ILOILO — The future of what has been envisioned to become Iloilo Province’s flagship island tourism destination to rival Boracay Island now hangs in the balance.
The operator of the multi-billion-peso Sicogon Island tourism estate in Carles town ceased operations, raising fears over the fate of the island’s tourism industry and the thousands of residents who had hoped to benefit from Sicogon’s revival as a premier resort destination.
The closure of the luxury Huni Hotel, the 50-villa Balay Kogon resort on June 15, and the earlier suspension of airport operations have effectively halted the centerpiece tourism development that had long been promoted as the economic engine of Sicogon Island, the municipality of Carles, and the province of Iloilo.
A short-lived standoff between the Carles police and armed men in the island from June 25 to 26 further put Sicogon tourism’s uncertain future into the spotlight.
Carles’ Mayor Arnold Betita II said he remains hopeful that the shutdown is only temporary, saying the island’s tourism industry still has the potential to recover if operations eventually resume.
‘TOURISM VETERAN’
Sicogon, with its white sand beaches and pristine waters, used to be the playground of the rich and famous in the 1970s until the early 1980s, but fell into neglect. It was eventually eclipsed by Boracay Island.
Approximately 140 kilometers from Iloilo City, the 1,160-hectare Sicogon has a lot more to offer aside from its white sand beaches. It 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.
An added attraction is a neighboring island called Tumaquin which is just a 150-meter walk during low tide.
Sicogon also has a lagoon in the northern part of the island that can be turned into a natural water reservoir.
The island was the setting of the 1974 blockbuster film Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa which starred 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz, Elizabeth Oropesa, Vic Vargas, and Ruel Vernal.
Two years after, in 1976, Sicogon was declared a tourist destination zone by then President Ferdinand Marcos.
In the early 1980s, Sicogon became the talk of the nation when Filipina actress Tetchie Agbayani had a nude photo shoot there for the German edition of the adult magazine Playboy. But with the emergence of Boracay, Sicogon’s popularity declined and its resorts folded up.
On June 2012, a municipal ordinance that declared Sicogon Island a tourist destination was recognized by the Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) of Iloilo. The declaration aimed to revive the island as a tourist destination and to open it for commercial use.
LOSSES
Mayor Betita revealed that during a meeting last year with Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. and officials of Sicogon Island Tourism Estate Corporation (SITEC) — a joint venture between Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts and the Sicogon Development Corp. (SIDECO) owned by the wealthy Sarrosa family that claims ownership over much of Sicogon – the developer disclosed its plan to discontinue operations because of mounting financial losses.
“Na-mention nila nga they were planning to stop the operation sang tanan dira. Actually ang (Sicogon) airport daw madugay-dugay nga nag-untat ang biyahe sang eroplano. But last June 15 (2026) gid ang pinaka-last day nila. Ang mga empleyado nila wala na ginpa-duty after June 15. So, amo na nga diutay na lang, wala na naga-accept sang bookings,” Betita said.
Despite the shutdown, Betita said SITEC assured local officials it would continue honoring all commitments under its agreement with the Federation of Sicogon Island Farmers and Fisherfolk Association (FESIFFA) – a group that Sicogon’s residents formed to protect their interests after SIDECO announced years back a plan to revive Sicogon as a tourist destination.
Sicogon is made up of three barangays – San Fernando, Alipata and Buaya. Its residents are mostly fisherfolk and farmers.
It is an hour and a half pump boat ride from Barangay Bangkal in mainland Carles.
“They (SITEC) will comply sa tanan nga agreement nga ginpirmahan maskin mag-untat sila, maskin indi na sila mag-operate. I don’t know if it is temporary or permanante. We are hoping nga temporary lang,” Betita said.
The mayor disclosed that the company had suffered losses running into billions of pesos.
“Indi na ‘ya million lang. Billions ‘ni ang gina-istoryahan,” Betita added.
Betita believes the shutdown was driven primarily by financial losses rather than the long-running land dispute between SITEC and FESIFFA or land dispute among the Sarrosa family members.
He said the Carles municipal government and the Iloilo provincial government are prepared to provide livelihood assistance to displaced workers affected by the closure.
ARMED ‘TAKEOVER’?
Questions over Sicogon’s future intensified after an armed incident on June 25, when businessman Alfredo Luis “Dave” Sarrosa allegedly entered the Huni Hotel with four armed bodyguards and declared that he had taken over the property.
“Pinabay-an ninyo ang isla di’, ang mga tawo gutom,” Sarrosa said, calling out SITEC, the local government of Carles, former Iloilo 5th District congressman Raul Tupas, and even his siblings.
“Nga-a wala kamo nagakadto sa akon? Kadtoi nyo ako di. Ining mga pulis puerte ni respetar ko, pero indi ko magpadakop sang buhi. Diri ko mapatay, ang Huni na-takeover ko na,” said the visibly irate Sarrosa in a video that went viral on social media.
The Carles police claimed that 11 resort employees were held hostage before being rescued evening of June 25.
Sarrosa was arrested the following morning. The Carles police was readying multiple criminal charges against him.
CALL FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION
Following the incident, Iloilo 5th District’s Cong. Binky Tupas called on all parties to resolve their disputes through lawful and peaceful means.
“At the same time, I emphasize that every person is entitled to due process. The facts must be established through a fair, impartial, and thorough investigation, and the appropriate charges should be resolved by our courts in accordance with the law,” Tupas said.
She also called on all parties involved in the Sicogon property disputes to pursue legal and peaceful means in asserting their respective rights.
“Violence, threats, and intimidation should never be the means of resolving any disagreement,” stressed Tupas.
COMMITMENTS FULFILLED – DEVELOPER
Days before the armed confrontation, SITEC and FESIFFA announced the fulfillment of major commitments under their amended agreement, including land donations, housing funds, livelihood assistance, and agricultural land for beneficiary families.
“These commitments were made to the community, and today we are seeing another important step toward fulfilling them,” said Michael Andrew Sarrosa.
“This process involved coordination among many stakeholders, and our shared objective has always been to secure better opportunities and a more stable future for Sicogon families,” he added.
However, the latest developments come amid an ongoing petition by more than 700 families seeking the revocation of about 80 hectares covered by the tourism project, alleging unfulfilled commitments.
The shutdown now leaves a bigger question confronting Sicogon: whether the island can still realize its vision of becoming one of Western Visayas’ premier tourism destinations, or whether years of investment and the aspirations of hundreds of local families will remain uncertain./PN
