Bacolod looks forward to its own iconic CBD

Megaworld brings its celebrated live-work-play lifestyle concept to the ‘City of Smiles’ with New York-inspired township, The Upper East.

Property giant Megaworld, the country’s largest developer of integrated urban townships, is now constructing Bacolod’s new and modern ‘central business district’ in the eastern part of the city.

Envisioned to be an iconic CBD, the 34-hectare The Upper East is just a few blocks away from the Bacolod City Government Center. It will be home to residential condominiums, malls and commercial centers, mixed-use buildings, state-of-the-art office towers, hotel, church, transport hub, as well as green and open parks.

The township will be highlighted by a 30-meter wide, 6-lane Upper East Avenue, which stretches for around one kilometer, connecting Lopez Jaena Street to the Circumferential Road. Other roads inside the township will be at least 20 meter wide.

Centuries-old Acacia Trees will adorn the various areas of the township, as Megaworld commits to preserve them to become part of the township’s unique character and design.

The entire township is also designed to be flood-free, utilizing underground cabling system for power and utility lines, LED and solar-powered streetlights, fiber optic technology, drip irrigation system for landscaping and water re-use facilities.

The Upper East will also have its own biking network facilities and free public WiFi will be made available in most parts of the township.

“The Upper East will be the city’s first masterplanned mixed-use community that integrates the live-work-play components of an integrated urban township, the concept that Megaworld pioneered in the Philippines. Around 35% of the township will be dedicated to parks and open spaces. We are excited to build Bacolod’s new and modern central business and lifestyle district,” says Rachelle Peñaflorida, vice president for sales and marketing, Megaworld Bacolod.

Another main highlight of the township will be the ‘iconic’ Casa de Emperador, a mixed-use structure featuring a unique architectural design.

The township also features its own New York-inspired lifestyle mall composed of several interconnected structures that will provide diverse retail, entertainment and leisure offerings. Part of the design of one of the mall’s buildings will be inspired by New York City’s Grand Central Station.

Land development of the township has already started late last year. Pipe-laying of underground utility lines, as well as sewerage and drainage facilities, have also started last year.

The company is scheduled to start the construction of the Lopue’s Annex Mall inside the township in the first half of this year to pave the way for the construction of the six-lane Upper East Avenue leading to Circumferential Road.