ACES School honcho Dr. Francisco dela Peña Jr. is asking local authorities of the Island Garden City of Samal to give him authority to develop around 5 hectares of the Samal Sandbar, also called the “vanishing island”, for a world-class, exotic, floating aquamarine tourism park.
“I can spend millions for a study and if you find it not good, then you can kick me out,” dela Peña told members of the island’s city council on Tuesday in his appearance to brief them on his plan to invest P50 million to fund world-class, environment-friendly facilities all floating over the known Samal Sandbar, the vanishing island, as it only appears during low tide. It is located at Barangay Tambo.
Dela Peña is the owner of a chain of voc-tech schools known as Aces Polytechnic College that first flourished in Davao del Norte.
He made the presentation of his plan to develop the sandbar with floating cottages made of bamboo and indigenous materials complete with a waste-segregation system, “no foul smell” and recycling technology, underwater park with exotic fishes, clams and corals, which are ideal for snorkeling.
He said it would be seen as a floating resort that could also be a training center, source of employment for Samal residents, “one that protects the natural habitat of marine life”, an attraction for local and foreign tourists, “which will truly make Igacos a global destination with locally inspired attraction”.
Dela Peña guaranteed a waste-management and waste-recycling technology he developed for his school to protect the sandbar area. A monthly rental scheme could be derived by the city from the operator of the resort at a term of 25 years.
Councilor Charles Ligan said the project dela Peña offered is “feasible”, but he said there are “claimants” in the sandbar area, among whom is Davao City businessman Joe Tesado.
The councilor moved that dela Peña’s plan be referred to the environment and tourism committees, while he would ask the city environment office about the latest information pertaining to the island’s sandbar.
Vice Mayor Orly Amit said that in the past, someone wanted to put up a high-end hotel at the sandbar area, but the plan fizzled out.