02 October 2007 - A new world-class tourism destination being constructed just behind the Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park in Manila will be opened to the public before Christmas.

"This will be comparable to the famous Sentosa Underwater World in Singapore ," said Tina Mistica Santos, marketing manager of the Manila Ocean Park . "We position it to be the best and most admired destination for tourism, education, dining and shopping."

Being built by a group of Malaysian and Singaporean investors at a cost of over P1 billion, Manila Ocean Park will be the first world-class marine themed park in the country when it opens on December 15, according to Armi Ruby Marie Cortes, the vice president for sales and marketing of the project.

"It is going to be more than P1 billion," Santos said, referring to the total cost of the three-hectare project, which includes an 8,000-square-meter oceanarium, a 150-room boutique hotel, a mall, a row of 30 restaurants, an activity area, open water marine habitats, multi-purpose function facilities and a parking lot for more than 500 cars.

Santos said China Oceanis Philippines Inc. will also operate the project once completed. She said this is the same company that operates two underwater theme parks in China .

Company president Lim Chee Yong said Manila Ocean Park will be the first of its kind in the Philippines and will showcase the country as a center of marine biodiversity in the world.