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Underwater Hotel Planned for Palawan
April 2010 ScubaMagazine.net
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Lead by Singapore based financier Paul Monazca, a group of international investors is planning to construct a futuristic underwater hotel complex underwater in the cluster of Islands known as the Calamianes in Palawan that will be the largest of its kind in the world. One of the Calaminases is Calauit, where Congressman Ferdinand Marcos and his colleagues used to go on safari.
The hotel project, called “Last Frontier Resort,” is anticipated to bring in $1 billion US$ in investments spread over a 10-year period and create a massive amount of direct and indirect jobs, both locally and in the adjacent Puerto Princessa City.
Moņozca heads up a Monico based philanthropic organization called "Spirit" that works with organizations to develop marine habitats and protect the ocean ecosystem.
The Last Frontier Resort will be built with submarine technology. When completed, the proposed underwater habitat will be the biggest in the world.
The chosen Calamianes site is comprised of 7 inner and 7 outer islands owned by investor and resort developer Steve Tajalangit
The project's first phase calls for semi-submersible satellite units that will be observation platforms called “Sea Spiders,” that will accommodate 30 hotel guests each.
Spread over the remaining 7 islands, the 2nd phase plans on a 100 room underwater hotel that will be partnered with upscale boutique hotel brand.
Large suite rooms are designed to have almost 360 panoramic underwater views, with each suite connected via underwater corridors.
“The blue print encompasses a strict adherence to protect the environment and the biodiversity of Palawan,” the group said in a statement.
“Groups of scientists from the Philippines and around the globe are part of the project’s protective strategy especially focused on its long stretches of coral reefs which have previously encountered illegal dynamite and cyanide fishing,” it added.
PricewaterhouseCoopers Philippines was chosen as the financial adviser to the project, which developers expect to be completed by 2013.
