MANILA, Philippines -- Kapampangas never had it so good insofar as the real estate sector is concerned. This time, the business boom hasn?t required any help from a US military base.
Factors that helped attract developers to Pampanga are the province?s proximity to Manila, lots of English-speaking residents (who view foreigners as just part of the daily life), major universities and flourishing business process outsourcing (BPO) companies.
One of the biggest BPO firms to have made Pampanga a major base is tech hardware manufacturer Texas Instruments. Just two months ago, the world?s biggest maker of mobile phone chips landed in the front pages when it chose to build its 77,000-square-meter, $1-billion semiconductor facility on Clark Freeport Zone -- choosing that over China and Thailand.
Another major business establishment is the 44-hectare Philexcel Business Park Inc., a pioneer locator in Clark Freeport Zone that is expected to have more than 75 foreign and local companies doing business.
2 projects
And now -- make way, everyone -- RP property icon Ayala Land Inc. has thrown its hat into the fray. Just 10 minutes from Clark is bustling Angeles City, and this is where ALI has masterplanned a P750-million residential project (35 hectares) and a P1.8-billion mall development project (9 hectares).
To be developed by ALI?s sister-company Community Innovations Inc., Marquee Place will also be accessible from Metro Manila via the North Luzon Expressway using the Angeles Exit.
The Q Shopping will be a ?personalized mall? for that particular region as Ayala plans to put in many local and international fashion brands, popular labels, first-rate dining and family entertainment.
Dan Abando, CII president, revealed that the selling price of their residential lots per square meter will range from P8,000 to P11,000. Lot cut sizes will range from 220 to 500 sq m.
Businesswoman Racky Torres-Manalastas purchased a 329-sq-m corner lot at the park area facing southeast. She described it as a good community concept, especially the dumbbell park idea where there are more prime lots.
Tech specs
The Marquee Place?s grand entrance will have a towering eight-meter guardhouse of contemporary architecture, a 20-meter-wide tree-lined roadway with ?stampcrete? pavement highlights and an articulated perimeter fence with landscaping.
It will have what it calls a 1.2-hectare Social Zone composed of a 640-sq-m clubhouse, a 25-meter lap pool and kiddie pool, open spaces and meandering walkways and a jogging trail. The entire establishment will have Wi-fi connectivity.
It will also include a 6,500 sq-m Sports Pod that includes covered courts for basketball and badminton, an open field that doubles as a junior soccer field and a view deck to enjoy the ?expansive view? of the Angeles horizon.
2 linear parks
There will be two linear parks that will connect the Social Zone and the Sports Pod. This will have approximate area of 5,000 sq m each
The North Central Park features a relaxing ambiance that has water element, gazebos, benches for individual leisure time-out, landscaped open space for intimate group gathering and Wi-fi access connectivity
The South Central Park features kiddie amenities specially designed for kids contained in a landscaped tree-lined perimeter ensuring a clean, green and safe environment.
It will have cluster developments which will have private pocket communities that will promote neighborhood environment.
Residential lots have sizes ranging from 220 to 500 sq m and modal size of 220 sq m.
The house and lot will have western contemporary, options for façade finish, regular western contemporary, upgraded western contemporary (WOW House).
There will be an open layout, five different floor plans: 148, 188, 208, 228 and 248.
Facilities and utilities include property management, 24-hour security, 24-hour water supply, overhead water tanks, telephone, sewage treatment plant
The turnover of Phase 1A and 1B is scheduled in March 2009, and Phase 2A is scheduled for turnover in May 2009.