M Marine Culture Park to rise in Cordova

CORDOVA, Cebu – Cordova town in Mactan, Cebu is preparing for what officials describe as “Cebu’s rising tourist destination” following an announcement to launch a massive promotion on the town's tourist destinations.

“We are working towards a common goal of turning Cordova into a new tourist destination for Cebu. We are now attracting a number of foreign and local investors to buildup our tourism potential,” said Cordova Vice Mayor Mary Therese Sitoy-Cho in an interview.

Cordova’s latest tourism projects are the establishment of the town’s tourism center as well as the setting up of a Marine Culture Park, a joint venture project between Cordova’s local government unit and Korean firm Cebu Cordova Golf Resort located in Brgy. Day-as.

The R30- million tourism project, now under construction, is poised to become a facility that promotes experiential tourism and alternative liveli- hood to Cordova’s women community.

Sitoy-Cho said the tourism center will have a souvenir shop showcasing hand-crafted items by the town’s women residents. The facility will also feature facilities for activities such as zipline, among others. It will also have a mangrove park.

This project is expected to generate at least 100 job opportunities. The Korean firm will manage and develop the Marine Culture Park, which is expected to be completed this year.

“The completion of the town's tourism center is the first step in our series of programs aimed at promoting tourism and we can only achieve this goal once all necessary infrastructures are in place,” Sitoy-Cho said.

She added they are closely coordinating with different national government agencies, like the Department of Tourism in their bid to convert Cordova into a viable place to visit.

The vice mayor said the town's marine resources are one of its greatest assets in the tourism industry.

The marine sanctuary in Gilutungan Island, for instance, is being operated by a Korean group which has entered into an agreement with the municipality of Cordova.

Meanwhile, Sitoy-Cho said more opportunities await investors in Cordova with 3,000 hectares of land up for reclamation.

She said major conglomerates have already expressed interest in building establishments in the area such as the 125 hectare resort project of the Gaisano Family (Vicsal); 1,500 hectares of the SM Group; and 75 hectare proposed IT Park of a Korean firm.

Sitoy-Cho also believes the R17billion third bridge project, the Sto. Niño Bridge, linking mainland Cebu and Mactan Island, is one factor that has boosted the investor’s interest in Cordova.

The project, which broke ground early this year, is a public-private partnership between Cordova and the City of Cebu with the MVP-led Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC).

The third bridge is set to connect the southern part of Cebu City to Mactan through Shell Island, which is part of Cordova.

Real estate players, on the other hand, have also expanded their housing projects in Cordova, in expectation of demand in housing go up, even as the business landscape is expected to thrive.