San Jose del Monte in focus

Kaytitinga Falls (HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/CSJDMTOURISM)

The City of San Jose Del Monte (SJDM) is one of the thriving areas to watch out for in terms of industrial, commercial, and residential developments in the province of Bulacan. Now recognized as a highly urbanized city, SJDM remains to be full in potential and possibilities.

Strong advantage

SJDM’s location is one of its strongest advantages. Located northeast of Metro Manila, the city is bound by the Bulacan municipalities of Marilao and Santa Maria on the west, and Norzagaray on the north. It is accessible to Quezon City, Caloocan City, and neighboring Bulacan towns through the Quirino Highway and the Marilao-San Jose del Monte Road. The city is also accessible from Santa Maria on its west via the Santa Maria-Tungkong Mangga Provincial Road, which links it to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx).

Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto-Shrine (HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/CSJDMTOURISM)

Relocation area

SJDM comprises 59 barangays and encompasses a total land area of 31,294 ha, including disputed land areas with adjacent municipalities, according to its local government. Based on the 2020 census of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the city has a population of 651,813.

A vast part of the city was initially used as a relocation area for different government projects. It then gained traction among developers who built residential projects in the city. Clusters of built-up land uses throughout the city were for residential uses including gated communities, socialized housing, and row houses. According to the city’s official website, it has more than a hundred private subdivisions located in various barangays and at least six resettlement projects by the National Housing Authority.

Ayala Malls Altaraza (HTTPS://WWW.AYALALAND.COM.PH)

Major industries

Among the major industries here include marble production, feed mills, manufacturing, construction, and food processing. Most of its economic activities are focused on agri-business manufacturing, wholesale, and retail trading.

The commercial districts, scattered in several parts of the city, are meanwhile home to banks, financial establishments, shopping centers, supermarkets, pharmacies and small businesses like restaurants and bakeries. The city also has two public markets and many other private markets.

Hotels and resorts in the city cater to tourists. Aside from natural tourist attractions like Mt. Balagbag and Kaytitinga Falls and religious landmarks such as the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto-Shrine, the local government has also built attractions for both residents and tourists visiting the city. The River Park Esplanade at the New Government Center, for instance, was unveiled in February this year.

Commercial and industrial developments usually follow the large residential populations so as the number of residents and economic activities increase in SJDM, more big players start investing in the area.

SJDM gained traction among developers who built residential projects in the city.

Infrastructure

Several big-ticket infrastructure projects also contribute to the growth of SJDM. Once the construction of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 7 is completed, it will connect SJDM to North Avenue in Quezon City. This transit line will greatly reduce travel time between the two endpoints to 35 minutes from the current three hours. Construction of this extension line is currently ongoing.

The main depot of MRT-7 will be located within the Altaraza development of Ayala Land. This 105-ha development was noted as the first masterplanned mixed-use estate in SJDM. Community malls pioneer WalterMart also partnered with Ayala Land to build a shopping center within Altaraza.

Sources: Inquirer Archives, csjdm.gov.ph, bulacan.gov.ph, Philippine Statistics Authority, Commission on Audit, International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations

SJDM gained traction among developers who built residential projects in the city.

The ongoing construction of MRT-7 will eventually connect San Jose delMonte, Bulacan, to North Avenue, Quezon City. (FILE PHOTO)