RLC to build 200-ha township in Clark

Betting big on the fast-growing Clark corridor, Gokongwei-led property developer Robinsons Land Corp. is set to develop a 200-hectare idle land near the former American air base in Pampanga into a new township.

As the consortium that includes RLC parent conglomerate JG Summit, Changi airport and the Gotianun group bagged a 25-year concession to operate and maintain the Clark airport, RLC hopes to pursue projects near this international gateway.

“I anticipate that Robinsons Land will participate in that development,” RLC president Frederick Go told reporters after the company’s stockholders meeting on Wednesday. He said RLC would also be interested in building an airport hotel in the area.

“We really believe in the future of Clark so we deliberately went out there to look for land,” Go said.

About a year ago, RLC bought a 200-ha idle land close to Clark, which will be developed into a mixed-use estate called “Montclair.”

“We think that will be an important integrated township for the company,” Go said, adding that this estate would have residential subdivisions, commercial developments like office and retail outlets, hotels and industrial/logistics zones.

RLC is also banking on improved connectivity to Clark, especially with the construction of a railway connecting to Subic Freeport, Go said.

Meanwhile, RLC expects a big surge in contribution from the residential development business over the near term as it rolls out new inventory at an unprecedented pace. At least P12 billion worth of residential inventory will be launched in four projects under its homegrown brands this year—three in Pasig and one in Parañaque.

Two more residential upscale projects under joint venture deals—one in BGC under “Aurelia,” a venture with Shang Properties and “Velaris” in Bridgetown East in Pasig under a partnership with Hongkong Land—will also be launched in the second half of the year, adding P6 billion in new residential inventory.

All in all, RLC expects to roll out 4,000 residential units this year. Go thus sees RLC’s pre-selling sales take-up to reach another record high this 2019, outpacing last year’s P15.32-billion take-up.

Furthermore, RLC has sold 100 percent of the units in its first overseas project in Chengdu, China, as of end-March.