15 hectare resort extension eyed

Bacolod City, Philippines — The provincial government is eyeing a 15-hectare farmland adjacent to the Mambukal Resort in Murcia town as a parking space for the resort.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the area is ideal since the current parking space at the resort is already crowded.

The governor said the provincial government is currently negotiating with several employees of the Provincial Capitol who own the lots encompassing the 15 hectares.

The lots were earlier awarded to the employees, but the Provincial Capitol intends to buy the lots back, he said. A development plan will be put in place once the province fully repurchases the properties, Marañon said.

Of the 28 cottages being constructed in Mumbaki for P27 million, 17 have already been inaugurated last Holy Week and were immediately rented to by guests. The remaining 11 cottages are expected to be finished next week.

During his speech during the opening ceremonies of the 19th Panaad sa Negros Festival last April 9, Marañon said that based on the report of the resort manager, Mambukal drew around 10,000 guests and tourists in four days during the Holy Week and generated an income of almost P1 million.

The resort, which has an annual net income of P10 million, is always fully booked, Marañon earlier said.

It is said to be one of the highest generating Provincial Capitol enterprises under the Economic Enterprise Development Department, he said.

He added that a Japanese architect is presently working for free on a swimming pool around the ‘hot sulfur spring’ in Mambukal, which, once completed, is expected to be another favorite spot in the resort. - THE FREEMAN