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| Ilocos Norte governor Imee R. Marcos receives the check from Chinese consul Wang Jianqun. (Alaric Yanos photo) |
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—The Ilocos Norte provincial government is currently developing a Chinese garden overlooking the legendary Paoay Lake as an added attraction for tourists.
This is strategically located near the Malacañang of the North, former residence of the Marcos family turned into a presidential museum and a favorite venue for wedding receptions.
In a recent meeting, the People’s Republic of China represented by Wang Jianqun, consul and head of post of the Chinese Consulate based in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, turned over around PHP2 million more to Ilocos Norte governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee’ R. Marcos for the provincial government for the development of the Chinese garden which broke ground in January last year.
With the increasing number of Chinese tourists visiting the province, the People’s Republic of China and the Ilocos Norte government previously signed a 2017 memorandum of agreement for the development of a Chinese garden. The total project cost is worth PHP4 million.
Engineer Cecilia Gagarin of the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) said the implementation of the project was supposed to have begun last year but numerous activities delayed its completion.
Once completed, provincial officials expect the Chinese garden to boost the local attractions as this can become part of the travel itinerary of mostly Chinese tourists visiting the province all year round.
On January 14, 2018, the 13-storey Superstar Virgo resumed its route again to the Port of Currimao ferrying passengers en route to Manila, Taiwan and Japan.
The Chinese Consulate office established since 2007 in the province has sustained its friendly ties with the Ilocos Norte government, assisting the latter particularly on agriculture, trade and tourism development.