The Philippines has been aggressively pursuing inclusive growth over the past few years, anchored on a variety of ongoing infrastructure development projects that conveniently link cities to one another. By connecting emerging locations to major hubs and bustling central business districts, cities now enjoy a constant flow of people, business, and finance that help propel sustained economic growth.
Metro Manila has always been a no-fail choice for investors, particularly in the case of property investments. What’s good about investing in properties in the Philippines nowadays is that, there’s a lot of other places outside the country’s capital region that are already filled with economic potential and ripe for investments. From Pampanga in northern Luzon to Bacolod in Western Visayas, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and foreign investors looking to take part in the continued economic rise of the country can definitely find a variety of options to finally pursue their dream of investing in the Philippines.
San Fernando is reclaiming the face of Pampanga
Being five minutes away from the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and with convenient access to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway (TPLEX), and the Clark International Airport, the City of San Fernando is ready to showcase its unmatched potential in Pampanga.
Just recently, San Fernando was feted as one of the Philippines’ “Most Competitive Cities”—a strong proof of how this cultural, heritage, and tourism hub is finally reaching the pinnacle of economic success. With the presence of property giant Megaworld’s Capital Town—a 35.6-hectare urban township—another aspect of dynamism has certainly been infused in the economic landscape of the region.
Capital Town is Megaworld’s first township development in central and northern Luzon. Formerly the site of the Pampanga Sugar Development Company (PASUDECO), the township is located near the Pampanga Provincial Capitol.
Aside from residential condominium developments, the township will also be home to a Shophouse District featuring neo-classical architecture, a lifestyle mall, office towers, museum, leisure parks and green spaces, as well as wide avenues and boulevards that connect the development to major highways in the city.
All of these only makes for a strong case that, indeed, now makes the perfect time to consider the city as a viable investment haven.
Tourism and business propelling Iloilo’s growth
Recently dubbed as the go-to hub in the Visayas when it comes to MICE events (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions), the City of Love is now going all-out to showcase its world-class appeal to business travelers.
Megaworld’s 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao takes pride in helping fulfill this outlook for Iloilo as it promotes business and tourism in the city through a variety of live-work-play components that make the township a truly vibrant and promising investment destination.
There’s the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC), which has become a catalyst to the invigorated dynamics of what was once a sleepy city. With the continued surge in tourist arrivals, Iloilo’s hospitality industry now offers a multitude of accommodation options at Iloilo Business Park. This includes Megaworld’s homegrown brand Richmonde Hotel Iloilo and Travellers International Hotel Group’s Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo. Also set to captivate tourists and locals alike come 2023 is another Megaworld hotel—Belmont Hotel Iloilo—which will add 405 more hotel rooms in the city.
Currently, Megaworld is selling its seventh residential tower from five developments in the township, namely One Madison Place, Lafayette Park Square, The Palladium, Saint Honore, and Saint Dominique. Also happening just recently was Megaworld’s announcement that it would soon be building two new 12-storey, green office towers inside the township, bringing the total number of office developments in Iloilo Business Park to eight.
Complementing all of these are the three-level Festive Walk Mall, dubbed as the “most beautiful mall in Western Visayas”; the 1.1-kilometer long Festive Walk Parade housing a variety of shopping, retail, and dining options to satisfy the tastes of every curious traveler; the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA), the first and only contemporary art museum in Visayas and Mindanao; and modern Transport Hub where visitors can hop onto luxurious point-to-point (P2P) buses and explore the other parts of Panay Island.
Bacolod City as a rising economic corridor
A city as charming as the “City of Smiles” in Negros Occidental needs no introduction. Home to the mouthwatering chicken inasal and colorful Masskara Festival, there are certainly a lot of reasons why investing in the city of Bacolod can be one of your brightest prospects for this year.
The real estate landscape of the city has seen impressive growth as it has been recently recognized by Lamudi Philippines, the country’s leading online real estate portal, as one of the most promising emerging cities in the country. For its thrust on sustainability, the city has also been named as one of the “most livable urban centers” and the “most business-friendly city.”
Putting forth the same ideals are Megaworld’s two townships in the city—the 50-hectare Northill Gateway and the 34-hectare The Upper East—where promising property investments abound. From residential developments, office towers, and thematic lifestyle malls, you will never run out of options to choose however you want to invest in Bacolod.
Cebu continues to rise to the top
Considered as the second busiest airport in the Philippines, the new Mactan-Cebu International Airport is perhaps one of the most ideal gauges in determining the potential of the area when it comes to property investments.
Just 20 minutes away from the airport is the 30-hectare The Mactan Newtown in Lapu-Lapu City, another pioneering township development of Megaworld.The township is home to award-winning residential developments, offices, hotels, dining destinations, and a learning institution as well—enough reasons why it was hailed as the “Best Mixed Use Development of 2019 for Visayas and Mindanao” at The Outlook 2019 awards.
Recently, Megaworld launched its 11th residential condominium tower inside The Mactan Newtown, the 20-storey The Pearl Global Residences in the township.
More than tourism and business potential, other vital components like culture, art, and history truly make property investments something worth considering. All of these form part of the reason why Megaworld townships remain at the forefront of the Philippines’ emerging cities.
