Ongpin property firm to build marina club

The property development firm of businessman Roberto Ongpin will build a marina club on the edge of Manila Bay, riding the real estate and leisure/tourism boom in the area being generated by the Entertainment City casino complex.

In a briefing, officials of Alphaland Inc. said the members-only Alphaland Marina Club would be opened in the second quarter of 2014 and encompass 10 hectares of marina area, surrounded by a breakwater.

As many as 300 berths for boats of all sizes would be made available to members.

The Alphaland Marina Club will be located along the western coast of Alphaland Bay City, located between the SM Mall of Asia and the Solaire casino and hotel complex of the Bloomberry group.

“From the Makati central business district, it is a 15-minute drive, taking Edsa, Macapagal Boulevard and Aseana Ave.,” the company said in a statement.

At the center of the development will be a clubhouse, built on pilings in the middle of the water. The three-level structure will offer many dining and entertainment options, including five private dining rooms.

“In essence, it will be a full-featured country club on the water,” Alphaland president Mario Oreta said. “Instead of golf or polo, the club is centered around the romantic sport of yachting. Members who do not wish to own a boat themselves may enjoy the nautical lifestyle nevertheless as the club will also maintain its own fleet of boats, which members may use at reasonable cost.”

“These boats are crewed, of modern design and feature many conveniences. Members may enjoy time on the water without the concerns of maintaining and managing a boat,” Oreta said.