Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — An airstrip on Sicogon Island in Carles, Iloilo is now being built and will have its soft opening in 2016.
“Before the end of 2015, there will already be cottages there,” Mayor Edsel Betita said. “So there will be a soft opening for both next year. We also expect four-star and five-star hotels in the island.”
Sicogon Development Corp. (SIDECO) partnered with Ayala Land Inc. to redevelop the roughly 800-hectare Sicogon Island into a tourist destination.
The project includes resorts, residential developments, malls, retail shops, forest trails, diving spots, an airport and jetty port.
The development will be done in stages starting with the airstrip and the jetty port.
The project will provide 20,000 jobs for Betita residents.
Betita said issues raised by oppositors last year have already been settled.
“They are already cooperating as they are also looking forward to the development. And they were promised of employment. I think every barangay was given 10 hectares of agricultural land,” he said.
