Property developer Megaworld Corp. is studying Palawan as a possible site for a future convention center as it looks to expand its meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) business in major tourism hubs over the next five to 10 years, a company official said.
Megaworld’s First Vice President for Communications Harold Brian Geronimo said Palawan is among the destinations being considered following the launch of the company’s first standalone convention center, the P1.5 billion Mactan Expo in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
“Palawan could be one of the destinations that we are looking into, but these are still internal discussions,” Geronimo told reporters, citing the province’s position as one of the country’s top tourist destinations.
Megaworld entered the MICE sector last week with the opening of the Mactan Expo, located inside the 30-hectare The Mactan Newtown township. The facility will host the ASEAN Travel Exchange from January 28 to 30, part of the Philippines’ chairmanship of the ASEAN Summit.
Geronimo said the company is assessing demand, available land and the scale required for each location, noting that building convention centers on a yearly basis may not be feasible.
Each township, he said, is being evaluated for potential MICE facilities.
Palawan already hosts several major Megaworld developments that could support future convention and business tourism activities.
In San Vicente, the company is developing Paragua Coastown, a 462-hectare eco-tourism township along the country’s longest white sand beach. The project carries an estimated investment of about P40 billion over the next decade to 15 years and is planned to include hotels, residential communities, commercial districts and lifestyle facilities.
Key components within Paragua Coastown include the 306-room Savoy Hotel Palawan, the 313-room Paragua Sands Hotel, Oceanfront Premier Residences, a beachside condominium development, and mixed-use areas such as the Mercato Shophouse District and Porto Hotel District. The township also includes the Paragua Beach Village, a gated residential community, with plans for additional residential and commercial projects.
In Puerto Princesa City, Megaworld, through its subsidiary Suntrust Properties, is developing Baytown Palawan, a six-hectare lifestyle estate along Puerto Princesa South Road. The project is envisioned as a mixed-use development with residential, commercial and hospitality components.
One of its flagship projects is The Bellagio Palawan, a 12-story residential condominium with 188 units, positioned as the first major residential development within Baytown.
Louella Caridad, Megaworld head of events and conventions and lead for the Mactan Expo, said prospects for additional convention centers are positive but projects must be built only where there is clear demand.
There is no specific capital expenditure allocated yet for a Palawan convention center as plans are still being finalized, Geronimo said.
However, he said Megaworld is likely to maintain its P50 billion capital expenditure budget for 2026 to support future projects.
This forms part of the P63 billion capital expenditure program of parent firm Alliance Global Group Inc., led by Andrew L. Tan.
