Tanjay LGU doubles efforts to boost investments, eco-tourism

DUMAGUETE – Tanjay City in Negros Oriental wants to catch up in terms of investments, sports and eco-tourism under the invigorated leadership of Mayor Reynaldo Concepcion.

Mayor Concepcion disclosed Tuesday he has plans of reconstructing and not just face-lifting the Rizal Park which is considered a historical site to the tune of P42 million.

It will be landscaped with the dancing fountain to look like the Luneta Park in Manila and the plants will be rearranged with a bigger space, practically a new look for the Rizal Park in 2017.

According to Mayor Reycons, Rizal Park is not just an ordinary site as it is where the national hero Jose Rizal was executed and such is considered a historical landmark.

Another eco-tourism project is the construction of a sanitary landfill for the city worth P150 million more or less, and the plan to acquire a property to be declared as an economic zone in Tanjay.

The newly-organized Tanjay City Chamber of Commerce and Industry under the leadership of its first president Antonio Felix Bautista Villegas said they will rally behind the present administration so invite more investors to the city and open up job opportunities for Tanjayanons.

The group of businessmen came to realize that Tanjay City is already lagging behind in terms of investments and tourism, prompting the business sector to organize themselves to be of help to the city and to also help the small businesses.

Villegas has confirmed plans of the city to acquire a 16-hectare lot along the national highway going north where sports facilities are to be constructed, to include an oval, gymnasium, an Olympic-size swimming pool while dreaming of hosting the Palaro, Unigames, or even PBA games, among others.

This is in line with the thrust of sports tourism in the city under the master plan of Mayor Reycons where a downtown, uptown and midtown areas are to be established.

Villegas said he is part of the planning team in his desire to help Tanjay City.

Meanwhile, the Tanjay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) and the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) headed by Edward Du have agreed to jointly conduct a massive planting of mangroves at the popular board walk of Tanjay City.

Chamber president Villegas said they have offered to cooperate with the 10 million in 10 years project of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) in planting 5,000 mangroves surrounding the boardwalk and the possible establishment of an artificial reef along the coastline of Tanjay.

Mr. Du said the two chambers are supporting the tree planting project of EDC because trees are the source of geothermal energy, without the trees, there is no power. (PNA)