Gigantes Island’s development underway

North and South Gigante Islands seen from the Visayan Sea. P199 / Wikipedia photo

ILOILO CITY — Citing its marine and tourism potential, the Iloilo Provincial Government is eyeing a total development for Gigantes Island – just across the controversial Sicogon Island in Carles, Iloilo.

Dr. Ildefonso Toledo, provincial head of Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO), said Monday Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr.

wants to preserve the marine resources of the island that could be one of the tourist attractions in the area.

“Our governor wants to develop the island after the successful scallops harvesting last month,” he said.

Toledo said the development may come in form of coastal resources management, waste disposal, tourism and alternative livelihood, among others.

He stressed that it is at the island where the lagoon is located and attracts more local and foreign tourists.

“We want to educate the people there how to preserve their area as well as to maintain the cleanliness of the island especially the lagoon where scattered garbage, vandalism and broken glasses were seen anywhere”, he said.

Meanwhile, DOT-6 director Atty. Helen Catalbas said northern Iloilo particularly the towns of Carles, Concepcion and Ajuy have big potential when it comes to tourism industry.

Apart from Gigantes Island, Catalbas said the multi-billion redevelopment of Sicogon Island has started.

Catalbas also mentioned the town of Concepcion where most of island villages have white-sand beaches like the islands of Tambaliza, Agho, Bolobadiangan, and Polopiña, among others.

Also, the nearby Ajuy town has white beaches such as in Marbuena and Calabazas islands.