Tagaytay City, a natural tourist and retirees haven, says solon

TAGAYTAY CITY — This scenic, tranquil and cool city remains a favorite destination of foreign and domestic tourists.

And for Congressman Rodolfo G. Valencia, vice chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Housing and Urban Development, Tagaytay City looms also as a prime retirees haven especially for Filipino-American "baby boomers" who are now in a frenzy to acquire homes and other properties in the country.

Valencia, who is at the forefront of the campaign to promote Tagaytay, his native Oriental Mindoro, Masbate, Palawan, Romblon and the Calabarzon as tourist and retirees haven, is himself bent on presenting the Philippines as a retirement home and prime investment through his Filipiniana Tagaytay Vacation Resort and Nature Theme Park overlooking the Taal Lake.

"Tagaytay is one of the best places for tourists, property investors and retirees just outside Metro Manila considering its rich history, culture and arts, its beautiful spots, and its temperate weather that at times approximate that of Baguio City," Valencia said.

"The city is a peaceful and idyllic place where people can commune with nature. It is, in fact, a tropical paradise with its rich flora and fauna," he said.

Valencia said that for the discriminating tourists and retirees, Tagaytay is very ideal for them considering that it abounds with fresh fruits and vegetables, fishes from Taal Lake and river tributaries, as well as beef, chicken and other meat being a livestock center in the region. "It is a food basket by itself," he said

The Mindoro solon said that because of the attractions of Tagaytay, many groups have come up with their own tourism and retirement projects in anticipation of 20,000 retirees alone every year.

Valencia, who is also Chairman of the Tourism Committee on International Promotions, stressed that his Tagaytay Filipiniana project boasts of a 100 percent Filipino architectural design with almost 60 percent of the area dedicated to nature theme park in total harmony with the rolling contours of Tagaytay ridge and the invigorating mountain breeze.

Valencia said that retirees alone who are being lured to stay in the Philippines are expected to contribute billion annually to Philippine economy by 2014 and billion thereafter.

"The success of the retirement industry will also benefit Filipinos as it will generate four million jobs for the country," he said.

The Mindoro solon, at the same time, lauded the overseas Filipino workers for their rising money remittance which last year reached billion and is projected to increase to billion this year.

"With their growing money, the OFWs not only help their relatives and the Philippine economy. They also now represent the biggest group of buyers of properties in the Philippines which are definitely a lot cheaper than those in foreign countries," he said.

With the attention given by President Arroyo and businessmen to the Philippine tourism and retirement industries, returning Filipinos and foreigners "can now bask in the former glory, style and elegance of their hometown as the administration promises to turn the country into a retirees sanctuary where they can relax, rejuvenate and unwind," Valencia said.

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