," said Annie Chen, president of A.C. Signature Developments Inc. in an interview.

The 1.5 hectare seaside retirement village offers 15 bungalow type house and lot package, with complete amenities such as wellness center, commercial complex or mall, restaurant, among others.