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Mount Tapulao: "Little Baguio"
February 4, 2009Koreans plan a new Baguio in Zambales
By Cecille Garcia
PALAUIG, ZAMBALES—A South Korean firm has completed a study that it says will transform Mt. Tapulao—the “Zambales High Peak”—into another Baguio City and a top tourist destination in Asia.
Developer Dong Ho Co. says the Mt. Tapulao project will be patterned after Genting Highlands, one of Malaysia’s top tourist draws, and will need an initial $2 billion to start.
The Zambales peak is 2,037 meters above sea level and forms a contiguous chain of mountains in Central Luzon. It can easily be transformed into a world-class eco-tourism complex while preserving the natural environment, says Sang Hyun Park, vice chairman and director of Dong Ho’s Overseas Project Division.
It wasn’t clear if Dong Ho did the study on its own or on commission, and what it expected to get out of it.
Zambales Gov. Amor Deloso says Mt. Tapulao can rival Baguio City because it has the same pine trees and cool climate. “Actually, the name Tapulao in the local dialect means pine tree,” Deloso said.
Dong Ho says an initial $2 billion will be needed to build five-star hotels, leisure facilities, casinos, conference centers, a concert hall, condominium and villas, and an 18-hole golf course.
Some 450-hectares of Mt. Tapulao will be transformed into an eco-tourism complex. Mt. Tapulao will also have wellness and healing centers, a spa, health and fitness gyms, and facilities for medical tourism.
Dong Ho says it will provide water quality management services and prevent air pollution, soil erosion and sedimentation. It will put up waste treatment facilities and develop a recycling system.
Palauig Mayor Generoso Amog says the project will bring progress to his town and boost the residents’ standard of living.
“We welcome the Mt. Tapulao project because it will surely bring economic growth to our town,” Amog said.
Dong Ho’s study took into account expanding the road network to complement the recently opened Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway through a new access road.
“The project was designed using the W-Growth corridor as an integrated development program in Central and Northern Luzon,” Park said.
Credits:
Manila Standard Today, July 29, 2008
Mount Tapulao: Mining or Tourism?
Last 2008 the municipality of Palauig was so proud to promote Mount Tapulao as a newly discovered place for nature lovers especially for mountaineers. There were big posters in front of the municipal hall and all that but then they removed those already. Why? Humors said that they won’t continue to promote Mt.Tapulao anymore,but instead they will do mining in the mountain. What the hell they were thinking? Mount Tapulao is now making impressions to mountaineers and tourists, so what are they doing? They said that mining would surely generate income and work for Palauigeños. Yes,that is really possible but how about the preservation of the mountain? Aside from the beaches in Locloc and Magalawa that Palauig have as a tourist destination, God gave us Mount Tapulao. Any reason behind that mining whatever, that surely involves MONEY on the part of those who are responsible to it.





