P250-million Korean village to rise in Medellin

CEBU, Philippines - A Korean businessman is investing P250 million for a retirement village and tourism amenities in the sugarcane town of Medellin, northern Cebu.

Construction is ongoing in Barangays Lamintak Sur and Lamintak Norte for the “Queen’s Castle Golf Club,” which will feature a condominium, a hotel, restaurant, massage and spa and other amenities for both domestic and foreign tourists.

An 18-hole golf course of international standards will also be a major highlight of the new facility. This will add to the already existing 18-hole golf course in Barangay Dayhagon, the Mercedes Plantation Golf Course and Country Club.

Moreover, the new facility will complement another existing Korean village, also in Dayhagon.

For years now, Medellin has been receiving an average of 200 Koreans per week who fly to Cebu just to play golf. But because of the lack of hotel accommodations in Medellin, many of them had to stay in the neighboring town of San Remigio.

With the planned high-rise hotel and condominium, Medellin is expected to accommodate the tourists soon, said Mayor Ricardo Ramirez.

The Philippine URI Development Corp., the business name underwhich the investment is being undertaken, already sent heavy equipment to the site.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources already issued an environmental compliance certificate for the project.

The undertaking also helped address unemployment in Medellin, as the Municipal Government made it a condition for the proponent to hire local people in the construction.

When it starts operation, the local government also requires the investor to prioritize Medellin’s people in hiring workers.

To prepare for this, the municipal government, through the Medellin Skills Training Center, has been conducting training for its residents particularly on bartending, food and beverage handling, housekeeping and other skills needed for the hotel operations.

This is on top of the town government’s continuing skills training on welding and dressmaking.

The new Korean village would complement the Municipal Government’s own investment to perk up tourism in the area and launch Medellin as the marine adventure and eco-tourism capital of the north.

The town just recently opened its Zipline and other rides, as well as a beach resort that offers inexpensive tourist amenities.

The Municipal Government also plans to open up more tourist attractions such as kayaking at the Dayhagon Canal, a man-made waterway opened during the American colonial period. – THE FREEMAN