Culture, history and eco-consciousness are ideally at the heart of sustainable development, and Corregidor is about to get that treatment. Palafox Associates—in collaboration with Corregidor’s Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, the Department of National Defense-Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, Corregidor Foundation Inc., Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Tourism Calabarzon and the city of Cavite—has released plans for the future development of the historical battleground.
The project, called “Corregidor Comprehensive Tourism Master Plan Containing a Conceptual Development Plan of Corregidor Island including the Surrounding Islands” (a mouthful, we know), intends to focus on preserving the historical and cultural significance of the area, while making it viable for future development.
“The tourism master plan highlights a balance between historical preservation and commercial expansion to maintain Corregidor Island and its surrounding islands’ unique identity and to promote their sustainability. It also aims to establish Corregidor Island as a tourism enterprise zone (TEZ) to spur development within the area, its adjacent islands, and eventually, within the city of Cavite and nearby tourist spots,” the announcement read.
The environment and the area’s sustainability are also priorities for this project. Aside from preserving the island’s forests, the tourism master plan seeks to provide alternative renewable energy sources, establish water and wastewater facilities and develop a solid waste management system.
This project aims to be the “primary sustainable national military shrine and sociocultural heritage tourism destination in the Philippines.”
The only catch is that we’re going to have to wait for 2030 for its completion.