By Katlene O. Cacho
Monday, July 7, 2014
OWNERS of Cebu-based pharmaceutical and healthcare products manufacturer International Pharmaceutical Inc. (IPI) has ventured into resort development in Dalaguete, Cebu to take advantage of the growing tourism traffic in the south.
From an initial investment of P750,000 in 2007, Dennis Wong, who belonged to the third-generation owners of IPI, said they converted the family’s 40,000 square meter property in barangay Coro, Dalaguete into Dakong Bato Beach & Leisure Resort, initially to cater to the family’s common interest—the beach.
He said they started off with only two rooms for family use but one development led to another until they turned it into what it is now.
Potential
“We realized that our property has huge potential in tourism especially in providing leisure and accommodation services to local and foreign tourists who frequent the south,” said Wong.
The resort is located right where the Dakong Bato (Big Rock) is, one of the famous landmarks in Dalaguete. It has 22 rooms and is equipped with amenities such as swimming pools, cottages, restaurants and function rooms. The resort can accommodate up to a hundred people.
It also has basketball courts, rubber kayaks and dingy boats for teambuilding and sports activities.
“We completed the last phase of the resort development last year,” said Wong.
The town of Dalaguete is known as the “vegetable basket and summer capital” of Cebu.
Among its tourists attractions are Obong Spring, Osmeña Peak, Mantalongon Highlands and Dalaguete Beach Park.
Dalaguete is also the hometown of Wong’s mother, who once served as the town’s mayor.
Giving back
“Converting the family’s property into a resort facility was our way of giving back to the community. Dalaguete has always been IPI’s recipient for corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities such as free medical and dental mission,” said Wong.
He also believes putting in place an accommodation establishment in the town will help spur tourism.
“We are supporting the tourism industry because we feel that it is one of the industries that is ripe for the Philippines, especially Cebu,” he said.
Since its opening, Wong reported the resort facility has been getting positive feedback from guests.
“We had the best summer so far. We are 30 percent occupied during the weekdays and 100 percent full during weekends,” he said, noting that most of their guests are from locals and corporate bookings.
IPI also owns Wild, Wild West an adventure tourism site located in Balamban.
The Department of Tourism has been encouraging Filipinos to invest in tourism, saying this is one of the fastest way to attain inclusive growth because it provides jobs, spurs businesses and links industries.
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