P2-B resort, diving destination in Mindoro up soon

Apo Reef estate

The development of the P2-billion 104-hectare beachfront estate of horse racing club Manila Jockey Club Inc. (MJC) in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro—touted to be the country’s next resort and diving destination—is now in full swing.

The project will be developed by MJC’s subsidiary, Apo Reef World Resorts Corp. (ARWR), which owns the vast beach property in Barangays Fatima and Talabaan which has a 4.5-kilometer shoreline of white sand beach on flat terrain with lush vegetation. The property also has a 1,200-meter inlet river, ideal for various water sports and activities.

This site is pitched to be the most ideal jump-off point from the world-renowned and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco)-protected Apo Reef Natural Park, the second largest contiguous coral reef in the world and the biggest in the Philippines.

In an interview with the Inquirer, MJC chair Alfonso Reyno Jr. said ARWR would start this year the construction of waste disposal and sewerage treatment facilities, the main power lines and horizontal facilities, including the road network.

The architectural firm of Carunungan and Partners was commissioned to create the overall master plan of the project. Completed in October 2018, the master plan covered a four-phase development, including a mixed-use development with hotels, beachfront resorts, luxury homes and condominiums, retirement and assisted living villages, commercial establishments, institutional developments, golf course, yacht club and marina.

ARWR has also employed the services of property consulting firm Santos Knight Frank. In a study submitted earlier, this firm validated the project’s feasibility and the master plan, which aims to build the most optimal and viable development given current and foreseen market conditions.

MJC is confident this project will help boost the tourism development of the country, and attract tourists and diving enthusiasts from all over the world.

Apart from generating employment for local residents, ARWR expects the project to increase business activity, raise land values and contribute bigger taxes to the local and provincial governments.

ARWR is also working with the municipal and provincial governments of Occidental Mindoro, which have given their full support for the project.

The site is a few minutes away from the Mamburao airport and can also be accessed via land and sea travel through the Abra de Ilog and Batangas sea ports.

In recent years, MJC diversified its portfolio to include property development, gaming, hospitality, sports and leisure development.—DORIS DUMLAO-ABADILLA