Future-ready Filinvest City: Ideal investment destination down Metro South
There are a lot of factors to consider when one is going to invest in a property. Aside from location, one needs to look further ahead. Is the property accessible to transport networks and leisure destinations? Is the property sustainable and safe for the years to come? Is the property near business enterprises or a pool of talent that can fill up vacancies? Is the property ready in terms of infrastructure not only in roads and bridges but also in telecoms?
All these have to be considered since in property investment, whether for personal or business purposes, there is no room for error. One has to keep in mind that property investment is for capital growth and securing a strong financial future so other considerations such as the availability of tax incentives or government support are also important factors. In short, a property’s value must increase over time.
Accessibility and convenience
If one would consider location and accessibility, then things are doing well down south. If the infamous Metro Manila traffic is a bane, then the Metro South offers a breather.
One of the most accessible areas in the south is Filinvest City. It is highly accessible via Metro Manila Skyway, South Luzon Expressway, Alabang-Zapote Road, Daang Hari Road, Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway, and the Old National Highway.
Filinvest City’s high accessibility promises ease of movement not commonly available in other business districts. As a CBD primed for corporate and career growth, it offers businesses unique accessibility. Going around is not a problem as in a few minutes, one is in Taguig, Makati, Las Pinas, and Paranaque. Be conveniently connected as well to key provinces in the South such as Laguna, Batangas, and Cavite.
Soon, accessibility will be further enhanced with the completion of other infrastructure projects, including SLEX-NLEX integration via the Skyway.
Ideal environment for business
Can a property be a modern CBD yet retain its green and relaxed environment? Yes, indeed.
Just look at Filinvest City. Every aspect of it is a progressive CBD as it has modern facilities and amenities but at the same time, it imbibes a relaxing ambience with its functional open spaces and lush greeneries. Therefore, it presents an ideal environment for businesses, for both employers and their employees.
For business owners, success is based on a number of considerations—thoughtful development, convenient location, accessibility, potential for growth, public trust and more. And in Filinvest City, they can find it all—a prime environment that will power a business to progress.
“Filinvest City is in the cusp of being ripe — which businesses should take advantage of before all developments in the enhanced masterplan settle in. Entrepreneurs, small- or big-time, should take advantage of the growth of the city. With the upward trajectory of Filinvest City’s land value, businesses are ensured of future-ready investments,” explained Don Ubaldo, Filinvest Alabang Inc. (FAI) vice president.
It is not surprising that land values have increased tremendously. Filinvest City now commands land values reaching P300,000/ sq.m net as of June 2018, representing approximately 23 percent year-on-year growth in land values from 2012 to 2017. Development in Filinvest City has also seen an uptick with almost 60 buildings completed or has commenced construction from 2012 to date.
This ideal environment allowed Filinvest City to be recognized as the Best Mixed Use Development by Asia-Pacific Property Awards Development and the first development in the Philippines to be registered under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) version 4 under the Neighborhood Development-Plan category. LEED, which is managed by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council, recognizes designs that are environmentally responsible from construction to maintenance.
Future-ready masterplan
Filinvest City has identified ‘big moves’ in enhancing its masterplan with deliberate phasing in terms of completion.
The enhanced masterplan recognized the need to re-visit its already impressive masterplan to be more competitive, adaptive to the changing times, and ultimately, make it future-ready. The enhanced masterplan will further cement Filinvest City’s position alongside the world’s future-ready cities providing the best business advantages to businessmen and investors. It also provides a vibrant backdrop to everyone who chooses to live, work and play here.
“Filinvest City has already established itself as a premiere green CBD, no doubt about it,” said Ubaldo. “Even with all the accolades, we want to further improve and avoid the mistakes of other CBDs that have seen diminishing developable land area making them too congested with people and traffic to welcome new investors.”
A) Green System
While Filinvest City straddles some 244 hectares of prime property, the city allows the healthy growth of nature alongside edifices and infrastructure by enhancing the green, open spaces as part of the first phase of the masterplan. Included here are the completion of three public parks, which are located far from each other but still connected by lush and pedestrian-friendly streetscapes.
Aside from generally enhancing the landscape of the area, these pedestrian-friendly streets offer residents and workers a venue to take advantage of the health benefits of walking. They can clear their head, boost blood circulation and even de-stress while walking.
B) City Districting
Filinvest City has always been separated into districts, each with its own character contributing to the completeness of the city. Because of this, the place provides an ideal condition where people work, meet, dine, run, have fun, or just hang around. It integrates the live-work-play concept on the daily lives of city dwellers.
The masterplan ensures that not only the whole city, but also each district, offers the live-work-play lifestyle. Prime example is the Northgate District, located next to Alabang-Zapote Road.
This district houses the 18.7-hectare Northgate Cyberzone, the Information Technology Park within Filinvest City. While known as the IT Park which represents the work component, Northgate also provides the play element with F@stbytes where employees can dine 24/7. Live component is also present with residential developments Studio 1 and 2, Southkey Place as well as the Bellevue Hotel.
“As a city that provides jobs with the growth of locators and companies, we also want Filinvest City to be an experiential CBD, for residents and workers to experience the city at a ground level — that their daily lives won’t end at their offices or homes but rather extend to the parks and other play components provided for them,” said Ubaldo.
C) Mega Blocks
These are parcels that Filinvest City will keep ownership being the key landmarks and value enhancers in the city. This includes the maximization of Festival Alabang as the city center and the construction of the chapel near the River park. Filinvest City has also earmarked the Filinvest Axis towers and the convention center which will be connected to the transportation hub, South Station.
Invest today for the future
For investors in search of an ideal property, Filinvest City presents an enticing proposition: a well-established market, existence of major infrastructure and easy transportation access, and sizeable land area for development. It is home to multinational and local corporations who have expanded and relocated from other congested CBDs.
With a healthy balance of infrastructure and green open spaces, Filinvest City is attracting more multinational corporations and local enterprises to take root in the Metro South, providing employment opportunities for qualified individuals.
“We have always built with a purpose and for Filinvest City, it seems our purpose is fast unveiling. With the reveal of the enhanced masterplan, not only are we a leisure destination but we are a niche for economic growth, corporate success, and employment,” said Ubaldo.
Manila Bulletin, Written By: J. Chua
