ILOILO – The municipal government of Carles is racing to keep Sicogon Island’s tourism industry alive following the closure of a multi-billion-peso tourism estate there, expressing confidence that the island’s natural attractions will continue drawing visitors despite the uncertainty now clouding its tourism-driven revival.
Among the measures being explored is the expansion of the provincial government’s “Turista sa Barangay” program by training the island’s households to accommodate overnight visitors, allowing residents to earn additional income through community-based tourism, said Mayor Arnold Betita II.
More than 100 workers lost their jobs when the tourism estate closed.
Betita stressed, however, that only the facilities operated by the Sicogon Island Tourism Estate Corporation (SITEC) — a joint venture between Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts and the Sicogon Development Corp. (SIDECO) of the Sarrosa family — have ceased operations, not the island itself.
“Ang tourism dira sa Sicogon Island nagapadayun sa gihapon,” Betita told Panay News.
The mayor said Sicogon’s famed white-sand beaches and natural scenery remain intact, giving both local and foreign tourists every reason to continue visiting the island even without the luxury accommodations of the resort and villas of SITEC.
“Ang natural beauty sang Sicogon ara na ina. Subong gani nagtawhay na kag nagdugang ang kanami. So, I think ang tourists, local and international, magapadayun,” he said.
Sicogon is an hour and a half pump boat ride from Barangay Bangkal in mainland Carles.
Betita acknowledged, however, that the shutdown of the luxury Huni Hotel, the 50-villa Balay Kogon resort on June 15, and the earlier suspension of Sicogon airport operations would likely reduce high-end tourism revenues because SITEC primarily catered to affluent travelers.
“Amo man lang na guro ang medyo madula. Pero ang local tourists and middle-class tourists may ara man nga ginkadtoan sa isla. Naga-bundle ina sila halin sa Gigantes group of islands pakadto sa Sicogon,” he said.
The Carles municipal government and the Iloilo provincial government started preparing assistance for displaced workers, according to Betita, after SITEC signaled as early as last year the possibility of closing its operations.
The local government has a sustainable livelihood program and other assistance initiatives through the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.
In the 1970s until the early 1980s, Sicogon attracted the rich and famous until it fell into neglect and was eventually eclipsed by Boracay Island. Efforts to revive it started in the nearly two decades ago by SIDECO of the Sarrosa family that owns more than 800 hectares of the 1,160-hectare island.
The provincial government of Iloilo then under Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. supported the proposed revival, citing the economic boost Iloilo Province would gain from a stronger tourism industry. On June 2012, a municipal ordinance that declared Sicogon Island a tourist destination was recognized by the Sanggunian Panlalawigan of Iloilo. The measure aimed to revive the island as a tourist hub and open it for commercial use.
TEMPORARY SETBACK?
Despite his optimism, Betita said the local government hopes the closure will only be temporary and that SITEC will eventually re-operate after resolving its commitments and dispute involving the Federation of Sicogon Island Farmers and Fisherfolk Association (FESIFFA).
“Maybe in the future, we hope nga mag-open sila liwat kay kanugon ang mga facilities nila. Kon indi sila mag-open, maguba and magabok na man lang ina,” the mayor said.
Betita also said Carles remains open to welcoming new investors should an opportunity arise, although any decision involving the existing facilities ultimately rests with SITEC as their owner.
Approximately 140 kilometers north of Iloilo City, Sicogon also has rich aquatic resources, good snorkeling and diving sites, and has a protected forest area that is home to a diverse flora and fauna.
The island’s Mt. Opao – its highest peak – also offers a majestic view of the island’s surroundings.
ISLAND LIFE GOES ON
Betita also clarified that the island’s residents will continue to rely on fishing and agriculture, long considered Sicogon’s traditional economic pillars, even without the tourism estate.
“Ang mga tawo sa Sicogon wala ginagutom. Gusto ko lang i-clear. Kon tamad ka siguro, ina magutoman ka dira sa Sicogon. Pero damo da pwede palangitan-an. Actually ang tourism dira nagdugang lang but ang fishing and gamay nga agriculture ara gid na ya. Damo gid na ang nakapulos, ilabi na gid ang fishing kay amo gid na ya ang first livelihood sang aton mga pumoluyo,” Betita said.
Sicogon is made up of three barangays – San Fernando, Alipata and Buaya. Its residents are mostly fisherfolk and farmers.
Betita estimated that more than 100 workers, mostly native Sicogon residents, lost their jobs following the closure of the island’s airport late last year and the shutdown of resorts two weeks ago. One of the conditions set by the local government when it allowed SITEC to operate was the hiring of island residents.
SITEC also extended about P38 million worth of livelihood assistance to the island community under its amended Compromise and Framework Agreement, according to the company’s press release.
Mayor Betita disclosed that the company had suffered losses running into billions of pesos.
“Indi na ‘ya million lang. Billions ‘ni ang gina-istoryahan,” he added.
In 1976, Sicogon was declared a tourist destination zone by then President Ferdinand Marcos two years after the island was made the setting of the 1974 film Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa, the launching movie of the Philippines’ first Miss Universe, Gloria Diaz who won the title in 1969./PN
