Countryside fast becoming PH’s engine of growth

In 1996, Megaworld Corp. acquired an old textile mills factory located on the fringes of Quezon City. By 1999, the Andrew Tan-led developer started transforming this 11.12-hectare property into what is now Eastwood City.

Having grown to 18.5 ha, Eastwood City has become one of Megaworld’s most successful integrated mixed-use communities—or commonly known as townships—that popularized the live-work-play lifestyle concept in the Philippines.

Somehow, this pioneering move validated other big industry players’ intention to channel their future growth plans into less developed sections of major cities—including those located in the provinces.

Meanwhile, according to David dela Cruz, EVP and chief financial officer of Sta. Lucia Land, “Developers are now looking to go provincial due to the increasing scarcity of available land in megacities like Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. We are proud that this has been our company’s brand thrust for decades as we look for progressive, suburban locations in the provinces in order to build residential developments that incorporate retail, restaurant and entertainment venues.”

Dela Cruz noted that the country’s population now moves both from the old and central business districts to more suburban locations.

“This is why SLI is now aggressively expanding in the countryside. Best examples are our current major undertakings like Splendido Taal Golf and Country Club, Orchard Golf, and Country Club, Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club (the company currently boasts 12 world-class golf courses) as well as residential and condotel developments such as Residenze (Cainta, Rizal), Arterra Bayfront Residences (Mactan Island, Cebu), La Breza (Quezon City), and SotoGrande developments in Katipunan, Iloilo, Davao, and Neopolitan, Quezon City,” Dela Cruz explained.

 

Moving to provinces

In June, Megaworld announced it would be spending P180 billion in the next 10 years to develop existing properties in the provinces. Of the current 21 integrated urban townships it built around the country, 12 are located in the provinces, which is equivalent to around 2,807 ha.

Among the upcoming provincial township projects that will benefit from this move include:

• 53 ha NORTHHILL Gateway in Talisay City, Negros Occidental;
• Upper East in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental;
• The Capital in San Fernando City, Pampanga; and
• The 140 ha Maple Grove in General Trias, Cavite

Megaworld’s other provincial township projects include:

• The 72 ha Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao, Iloilo City;
• The 28.8 ha Mactan Newtown in Lapu-Lapu City;
• Davao Park District in Lanang, Davao City;
• The 1,200 ha Twin Lakes in Alfonso, Batangas;
• The 561 ha Southwoods City in the boundaries of Cavite and Laguna;
• The 350 ha Suntrust Ecotown in Tanza, Cavite;
• The 170 ha Sta. Barbara Heights in Iloilo; and
• The 150 ha Boracay Newcoast in Boracay Island.

Townships in the Visayas

Notable among the list of the mentioned developments is the Mactan Newtown, which is Megaworld’s first major township development with its own beach outside Metro Manila.

This 28.8-ha mega-community combines high-end office towers, luxury condominiums, leisure amenities; retail shops, a school supervised by LASSO (implementing arm of the Lasallian Schools Supervision Services Association, Inc.), and upscale hotels in one secured and enclosed area.

It features a Cyberpark, which will be home to several offices like the recently completed One World Center that now houses international BPO firms Results Manila and Enfra USA. Other BPO offices in the township are Two World Center, Eight Newtown Boulevard, and Pacific Garden Tower.

The company will have at least five to 10 more office towers in the township by 2021.

Mactan Newtown’s residential components include 8 Newtown Boulevard consisting of four 18-story, Japanese architecture-inspired towers; One Pacific Residence, a high-end residential and mixed-used development consisting of commercial establishments at the ground level, an office building, and three 18-story residential towers; and One Manchester Place, a three-tower condominium cluster.

 

Rockwell’s first

Rockwell Land Corp. known for several premier property developments that include Rockwell Center in Makati City, The Grove in Pasig City, Rockwell Business Center Ortigas in Pasig City and Rockwell Business Center Sheridan in Mandaluyong City, now offers its first development in Cebu and outside Luzon, the 32 Sanson.

Located on a 32-ha property in Lahug, 32 Sanson is composed of five low-rise (5 stories) residential buildings nestled amid lush landscaping.

The 32 Sanson features two clubhouse, function room, gym, game room, two swimming pools, multipurpose court, lawn and children’s play area, as well as a long and winding jogging path.

Interestingly, there is a subterranean road that allows the grounds of the property to be used exclusively by pedestrians, so residents can enjoy a unique and carefree jogging experience around the development’s verdant surroundings.

SLI Expansion

Sta. Lucia Land is a giant keenly looking at expanding its presence in Iloilo. A recent announcement on the expansion of four of its current projects namely, Greenmeadows, Metropolis Executive Village, Nottingham Villas, and SotoGrande Iloilo, came after its first venture, the 51-ha Metropolis Executive Village.

