BACOLOD CITY, March 20 (PNA) — Considered the biggest real estate investment in Negros Occidental so far, Megaworld Corp.’s Php 35-billion development projects in this city are expected to create new business districts and 250,000 jobs in the next 10 years.
Megaworld senior vice president Jericho Go, who led the unveiling of its two projects here Thursday, said they were building two townships in Bacolod that will integrate the “live-work-play” lifestyle.
The first township, dubbed “The Upper East,” is located on a 34-hectare property that used to be the Bacolod-Murcia Milling Company (BMMC) on the eastern side of Bacolod.
The Upper East will be Bacolod’s own version of an upscale lifestyle district where residential condominiums, malls and commercial centers, BPO office towers, tourism and leisure facilities as well as recreational parks and open spaces are integrated to create an exciting “live-work-play-learn” township, an idea Megaworld pioneered in the Philippines.
“Finally, the people of Bacolod and Negros will be able to experience what we have offered in Eastwood City, Newport City, and McKinley Hill. We are very excited to bring our pioneering Live-Work-Play concept to the City of Smiles. We will build The Upper East with a vision of making it as Bacolod’s new central business district or CBD,” Go said.
The second township will rise on the northern part of the city, and will be called “Northhill.” It will be located on a 50-hectare property along the new Circumferential Road on the boundary of Talisay City and Bacolod City that has direct access to the Bacolod-Silay Airport.
A joint development of Megaworld and its wholly owned subsidiary Suntrust Properties Inc., in partnership with the Lacson Family, Northhill will rise in an area that has a direct link to The Upper East via the Circumferential Road.
“Just like what we have done with our other developments, we will transform the sugarcane fields into a bustling new district. Within five to ten years, we envision this area to be the most sought-after business and lifestyle address for Negrenses,” Go said.
Upon its completion, the two integrated urban townships will generate around 250,000 direct and indirect jobs in BPO, construction, transportation, commercial and retail businesses.
This will create 40,000 BPO jobs, with 200,000 multiplier effect, Go said.
“We are still finalizing the master plans of the two townships. But one thing for sure, we will be able to provide thousands of jobs to the people of Negros once these two developments are completed,” Go said.(PNA)