TIEZA FORMALLY OPENS TEZ OFFICE AND TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER IN SAN VICENTE, PALAWAN

SAN VICENTE, Palawan – The Tourism Infrastructure and ­Enterprise Zone Authority ­(TIEZA) inaugura­ted the TIEZA Tou­rism Enterprise Zone (TEZ) Office and the ­Tourist ­Information Center (TIC) on ­October 28, 2018 located here, one of TIEZA’s Flagship Tourism Enterprise Zones.

The markers for the newly inaugurated buildings were unveiled, followed by the formal turnover of the TIC to the Municipality of San Vicente. The event was attended by the Provincial Government of Pala­wan, the Municipal Government of San Vicente, various national government agencies (NGAs), tourism enterprise owners, and other stakeholders.

“This (San Vicente Flagship TEZ) will be the model of sustainabi­lity and inclusiveness,” said TIEZA Chief Ope­rating Officer Pocholo Paragas, who led the inauguration and turnover cere­mony.

The construction of the TEZ Office and TIC began in 2016. Now, the two buildings are offi­cially open to tourists and visitors.

Both located in Barangay New Agutaya, the TEZ Office and TIC are among the support infrastructure projects of TIEZA for the San Vicente Flagship TEZ. The TEZ Office will serve as TIEZA’s onsite office and as link between and among the Municipal Government of San Vicente, the Department of Tourism (DOT), property owners and operators of private enterprises, and other stakeholders. The TIC will be the first stop for tourists and visitors where vital information will be provided for their stay in San Vicente, such as accessible facilities, stations, establishments, and activities within the Flagship TEZ.

“Five years ago, it was very difficult to get here. You had to take a private plane or fly to Puerto Prin­cesa and drive for five hours,” said Atty. Joy Bulauitan in closing the event. TIEZA Officer-In-Charge – Assistant Chief Operating Officer for Administration and Finance Atty. Joy Bula­uitan was nostalgic as she reminisced how five years ago the San Vicente Flagship TEZ was just an idea and how the local and national governments worked to-ether to implement the vision.

The San Vicente Flagship TEZ, known for its 14.7-kilometer long unbroken stretch of pristine beach, is the newest eco-town in the Philippines. It is envisioned to be an environmentally and socially sustainable tou­rist destination that will be a cata­lyst for inclusive economic growth through public and private partnership.