The Negros Occidental Provincial government officially owns the 24-hectare Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary in Murcia with the turnover by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of its special patent title on Monday, July 15, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said.
Lacson received the special patent title from DENR Region 6 Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services, Forester Edgardo Rostata, and Engineer Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office OIC, at a turnover ceremony held at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City.
Lacson said that the transfer represents a significant advancement in the provincial government’s initiatives to preserve the environment, promote sustainable tourism, and enhance community involvement.
He said the provincial government will further develop the resort and has in fact bought additional land beside it.
The provincial government plans to build high-end villas at the resort to attract more tourists and is adding boat rides at the lagoon as additional entertainment for guests, Lacson said.
Lacson said minus Boracay, Negros Occidental is the province in Western Visayas with the most number of tourists.
“With this turnover of the special patent title, we reaffirm our commitment to uphold Mambukal as a model and representation of responsible stewardship and a source of pride for the present and future generations of Negrenses,” he said in his speech during the turnover rites
He also said that in a few years, the provincial government will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of Mambukal, a milestone that traces back to the construction of its Ishiwata Bathhouse in 1927.
Mambukal was declared a town site on June 22, 1957, by Republic Act No. 1964, known as the “Act of Establishing the Mambukal Town Site for Health Center and Recreation Resort Purposes”
Among those present at the turnover rites were Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko, Murcia Mayor Victor Gerardo Rojas, Acting Provincial Administrator Alberto Nellas, Jr. and Provincial Environment Management Office head Julie Ann Bedrio.*