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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Co envisions Chinese tourists in Kalayaan once islands become PH's 'Maldives'

Co envisions Chinese tourists in Kalayaan once islands become PH's 'Maldives'

Published Oct 11, 2023 09:22 am

At A Glance

  • Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co wants Chinese tourists to go to Kalayaan Islands once it has been transformed into the Philippines' own "Maldives". 

FB_IMG_1695116567600.jpgAko Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co (PPAB)

Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co wants Chinese tourists to go to Kalayaan Islands once it has been transformed into the Philippines' own "Maldives".

Co, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, said that its better to turn the islands into something productive than to keep fighting over it.

"We also want to encourage ‘yong master planning ng Kalayaan Islands. ‘Pag titignan mo talaga ‘yong eight islands para siyang Maldives ano (We want to encourage the master planning of Kalayaan Islands. If you look at its eight islands, it looks like Maldives)," the solon said in a press conference Tuesday, Oct. 10.

"So we’re seeing a potential of not only making it a more friendly and maybe we can also attract Chinese tourists to go there. So instead na pag-awayan, gawin natin productive ‘yong islands (So instead of fighting over it, let's just make the islands productive)," said the House leader.

Considered the smallest country in Asia, the Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean. It is famous for its stunning beach resorts.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez, in his visit to Pag-asa Island last week, said that Pag-asa and the rest of Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) could be developed into a "Maldives"-style tourist destination.

Co, whose committee was behind the recent budget process in the House of Representatives, threw his support behind Romualdez's vision for the Kalayaan Island Group.

The Ako Bicol lawmaker was part of the small group of solons who visited the islands.

"As discussed during the visit, develop the island and [create a] masterplan [for] it para maging siyang the new Maldives of the world (so that it will become the new Maldives of the world)," Co said.

Related Tags

chinese tourists Kalayaan Island Group Maldives Martin Romualdez zaldy co
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