MEGAWORLD chairperson Andrew Tan presents the key of the township to President Aquino at the launch of the Iloilo Business Park and Richmonde Hotel Iloilo.

While Metro Manila is mired in urban density and chaotic traffic, real estate developer Megaworld has been building townships in the provinces as wholesome alternative places to “live, work, play and learn.”

The Iloilo Business Park (IBP), touted as the province’s new central business district, is an extensive 72-hectare township in Mandurriao, a prime location bound by the city proper and the historic Molo and La Paz districts.

It is envisioned as a self-contained, cosmopolitan community that combines the charm of a European town, the urban attractions of Eastwood City and McKinley Hill, and the efficiency of commercial districts in progressive Asean countries.

This P35-billion project aims to become the main business and tourism hub in Western Visayas. By 2020, a substantial amount of IBP would have been developed, laid out with open spaces and a mix of high and low buildings for offices, residences, shopping centers, hotels and the city’s new emblem, the Iloilo Convention Center.

Taller buildings

Jericho Go, Megaworld senior vice president, said IBP is changing the city landscape with taller buildings and the new convention center. The developer, by the way, donated 1.7 ha for the Iloilo Convention Center (ICon), the most up-to-date facility in the region that aims to tap an unexplored international market known as MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions).

The hotels will complement the economic activities of the ICon and other offices. Frequent travelers who demand world-class standards of hospitality can now stay at Megaworld’s 149-room Richmonde Hotel Iloilo. By 2016, the 314-room Marriott Courtyard, the businessman’s hotel of the international chain, will open its doors.

IBP includes a nine-hectare financial district that will be home to the regional headquarters of Union Bank and Metrobank. “These banks will build their own financial hubs and help accelerate the growth of the business park,” said Go.

The 10-tower cyberpark is targeted for completion by the end of the decade. The developer foresees that it will generate 40,000 jobs and bring in at least 250,000 people to the IBP every day.

ILOILO Convention Center has become the province’s icon. The signature angled louvers were inspired by the native paraw. Megaworld donated the land to put up this facility. — ILOILO Convention Center has become the province’s icon. The signature angled louvers were inspired by the native paraw. Megaworld donated the land to put up this
facility.

A transport hub will make the city proper and the airport more accessible to residents and IBP visitors.

Aside from the financial district, another distinguishing feature will be the Street of Festive Walk, touted to become the longest commercial strip in the country at 1.1 km. It will be close to the Festive Walk Mall, a four-level lifestyle mall that will have cinemas and a supermarket. So far, the McDonald’s branch in IBP is the biggest in the island.

Residential development

Go pointed out that one of IBP’s highlights is the residential development. The 22-story, 243-unit Palladium will be the tallest in Panay island. The 16-story, 243-unit Lafayette Park Square is attractive because of its Spanish and French architectural influences. All 402 units of the three-tower, 10-story One Madison Place have been sold out. As of this writing, the price is at P120,000 per square meter or roughly P3.6 million for a 30-sq-m unit, and P12 million for 100 sq m.

Given the increasing frequency of storms in the Visayas, Megaworld also invested in raising the elevation, drainage and flood control features of the property.

And “we want the Iloilo Business Park to be the healthiest township in the Philippines,” said Go, noting that some areas will be devoted to sports and recreation. To show that IBP is a bicycle-friendly place, Megaworld has been hosting the Bike Festival, the first of its kind in the island.

AS ILOILOsets the benchmark in being the country’s most bike-friendly city, Megaworld has been hosting the annual Bike Festival at Iloilo Business Park. — AS ILOILOsets the benchmark in being the country’s most bike-friendly city, Megaworld has
been hosting the annual Bike Festival at Iloilo Business Park.

Aside from having bike lanes, IBP will include jogging paths. “We encourage people to jog, bike and walk to work. The buildings will have covered walkways so that you can walk comfortably from one location to the next, instead of bringing a car,” said Go. “You save on fuel and take care of the environment.”

Finally, IBP wants to be family-oriented. There are plans for mini-parks, activity areas for open-air concerts and grounds for skate-boarding.

“In being part of a township, you get additional value in terms of security and easy access to amenities,” he said. Marge C. Enriquez, Contributor, Inquirer Lifestyle