The Municipality of San Remigio sought the support of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in its bid for an Ecotourism Special Economic Zone (ESEZ), covering its three barangays.

Mayor Margarito Mission Jr. and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office chief Ruth Martinez met with DENR Secretary Raphael Lotilla in Quezon City on Wednesday to lobby for the establishment of the ESEZ.

“Our mayor requested Secretary Lotilla to assist us in the establishment of the ESEZ in three barangays of San Remigio, considered as the corridors to the Sibalom Natural Park (SNP),” she said.

She said that the upland barangays of Aningalan, considered as the “Baguio of Panay” for its cool climate, Osorio II and Bulan-bulan serve as gateways to the SNP. They are also part of the Central Panay Mountain Range.

SNP in the town of Sibalom is located just adjacent to San Remigio town.

It opened to tourists in 2022.

“The DENR, during the meeting, agreed to work in collaboration with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to provide us with technical assistance for the establishment of the ESEZ, while the PEZA would invite investors,” Martinez said.

Investors are expected to put up tourist amenities.

The local government unit of San Remigio, for its part, will prepare the land use plan and maintain the ESEZ.

“The LGU of San Remigio will then be able to have additional income from the taxes that would be paid once it is established,” Martinez said. (PNA)