NEW HOTEL IN PANGASINAN. (From left to right) Department of Tourism-Ilocos Region Director Martin Valera, Alaminos City Mayor Arthur Celeste and Rebecca Lee, president of The Oriental Hotels and Resorts, lead the groundbreaking ceremony for The Oriental Hundred Islands Hotel in Alaminos City, Pangasinan, June 19, 2019. The project is expected to be completed and opened in February next year. (Photo by Liwayway Yparraguirre)
ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan – A five-star hotel with 100 rooms, a roof garden with an infinity pool overlooking the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP), and restaurants that will showcase local cuisines and locally sourced ingredients, among others, will soon rise at Don Gonzalo Montemayor Wharf here and is expected to boost development of the province's western part.
Mayor Arthur Celeste, in an interview Friday, said the facility is a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) project with The Oriental Hotels and Resorts.
“The company will lease from the city government the 1.2 hectares lot for 25 years. It also assumes the PHP17 million remaining balance from the PHP35-million loan acquired by the past administration before year 2013. The said loan was intended for the construction of a hotel, out of which a two-storey unfinished structure now stands at the area,” he said.
Celeste said the unfinished building was designed with eight dormitory-type big rooms.
"In year 2013 when I first assumed, I inspected the building and I saw that the city will still need more than PHP35 million to finish the hotel building. And in my mind, the city is not capable of managing a hotel," he explained.
The mayor said three entities showed interest and checked the building, including a Taiwanese investor and the group of Menardo Jimenez. Both did not pursue their interest as the lot is not titled.
He said the third entity is the LKY Group of Companies headed by his friend Wilbert Lee. "He came and went upstairs, I told him beforehand, the land is not titled, but it is owned by the city. He said he saw the beauty of the place, and his legacy is to take on government projects abandoned due to lack of fund. He was that dedicated to help the province by acquiring this kind of property,” Celeste said.
The mayor said one of the most important agreements between the city government and LKY Group is that the Limahong and Urduja monuments, a small lighthouse, and the trees within the properly will not be removed and instead will be enhanced, while the majority of the personnel and staff will come from the city.
He further said it took two years for the city's technical working group to finish the requirements and clearances from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Tourism and the Department of Public Works and Highways for the project.
Celeste, DOT-Ilocos Region director Martin Valera and The Oriental Hotels and Resorts president Rebecca G. Lee led the groundbreaking ceremony for The Oriental Hundred Islands last Wednesday.
"As we stay true and connected to the community, The Oriental-Hundred Islands design will be using locally inspired materials such as shells, rattan, bamboo and others, and the Urduja and Limahong Monument which has a historical meaning to Alaminos City will be known to the world as we commit to make the Oriental a gateway from the world to Pangasinan," said Rebecca Lee, who is a daughter of Wilbert Lee.
She said just like in their other hotels, they partnered with the local communities in creating designs that are one with nature and are connected with the people. They also partnered with local government units and other government agencies to provide opportunities for livelihood, business and tourism as well as to create jobs for the local residents.
Lee said The Oriental Hotels and Resorts, a subsidiary of LKY Group of Companies, already has six hotels and 12 more are in the pipeline.
Meanwhile, Valera said the project will give more income to the people and spur economic development in Western Pangasinan. He assured that DOT is committed to assist in making the project successful.
The Oriental Hundred Islands will be the biggest hotel in Western Pangasinan, if not, in the whole of Pangasinan. It is targeted to open in February next year. (PNA)
