Yesterday I was among those invited to the Topping Off Ceremony of Bellevue Hotel in Doljo, Panglao. I did not intend to attend as I had a commitment with my Godson, Larry, In Dangay, Albur where we agreed to have some sort of reunion with former colleagues in the poverty reduction program. But I was curious about what a Topping Off Ceremony is. It was the first time I heard of it. So off I drove to the project site of Bellevue in Doljo with a promise to my colleagues to catch up with the fun. There I joined the owner Johnny Chan and the other top officers of Bellevue, Gov. Edgar M. Chatto, 1 st District Cong. Rene Lopez Relampagos, Board Member Abel Damalerio, Provincial Administrator Ae Damalerio and Mayor Dodong Alcala of Panglao. The tourism officer of Panglao, Elvie Sarmiento, was also there to make sure that everyone feels good about this new addition to the accommodation facilities in Panglao.
It was there I knew that a Topping Off Ceremony is a regular ceremony in the construction industry. When the building being constructed is about to be finished like all the structures are standing with only the finishing touches that are lacking, a topping ceremony is usually held. It just consisted of a tour of the building and some photographs for posterity and partaking of food. What I appreciated was the opportunity that the ceremony provided for both investor and the provincial and municipal officials to discuss the project particularly its role in the growth of tourism in Bohol, the job opportunities it would generate for the job seekers of Bohol and particularly Panglao.
The five-storey edifice, just the Phase 1 of the project, will have 158 rooms all with a view of the sea. It is an “L” shape building that has magnificent view of the sea and panorama of the Maribojoc Bay and mountain and the far off town of Loon on the North. On the South is the graphic view of Balicasag and Virgin Islands (if I am not mistaken the Virgin Island is also the one referred to by many locals as the Cat Island where residents leave their unwanted cats) that look even more beautiful when silhouetted by the red-orange glow of the setting sun. In the far distance is the mystical Island of Siquijor. The Bohol Bellevue Hotel, definitely a high-end hotel, will start its operations in December this year. It promises to change the horizon not only of Doljo but also of the municipality of Panglao especially when Phase 2 will be constructed to complete the promised more than 200 rooms and a convention center that can house more than a thousand participants.
With an ideal ratio of two employees to a room for a five star hotel, Bellevue will easily employ 400 employees a majority of whom will be coming from Panglao and Bohol. What was striking about the people owning and managing the hotel is their corporate social responsibility (CSR). Lately Bellevue was surrounded with controversy. Some people in the community led by their barangay officials started picketing to complain what they said was the unjust closure of a barangay road that they use to have access to the sea. It turned out the barangay road referred to has no record for being so in the municipal government.
Nevertheless, Bellevue constructed a new road and paved it to would provide a new access to the sea for the people. And yesterday Mr. Chan assured Gov. Chatto and Cong. Relampagos that Bellevue would build a school building for the children of Doljo and even a church where the predominantly Catholic community can hold religious activities. Mr. Chan is not only building a hotel for his business, he is helping build a community in Doljo. Now the challenge to the government in Bohol and in Panglao is how to match their invitation to investors with the infrastructure that are needed for investment to materialize. With the realization of an airport of international standards, the 100 MW electric supply to Bohol will no longer be enough. Water is presently scarce in Panglao. These are two basic magnets of investment. If they are not adequately provided, investors will bypass Bohol even if it is the most beautiful and peaceful island in the country.
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