The municipal government of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, is inviting investors to develop a retirement community, with an initial site identified in Barangay (village) Camambugan.

Mayor Dennis Superficial said on Thursday that the plan is to develop a small subdivision offering housing options for retirees.

“That will only be the start. Of course, we are selling it to possible investors that are willing to establish retirement rooms,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of a news conference for the 24th Bamboo Tee golf tournament organized by the Iloilo Golf and Country Club (IGCC).

Camambugan is a hilly barangay located near the Iloilo International Airport.

Superficial said most roads in the municipality are paved with concrete, making travel and access to basic services convenient. The town’s outlying barangays also offer a natural environment, with the local government working to preserve its flora and fauna, he added.

Sta. Barbara is also the proposed site of the Iloilo provincial government’s government center, which could make public services more accessible to future residents.

“If you are a retiree and you need services of the government agencies, they’re all here,” Superficial said, adding that Iloilo City is nearby, providing access to health care services.

He also cited the municipality’s strong telecommunications connectivity, which would allow retirees to stay in touch with their families.

“In the United States, you spend at least $50,000 per month to be admitted into a retirement home. Here you can stretch your PHP50,000 for that,” he said.

Superficial noted that many retirees in their 60s, 70s, and 80s enjoy golf, making the historic golf course operated by the IGCC in Barangay Sebastian another potential attraction.

The municipality is also completing a sports complex as part of its efforts to develop Sta. Barbara into a sports destination.

“We will be presenting the IGCC as a major sports here in Sta. Barbara,” he said.

The 24th Bamboo Tee golf tournament, scheduled for Nov. 12-15, is expected to draw 300 to 350 golfers. The event is supported by the Department of Tourism (DOT), which is promoting golf as an emerging tourism market in the region.

DOT Western Visayas Regional Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez said golf may not appeal to everyone but offers an opportunity to attract a specific market segment.

“We want to tap into that market segment, the golfers,” she said. (PNA)