Robinsons Land Purchases 5-hectare Property in
Cebu for
Its First High-end Leisure Community
Philippine Daily Inquirer,
October 27, 2007
Robinsons Land Corporation expands its robust
property portfolio across the country as it disclosed plans to develop the
first master-planned condo-resort community in Mactan, Cebu.
The country’s second largest diversified real estate company recently
acquired a prime 5-hectare property with a 170-meter beachfront in Punta
Engaño district in Mactan, Cebu. It shall be designed to be the first
leisure community development of Robinsons Land.
Tourism and business hub of the South
Cebu’s tourism potential and its being the investors’ preferred headquarters
in Southern Philippines add to Robinsons Land’s high hopes for its new
project and the region itself.
The historic province of Cebu, touted as the gateway to two-thirds of the
country’s major islands, has been recording upbeat tourism figures lately.
Total foreign arrivals and domestic travels in the first half of the year
show substantial growth of 20%, as against last year’s records for the same
period. The first six months of the year saw Koreans topping the island’s
foreign guest list, followed by the Japanese and the Americans.
Similarly, the local government has recognized Cebu’s tourism potential and
has been actively formulating marketing strategies to achieve targets for
its 5-year tourism plan, such as tourism missions in Europe. It is also
counting on the emerging markets of China, Russia, India, and fellow ASEAN
countries to boost its foreign arrivals.
Cebu has also been regarded as a premier business destination in the South,
having been part of the Philippine Cyber Corridor masterplan that runs
through Baguio, Manila, and Davao. The said vision crafted by the national
government aimed to boost telecommunications and technology, and included
empowering regions to provide information technology (IT)-related services.
Multinational information technology firms and contact centers have likewise
found their new homes in Cebu in the recent years, thereby attracting
talents also from its neighboring provinces. The development of Cebu’s
business parks also serves as a testament to the business-friendly
environment of Cebu.
Robinsons Land’s top executives are confident that the organization is ready
to maximize the company’s expertise in developing mixed-use communities in
promising areas outside Metro Manila. The abounding possibilities in Cebu
affirm Robinsons Land’s move to explore opportunities in the Queen City of
the South.
Homegrown business
Mixed-use communities, composed of hospitality and residential developments,
have been Robinsons Land’s strength. President and Chief Operating Officer
Frederick D. Go notes, “Robinsons Land Corporation has gained its formidable
status and esteemed name with its strategically located residential
condominiums, hotels, and commercial centers that are of world-class
quality. Having accomplished this feat, we will now build a landmark
five-star condo-resort project in Cebu.”
Go cites that Robinsons Land’s mother company, JG Summit Holdings Inc.,
traces its roots to Cebu, as founder John Gokongwei, Jr. began his post-war
trading business in his hometown. The humble trading activity ventured into
by the young Gokongwei in local sailboats over five decades ago has paved
the way for the birth of J.G. Summit Holdings Inc., which is now among the
Philippines’ largest conglomerates. It holds diverse interests in branded
consumer foods, agro-industrial and commodity food products, textile,
telecommunications, petrochemicals, air transportation and financial
services. This same entrepreneurial spirit of Gokongwei has eventually led
him to be one of the country’s only seven billionaires.
Today, Robinsons Land Corporation is among the most profitable businesses of
J.G. Summit Holdings Inc., with its 18 malls, 23 residential subdivisions,
22 residential condominiums, 6 office buildings and 4 hotels. It has
pioneered several developments in key cities, where it launched its other
notable projects such as Galleria Regency, East of Galleria, The Trion
Towers, Fifth Avenue Place, Adriatico Residences, and One Gateway Place.
With the timely completion and delivery of its residential condominium
projects, Robinsons Land Corporation remains today’s property developer of
choice of investors and end-users, both local and foreign alike. On the
other hand, its status as the top office landlord of business process
outsourcers and multinational firms is credited to its development of
centrally located office buildings across the metropolis.