SIQUIJOR GETS P900 MILLION LOAN FROM LAND BANK

Siquijor province is set to put up a provincial hotel and rehabilitate its resort as it initiates its economic recovery program via a P900 million from the Land Bank of the Philippines. Already, the construction of a mall in the island province is now being readied as well

The proposed mall will be located in the municipality of Siquijor, and will be a four-storey structure with an estimated investment of PHP500 million and will feature major food and retail brands and incorporate business process outsourcing (BPO) firms estimated to generate some 1,300 jobs,

According to Siquijor Gov. Zaldy Villa, the province will receive a PHP900-million loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines for the development of the first provincial hotel and the rehabilitation of the Salagdoong Public Beach Resort, the media release added.

The solon also said they are gearing up to inaugurate the Siquijor Domestic Airport, “thanks to the support of President Rodrigo Duterte”.

“With the support of national government agencies to our province, we are better-positioned to open our tourism industry soon,” he said.

The airport project was initiated in 2019 with an initial PHP550-million budget from the Department of Transportation (DOTr). For 2021, the agency allocated PHP450 million for the improvement and extension of its runway. “Despite the pandemic, we believe that the province of Siquijor is a prime area for investment as we work towards the recovery of our local industries,” the younger Villa said.

“Our provincial government has always been open to public-private partnerships as long as these initiatives are geared towards the improvement of the lives of Siquijodnons,” he said.

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