ALI plans to integrate business, IT parks

By Katlene O. Cacho

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

AYALA Land Inc. (ALI) recently launched Cebu Park District, a new brand that aims to promote further its two major developments here, the Cebu Business Park and Cebu I.T. Park (formerly Asiatown I.T. Park).

ALI president and chairman of Cebu Holdings Inc. Antonino Aquino last week said the new brand is meant to uplift the image of Cebu’s twin business districts as a “complete destination in itself yet complementing each other to create the premier
district of business, leisure and living in the region.”

He said the new branding would help them reinforce the firm’s footing in the real estate industry in the Southern Philippines.

Aquino compared Makati and Bonifacio Global City with CBP and Cebu I.T. Park, which have similar integrated developments. “We want to replicate the success of our developments in Manila here in Cebu,” Aquino said.

“Cebu Park District is a testimony to the company’s proven track record of building integrated cities that offer diversity, vibrancy, and dynamism. Already recognized as the city’s leading destination for shopping, dining, and recreation, on top of being a thriving business hub, efforts are now underway to integrate CBP with Cebu I.T. Park,” ALI said.

Aquino said the Cebu Park District will be a home of an integrated urban community.

“Our intent is to continue to build toward this vision: to introduce people to a mixed-use and integrated living concept where the live-work-play equity comes to life.”

More to come

ALI and Cebu Holdings Inc. have invested over P10 billion in the last 22 years. Aquino said the company will be investing over P10 billion more for new developments in Cebu over the next five years.

Six buildings are under construction and two more developments are expected to begin within the year at CBP. Cebu I.T. Park, on the other hand, continues to see rapid development with seven buildings under construction.

According to ALI, CBP and Cebu I.T. Park today compose the biggest twin master-planned developments in Southern Philippines and are both certified as business and I.T. economic zones by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

ALI believes with the accelerated build-up, Cebu Park District will be able to provide more opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship. CBP and Cebu I.T. Park have over 35,000 workers, a figure that’s expected to grow by 20 percent next year.

Aside from building communities, office and retail establishments, ALI has also invested in infrastructure improvements to improve pedestrian and traffic management within the parks, as well as landscaping and streetscapes to maintain the “park experience”.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on November 30, 2011.