Filinvest group to redevelop Alabang corporate center

Gotianun family-led Filinvest group has unveiled a multibillion-peso redevelopment plan for the 244-hectare Filinvest City in Alabang that seeks to transform the corporate hub into a pedestrian haven while expanding retail and office space to meet rising demand.

Filinvest Alabang Inc. (FAI), a subsidiary of Filinvest Development Corp., Thursday announced a long-term plan to transform more than 20,000 square meters of open space in the estate into landscaped nature parks, the construction of mega blocks or large-scale developments including iconic landmarks and maximizing the land use of Festival Mall as the city center.

“You could call this redevelopment of the master plan as the next big leap in the growth of Filinvest City,” FAI executive vice president Catherine Ilagan said. “We are enhancing Filinvest City so it will provide a superior pedestrian experience and more efficiently facilitate people movement while providing a healthier, more eco-friendly environment.”

A new wing of Festival Mall is under construction and set for completion by yearend. It is expected to add a gross floor area of 150,000 sqm, including a four-story Landmark department store.

The construction of an ambitious integrated greenway system traversing the estate from north to south and from east to west is also underway. Almost half of the nearly one-kilometer greenway along Spectrum Midway Avenue has been completed and was now being used by pedestrians, Ilagan said.

Set for completion this year, the Spectrum Midway could also be used for events and gatherings and might be closed to vehicular traffic during weekends, she added.

“As a rule, walking is not a very convenient option for Filipinos living in the metropolis. But we believe that given an engaging and comfortable environment, they will walk. Through this project and other related developments, we envision transforming Filinvest City into a pedestrian-friendly garden city at par with other world-class central business districts,” Ilagan said.

The greenway system consists of an expanded, landscaped median with pathwalks lined with trees, flowers and greens, lighted seating areas and outdoor art pieces. Provisions for bike lanes are also part of the design.

‘“The vision is to create a city where owning a car will not be an imperative. Beyond easy strolling distances, we want to encourage residents to bike to the mall, to the hospital and the bus station,” Ilagan said, adding that FAI was studying schemes that would require locators to provide bike parking.