Developer earmarks P1.5B for three big-ticket projects

CEBU, Philippines - The Unchuan Development Corporation, the operator of Cebu White Sands Resort and Spa, will pour P1.5 billion investments on three big-ticket projects starting next year.

In an interview yesterday with Francisco Unchuan, the company's president and chief executive officer said the group will develop a six-star island resort to be called Abana Island Resort on the three islets called "Islas Tres Rosas," located across Mactan island. This Maldives-inspired development will have 16 exclusive cottages.

Likewise, the company is now finalizing plans to develop the close to 40-hectare mountain resort at the southern part of Cebu in Barili town.

This will build a few cottages for visitors, but he said the resort will be dedicated to farm lovers, wherein visitors will be able to feel and experience the life in the farm, as well as position it as a wedding destination because of its picturesque ambiance.

At present, the family-run corporation is maintaining a livestock farming in the area, Unchuan said he is going to make it a "natural farming" and mountain resort destination in Cebu,

The Unchuan's is one of the pioneering tourism capitalists in Cebu, after they built the two-hectare Cebu White Sands Resort and Spa along Maribago Road in Mactan Island 19 years ago.

Aside from the company's plan to build the two big resorts in Cebu, Unchuan announced its biggest project in Palawan that will probably kick-off next year, another resort that will be situated on a sprawling  23-hectare property.

Although, the family is already in the hospitality services for almost two decades, Unchuan said the upcoming three developments, the company is open to partner with international management chains.

In fact, in its Palawan property, Unchuan is set to meet with a group from Macau who expressed intent to forge a partnership on the project.

Alongside the hospitality business, the Unchuan family is also into the development of residential real estate project. He said this time is the right time to invest in tourism.

"We had been so conservative in the past because we were not sure yet of the prospects. We feel that this time is the right time. Tourism has started to pick up even starting 2008," he said.

This October, White Sands Resort and Spa will open a nine-story building that will add another 35 rooms to the existing 51 rooms.

Tourism leaders as well as economists already been encouraging local tourism capitalists to take advantage of the Philippines fertile ground for tourism business.

Because of this bold expansion plan, Unchuan said the company will commission third party management team to further professionalize the operational flow of the group.

The company now has two subsidiaries, the Avino Land and Development Corporation to develop the Abana Island Resort; and Rockscape Developers Asia to build the Palawan property. (FREEMAN)