Business and Economy

THE business community here is optimistic that the P8-billion new Iloilo Airport at Sta. Barbara-Cabatuan towns will spawn booming industries nearby.
For one, giant real property developer Fil-Estate Land Inc. chair and CEO Robert John Sobrepeña announced the launching of the 153-hectare Sta. Barbara Heights at the hills of Barangay Inangayan on August 29.Continue Reading »

SIX foreign clients of call center companies have set interests in Iloilo City. Both Mayor Jerry Treñas and Iloilo Business Club (IBC) executive director Lea Lara confirmed the latest investment prospects in the city’s booming call center industry. Continue Reading »

Cathay Pacific, a Hong Kong based airline, has just recently opened their new ticketing office in Iloilo City to cater to passengers in Western Visayas. It is located in D’ Arthur Suites along General Luna St., City Proper.

Currently, Cathay Pacific does not service direct international flights in the New Iloilo Airport (just like in the case of Davao). If there is enough demand though, they would most likely consider putting up direct flights to international destinations. Their main market could be overseas filipino workers (OFWs) having roots in Western Visayas, tourists visiting Iloilo and using it as a gateway to nearby provinces, or even Koreans going to Iloilo to study English.

This new development surely takes Iloilo one step closer to its desire of having international flights to complement its new modern airport.

A request for an Iloilo-Caticlan-Iloilo airline route was brought up by Ben Jimena, Iloilo City tourism officer before the management of Philippine Airlines during a press conference of the latter held yesterday at the Iloilo Grand Hotel. “We have written PAL about this,” Jimena said. Continue Reading »

CEBU/ILOILO — The Sarrosa family of Western Visayas is talking with foreign investors who are interested in forming a joint venture that will re-develop Sicogon Island into a tourist destination that could rival Boracay. Continue Reading »

The new Iloilo Airport will soon be catering additional domestic flights of Cebu Pacific, this Air Transportation Office Area Manager Alan Java said. (PNA) Continue Reading »

Megaworld Corporation, buyer of the old airport site in Mandurriao district, has taken all the responsibility for the transfer of informal households covered by the 54-hectare property they bought from the national government. Continue Reading »

GUIMARAS ISLAND—The country’s tourism industry is expected to sustain its growth despite the growing impact of the economic recession in the United States and the global rice supply crisis, according to Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano. Continue Reading »

The Iloilo City Local Development Council (ICLDC) yesterday approved a resolution asking President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to order the transfer of Power Barge (PB) 104 presently moored in Davao City to Iloilo to cover the present power deficiency being experienced by city and entire Panay island. Continue Reading »

Latest updates about Iloilo Business Park by Megaworld Corp.

• Iloilo Projects and Contructions May 2008 Update
• Concept Plan of Megaworld’s “Iloilo Business Park”
• Megaworld begins relocation of squatters in old airport site
• Iloilo Business Park by Megaworld Corp.
• Megaworld to present development plan before SP
• Megaworld to develop BPO triangle
• Megaworld: Visit Iloilo first before Boracay
• Megaworld needs 35MW of power
• Iloilo to rise in BPO world map
• MegaWorld groundbreaking in 3 months, says Treñas

Project Details: Urban property developer Megaworld Corporation has acquired the 54-hectare old airport lot in Mandurriao for P1.2B. Megaworld has also announced plans to invest P1.5B to develop it into a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) hub, the first ever in Western Visayas.

Aerial view of Megaworld Property. Photo by Bernardo Arellano III

The corporation hired the services of Palafox and Associates to make their master plan in the old airport site. The proposed 54.5 hectare Iloilo Business Park by Megaword will adopt a concept of “live-work-play-learn community.” It will have BPO offices, residential condominiums, a hotel, convention center, commercial and retail center, skills training center and recreational facilities. The investment by Megaworld in Iloilo is the first investment made by the corporation outside Manila.