Foreign investors eye P120 million cable car project in Aurora
By Luis Jose

DINGALAN, Aurora – A group of Japanese, Korean and Filipino investors are eyeing a P120-million cable car project in this coastal town to promote the province as an investments and tourism haven and perk up the local economy.

Businessman Romeo Callanta, chairman of the RC Electric Corp. said the cable car project will be the first of its kind in the country and will be similar to the cable car line in the Hong Kong Ocean Park.

Callanta, a consultant of Aurora Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo and local partner of the foreign investors, said they are eyeing to install the cable car along a nine-kilometer area in this town, through an aerial cruise with a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean as backdrop.

“This will officially be the first commercial cable car project in the Philippines and this will be located in Aurora,” he said. He said there is an existing cable car project at the Tagaytay Highlands but this is used exclusively by golfers.

Callanta said the Japanese and Korean investors are eyeing to install up to 50 units of cable cars with a loading capacity of six passengers each or 300 passengers per round trip.

Each ride is expected to cost P100. Callanta also said the provincial government is expected to generate income from the operations of the cable car line of P83 million or more. In addition, local residents will be employed in the project.

“Essentially, it will have a domino effect in Dingalan and the entire Aurora,” he said.
Ben Mina, provincial environment and natural resources officer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said the cable car project will also enhance the province’s image as a potential eco-tourism site in Central Luzon. Along the route of the cable car line, also being eyed is a booking office for passengers and a one-hectare commercial area which will house souvenir shops, coffee shop, theme park, playground, eight waves swimming pool similar to the 8-Waves Park in Baliuag, Bulacan and fastfood outlets of such food chains as Jollibee and McDonald’s.
Callanta said that aside from Hong Kong, other countries which operate a cable car line are the United States, Japan, Switzerland, Germany and other European nations. He cited that in Switzerland, there is a popular place known as Iceglaze where cable cars are the mode of transport.

Angara-Castillo said the provincial government will provide tax incentives to the foreign investors who would invest in the cable car project. She said that the provincial government will not spend a single centavo for the project.

She hinted that several prospective investors have signified interest to put up businesses in the province, noting that at least P1.5 billion in outside investments is being worked out by the provincial government.