Sta. Barbara pitches retirement village to potential investors

By Mariela Angella Oladive

ILOILO CITY — Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, is positioning itself as a potential retirement destination, banking on accessible health care, government services, recreational facilities and a relatively peaceful environment to attract investors interested in developing retirement communities.

Mayor Dennis Superficial said in an interview Oct. 29 that the municipality is promoting the proposed development to private investors interested in establishing retirement housing facilities.

The project is expected to begin with a small residential subdivision in Barangay Camambugan, a hilly community near Iloilo International Airport.

Superficial said the town offers retirees convenient access to essential services, with most roads already paved with concrete and major health care facilities in nearby Iloilo City.

Beyond accessibility, he highlighted the municipality’s natural surroundings, particularly in its outlying barangays, where the local government is working to preserve local flora and fauna.

The proposed development also forms part of Sta. Barbara’s efforts to attract investments that could create employment opportunities and generate demand for local services.

The town is also being considered as the location of the proposed Iloilo provincial government center, a development that could bring government services closer to future residents.

“We are selling it to possible investors that are willing to establish retirement rooms,” Superficial said.

The mayor cited the potential affordability of retirement living in the Philippines compared with facilities in countries such as the United States.

He said a monthly budget of PHP 50,000 could go further in the Philippines than in retirement facilities abroad, although actual living expenses would depend on housing, health care and other services required by residents.

The proposed retirement village is also listed among investment opportunities promoted by the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Economic Development Council.

Its investment profile identifies potential facilities such as residential units, recreational areas, health services, transportation, security and housekeeping services, with private ownership or a public-private partnership among the possible development arrangements.

Beyond housing and essential services, Sta. Barbara is looking to capitalize on recreational activities to make the proposed retirement community more attractive.

Superficial noted that many people in their 60s, 70s and 80s remain physically active and enjoy golf, making the historic Iloilo Golf and Country Club (IGCC) in Barangay San Sebastian a potential draw.

Established in 1907, the IGCC is recognized as the oldest golf course in the Philippines and is widely regarded as the oldest existing golf course in Southeast Asia.

Originally developed as a nine-hole course, the facility expanded to 18 holes in 1958 and remains an important part of Iloilo’s sporting heritage.

The municipality is also completing a sports complex as part of its broader plan to establish Sta. Barbara as a sports destination.

Superficial said the local government would promote the IGCC golf course as one of the municipality’s major recreational and sports attractions.

The investment proposal was discussed on the sidelines of a news conference for the 24th Bamboo Tee Golf Tournament, scheduled for Nov. 12 to 15, 2026.

Organizers expect between 300 and 350 golfers to participate in the tournament, which is projected to generate approximately PHP 9 million in tourism receipts based on an average stay of 2.77 days and daily spending of PHP 9,200.

The Department of Tourism Region 6 is supporting the tournament as part of efforts to strengthen golf tourism and promote Western Visayas as a destination for sporting events.

The event also offers an opportunity to showcase Sta. Barbara’s recreational facilities and heritage attractions to visitors who could become potential investors or future residents.

For the municipal government, the proposed retirement community represents another opportunity to position Sta. Barbara as a destination not only for tourism and recreation but also for long-term residential investment.