By IRMA ISIP

China Oceanis Philippines Inc., the Singapore-based developer of the Manila Ocean Park , is investing P290.62 million to build a 117-room deluxe hotel in the Manila bayside resort, bringing its total investment in the Philippines to P1.37 billion.

China Oceanis' project leads the P1.2 billion worth of tourist accommodation projects approved by the Board of Investments (BOI) last week.

In a project profile, China Oceanis reported that it will reconfigure the third level of the mall it is building to accommodate the hotel.

The project was endorsed by the Department of Tourism as it is meant to address strong demand for deluxe accommodation in Metro Manila.

The hotel would be operational by March next year.

China Oceanis Philippines is a subsidiary of Singapore-based China Oceanis Inc.

Manila Ocean Park which opened early this year is estimated to attract some 900,000 visitors per year. It has a state-of-the-art oceanarium, open water marine habitat, mall, restaurants and function facilities clustered at the back of the Quirino grandstand.

Filipino firm NS Nova Star Co. Inc., meanwhile, is investing P456.74 million for the construction of a 15-storey 218-room apartel called Nova Star Residence Hotel.

The company will tap Swiss-Belhotel International Inc., a Hong Kong-based company to manage and operate the apartel. The project will start commercial operations in September 2009.

Sea and Sierra Vista Inc., meanwhile, is putting up a P486.5-million resort in Baler, Aurora.

Bahia de Baler Garden Resort will be undertaken in two phases.

The first phase involves the development of the 100-room hotel, casitas and beach huts overlooking Baler Bay.This phase will start this October and will be completed by December 2010.

The second phase which starts June 2009 involves the development of the various amenities such as a boat clubhouse, botanical park, a fishing village, petting zoo and water park. This would be ready for commercial operations by December 2010.