(MEDAL Consortium led by Dr. Bong Alvaro (2nd from left) strike a pose at the Legazpi City landmark with the iconic Mayon Volcano in the backdrop. Contributed Photo)
CLARK FREEPORT – The developers of the soon-toopen- 236 room Mirej Hotel here are now eyeing the Bicol region to put up another multi-billion-peso hotel with the iconic Mayon Volcano as its backdrop.
MEDAL Consortium founders led by Dr. Irineo “Bong” Alvaro Jr., recently visited Legazpi City as a potential growth for his group’s resort and hotel development projects.
Alvaro was assisted by his co-founders brothers Marc and Ric Mercado, Edwin Lim and Jeff Del Mundo during the site inspection of prospective properties for development with a breathtaking view overlooking the world-renowned volcano with a perfect cone, Mount Mayon.
Alvaro said the expansion plan is mainly inspired by the group’s soon-to-open Mirej Hotel inside this freeport with nature as its centerpiece.
“Mirej will be a green hotel, the first green hotel in Clark,” said Alvaro. “The roof deck will be all solar,” he added.
“Legazpi is a major economic hub in the Bicol region. The city also has a fast-growing tourism industry with focus on adventure tourism and the city government is promoting Legazpi as an ideal location for ICT-BPO businesses. MEDAL will invest its egg into the nest, so vibrant and viable,” Alvaro said.
Considered as the gateway to Bicol because of its relative proximity to the provinces, “Legazpi City’s geographical location makes it an ideal place to expand our business,” Alvaro said. “With an airport, seaport, bus and rail terminals, the city is accessible to all modes of transportation,” he added.
In 2018, Legazpi was ranked first in overall competitiveness among component cities by the National Competitiveness Council. The city also ranked first in infrastructure and second in economic dynamism.
According to Del Mundo, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry named Legazpi City as the “most-business-friendly city” last year and it aims to be one of the top five convention destinations in Luzon by 2020.
Given all the economic fundamentals and indicators of Region V and Legazpi as its center, MEDAL as a consortium wants to be part of this city’s booming economy, he added.
Meanwhile, Mirej Hotel here is slated to be opened at 9 a.m. on September 9, 2019, according to Alvaro who is also president/CEO of BBI which is the multi-national company behind the grand Midori Clark Hotel and Casino as well as Aqua Planet, the biggest water- theme park in Southeast Asia.