Its footprint has since expanded to 262 hectares that included:

• The 172 ha Greenmeadows that is set to become a regional hub with its planned community mall, mid-rise condominium, and business process outsourcing office buildings;
• The 51 ha residential community Metropolis Executive Village that is set to expand by six hectares;
• The 3 ha Nottingham Villas that is also set to expand to include prime commercial areas and residential townhouse units as well as the 6-story SotoGrande Iloilo hotel;
• The 30 ha property in Sta. Barbara, a new residential development

 

Pro-Friends in Iloilo

The town of Pavia is best known for its 154-year old church that is made almost entirely of bricks. And because it is just 15 minutes drive away from Iloilo City, Pro-Friends, known for hugely successful projects such as Lancaster New City, Bellefort Estate in Bacoor, Cavite, and Carmona Estates, has just moved in to this area to build a 61 ha development located in Barangay Balabag.

According to Pro-Friends, Iloilo City is aiming to become the next economic epicenter in the Philippines. It started with the development of Mandurriao district—the location of the old Iloilo Airport—that eventually became Iloilo Business Park, a 72 ha master-planned commercial and lifestyle township as well as the venue of two high-level meetings of the 2015 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Because of this, Pro-Friends targeted the nearby Pavia and built two major communities, the 50 ha Parc Regency Greens and Parc Regency Residences and the 61 ha Monticello Villas.

Mindanao will not be left behind When it comes to massive developments, Mindanao will not be left behind as several cities are slowly seeing the influx of big developers.

Changing landscape

Known for its pioneering moves, Megaworld is currently changing the Davao’s cityscape with its first development in the island, the Davao Park District.

Located in an 11 ha property along the SP Dakudao Loop (formerly Lanang Golf and Country Club), the P15-billion Davao Park District is envisioned to be the city’s central business district as well as a major center for information technology and business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) in Mindanao.

Together with the project’s office component, Megaworld partnered with its subsidiary, Suntrust Properties to establish One Lakeshore Drive, a four-tower condominium that will be the township’s residential component.

Last year, Paltongan recalled, the first tower of One Lakeshore Drive almost sold out in less than two months after the company started selling, prompting Suntrust Properties to launch the second tower, way ahead of its original schedule.

Each tower is 21 stories high, offering studio (up to 27 sq m); executive studio (up to 40 sq m); one-bedroom (up to 50 sq m); and two-bedroom (76 sq m) units.

One Lakeshore Drive will have an exclusive third-level amenity deck that features a 20-meter infinity pool overlooking the lake, wood deck pool area, wet lounge, kiddy pool, outdoor fitness station, gazebo, children’s playground, and pocket gardens. Other amenities such as the business center, day care center, function rooms, and indoor fitness gym will be at the ground level.

One Lakeshore Drive’s ground floor will also have its own commercial area.

Growing confidence

Sta. Lucia Land, another major developer, has been confident about Davao’s growth that it has nine projects in the city, including the 60 ha Davao Riverfront Corporate City, which will also have a business park and residential area.

At the core of Riverfront Corporate City is the 40 ha business park envisioned to further drive the booming local economy. And with influx of people, the master planned development will feature 10 ha residential subdivision that is exclusive, secure and will offer the most comfortable city living; a 5 ha Tourism Center and a 45 ha business park which is allocated for office units, residential condominiums, restaurants, and hotel.

Completing the features of this first-of-its-kind community in Davao are the Crocodile Park, Butterfly House, Rancho Palos Verdes Sports and Country Clubhouse, and St. Paul’s College, which has been fully operational since June 2007.

CDO transformation

Aside from Davao City, there’s also Cagayan de Oro that is transforming into another growth center in the island, it has a bevy of developments from big developers starting with Vista Land’s The Loop.

The two 25-story towers, The Loop will rise at the Limketkai Center, the only central business district in Mindanao that is currently the city’s main commercial and entertainment hub.

Each of the tower features a “sky garden”, a landscaped roof deck where residents can enjoy the city’s fresh air and great view of the city and the bay. The Loop’s Clubhouse, called “The Canopy,” comes with a function room, fitness gym, play area and swimming pool.

Urband decentralization

Several other factors are also driving developers to go out of megacities. According to Atty. Harry Paltongan, president of Suntrust Properties Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Megaworld), the emergence of better Internet and mobile phone communications services, more expressways and better road networks, better schools, and better opportunities for business growth are among these.

“Thanks to the Internet, more skilled professionals are now able to make a living in the most far-flung locations in the Philippines. More people are now working in industrial and business parks set up in several cities in the provinces. Long gone are the days when those in the province had to choose between a job on the farm or commute for kilometers into another city where job is available,” said Paltongan.