Monday, July 9, 2018
BY CARLA P. GOMEZ

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has designated a 13,016-hectare integrated tourism complex site in Barangay Guinhalaran, Silay City, that will include the P600M Magikland theme park, as a Tourism Enterprise Zone (TEZ), Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) announced Saturday.

The TIEZA designation was granted to Aton Land and Leisure (ALL) owned by the family of Benitez that is developing the integrated tourism complex.

Four of the Magikland major rides arrived at the Silay site this weekend from Zamperla, an Italian firm that is the biggest supplier of Disneyland rides, and were unloaded in the presence of TIEZA representatives.

The rides that arrived were the Roller Coaster, Drop Tower, Disc O and Family Swinger, Benitez said.

The Ferris wheel will arrive in July and six more rides in September, he added.

The registration agreement signed by TIEZA chief operating officer Pocholo Joselito Paragas and ALL president Reynaldo Bantug states that the integrated tourism complex will include the Magikland theme park, hotels, and a commercial and lifestyle complex.

The 5.6 hectare Magikland, a world class theme park, will offer rides and attractions, and educational and cultural exhibits, the agreement also stated.

Benitez said the vision is to make Negros a tourism hub as well as to generate jobs.

“I think Negros can lead the way, and eventually the Philippines will position itself as a tourism country,” he said.

Tourism is a major way to develop Negros, Bantug said, stressing the need for a unified provincewide effort to sell the province as a distinct place to go to.

“We hope Magikland will contribute significantly towards that end,” he said, adding that they aim to cater to the “millennial population.”

Magikland will highlight local folklore to make it distinct to Negros culture, Bantug pointed out.

A movie will be made on the mythical characters of Magikland that will kick off the promotion of theme park, Bantugalso said.

The TEZ designation will grantall those who locate at theSilay tourism complex fiscal and non-fiscal incentives under Sections 86 and 87 of the Tourism Act of 2009 or R.A. 9593, he said.

This will include a 6-year income tax holiday, or 5 percent gross income tax in lieu of all other taxes, except real estate taxes and such fees as may be imposed by the TIEZA, Bantug added.

They will also be allowed tax and duty free importation of capital investment and equipment, transportation equipment and spare parts, and consumable goods and services, he said.

The TEZ may also employ foreign nationals in executive, supervisory, technical or advisory positions for reasonable periods and under terms provided by the TIEZA Board, provided that the total number of foreigners will not exceed 5 percent of the total workforce, Bantug said.

All social responsibility endeavors at the site will also be entitled to 50 percent tax deduction of the cost, Cesar Landrigan, TIEZA team leader who was at the Silay site this weekend, said.

This will include environmental protection or cultural heritage, preservation activities, and sustainable livelihood programs, as approved by the TIEZA Board, he added.

Bantug said they will set up a foundation to develop Negros talents.

The theme park was the dream of his uncle, businessman Sammy Palanca, ALL chairman, who, as early as the 1950s and 60s used to bring foreign circuses to Bacolod, he added.

Ed Fuentes, Magikland project director, said the theme park will have three zones – a magical zone for the younger children and another for the older ones, and a cultural zone at the center that will replicate the old Silay.

They are aiming to open the theme park in the first quarter of next year, Fuentes said.

The horror house that will be completed later will be the most dominant feature of the park, he added.*CPG