By: Vlad Capistrano
As the leading economic powerhouse in the Southeast Asia, the Philippines foster its strong economic gains for the past several years. Last year’s GDP posted 5.6 percent, 2024 year-on-year growth for the 2nd quarter, the country’s GDP rose to 6.3% on track with the government target of 6%-7%. While investors, including Filipinos abroad, scour the world to find the most lucrative and promising investments and opportunities, the following locations in the Philippines popped up on their radar:
Bataan: A Star Rising in the West
Bataan (Courtesy of Philippine News Agency)
Strategically located on the South-West of Central Luzon facing West Philippine Sea with a impressive 177 kilometers coastline, Bataan attracts various opportunities for manufacturing, logistics and tourism not to mention some oil depots in the area. The Authority in Freeport Area of Bataan indulges manufacturing companies to enjoy following incentives:
- Duty and tax exemption on imported and capital equipment, parts and materials
- Income Tax Holidays for 4 years and possibly 8 years
- Expats and their families can be issued a permanent residency
Bataan lured one of the biggest Green Energy Company in Vietnam, Green Roof Asia. This formidable company has a budget of P10 Billion for developing solar and battery energy for commercial and industrial use to be distributed in every developed area of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. This Vietnamese company joint ventured with a local solar developer located in Hermosa Bataan.
To top it off, the latest yet biggest infrastructure project in Bataan is the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge. This 32 Kilometer bridge is composed of 22 cable-stayed bridges for navigational channels, 224 kilometers of viaducts and 8 kilometers of approach roads. When constructed, this 2nd to the longest baybridge in the world will reduce travel time between Cavite and Bataan to 45 mins instead of the present 5 hours. Visitors from the south can now choose between a long and winding road or the scenic bridge.
Laguna : Accessibility and Affordability
Laguna (Courtesy of Joseee-Kun)
Laguna is poised to attract new investments from technology companies for the expansion of Laguna Technopark now totaling to 471 hectares generating over 100,000 direct employment. Located in the cities of Sta Rosa and Biñan, Laguna Technopark 270 companies of light to medium non-polluting industries had generated $7 Billion revenues.
As the home of the largest lake of the land, the latest infrastructure plan, ADB granted the P175 Billion loan for the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network also known as Laguna Lakeshore Expressway, a 37 Kilometer primary Road and 12 Kilometer viaduct connects Lower Bicutan, Taguig to Calamba, Laguna with interchanges at Sucat, Tunasan, Biñan, Sta. Rosa, Cabuyao via the West Bank of Laguna Lake. Laguna Lakeshore Road Network is expected reach the completion on 2027.
Laguna is likewise the home of the enchanting Mount Makiling, an ASEAN Heritage Park and a forest reserve, it embodies a rich ecosystem with rich biodiverse endemic, indigenous and introduced species. Hence, Mount Makiling is a paradise for biking and hiking enthusiasts. If you are looking for a mystical or mythical flavors in your research, you are stepping on the right ground.
Tarlac : Home of New and Renewed Industry
Tarlac (Courtesy of Blueleaf Energy)
TPLEX or Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway and SCTEX or Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, the major express highways that connects the 3 provinces led to the development of new industrial parks in Tarlac. Some of the major players already in placed in the area for generations are the Luisita Industrial Park, Victoria Industrial Park and URC Industrial Park.
Now for the exciting part, Aboitiz InfraCapital announced its industrial, mixed-use economic project billed as TARI Estate which covers an area of 200 hectares of prime industrial land in its primary phase that will boost Tarlac’s economy in creating jobs, offering world class facilities and amenities commissioned by Aboitiz affiliates that provides power, construction, financing and smart city technology. Complimenting this development, already positioned in the area is Ayala Land 290-hectare development called Cresendo, a mixed-use estate that houses Cresendo Industrial Park partly leased to manufacturers, logistics and distribution companies.
Tarlac’s geographic location shields itself from major catastrophic disasters like intense weather disturbance and strong earthquake as faultlines do not run in any part of the Province.
With the vast flat terrain charm of the region covering an area of 129,000 hectares, farming industry pervades its bigger portion. Tarlac also becomes the ideal site for a number of Green Energy companies as a major location for solar farms expanding up to 1000 hectares of unirrigated lot. Prepare for a pleasant surprise for a major reduction on your electric bill soon.
Ilo-Ilo : Emerging Urban Destination
Ilo-Ilo (Courtesy of Festival in the Philippines)
Ranked 4th richest City outside National Capital Region, Ilo-ilo boasts of capita gross domestic product (an average contribution of an individual to an economy’s output for a certain period of time) stands at P306,444 compared with the national average of only P178,751. RISE ILOILO is strategic road map collaborative effort of the departments heads which stands for
Responsive and Inclusive Human Development, Innovative Economic Development, Sustainable Environment and Essential Resilient Infrastructure. RISE ILOILO lays down the major development that attracts fence sitters for investment.
Their Dinagyang festival a week-long celebration culminating on every 4th Sunday of January, hailed as the Best Tourism Event in 2023 drew over a million of tourists local and international. It’s the biggest world-class festival in the Philippine celebrated in honor of Senior Sto. Niño, popularly known to Filipino devotees. It is considered the Mother Festival of the Philippines. Enjoying this celebration lets you gaze, feel and wonder at the warmth and hospitality of accommodation in Iloilo thereby experiencing the newest facilities and latest developments which invites you to stay longer or even retire.
Empowered by best hospitals in the Philippines, The Medical City Iloilo, Iloilo Doctors and St. Pauls Hospital to name a few, Iloilo ranked one of the best locations for active retirement. The only city who developed livelihoods for senior citizens arts and crafts for sustainable income-generating activities. In Iloilo, you can have your biscocho and eat it too.
Cagayan De Oro : First Class Urbanized City
Cagayan de Oro Ranked 6th Overall Most Competitive Highly Urbanized City 2024, Ranked 1st in Resiliency, 6th in Innovation, 7th in Infrastructure. Declared as the fastest growth expansion of 9.4% in Northern Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro has established a well-developed infrastructure backbone. From production locations to its intended market, CDO had seamlessly established excellent connectivity through development of international standard multi-berth ports for land sea and air with extensive inter and intra-city road networks.
Dubbed as The City of Golden Friendship, placed 4th after Manila, Cebu and Davao, Cagayan de Oro is the center for vibrance for uprising metropolis. By 2025, CDO will become the 4th Metropolitan Center and a major gateway and transshipment hub.
Cagayan De Oro City (Courtesy of Pinoy Wise)
Also contributing developments are the sprouting of real estate projects. Pueblo de Oro Development Corp injects P13 Billion in Pueblo Township that will upscale the urban development landscape of the uptown area together with the latest Xavier University, Ateneo de Cagayan “Campus of the Future”, a 21-hectare estate turned into a campus with lush green open space with commercial and office area.
Indeed, Cagayan de Oro brings out the golden smiles on every face.
There are abundant opportunities in various parts of the Philippines. A great number are yet to be uncovered. As for Filipinos yearning for this golden opportunity, maybe if we look closer and deeper into our own land, we will find the hidden gem that had eluded us and the previous generations. Maybe, if we look further into the future, we will find in our own hometown the dream we sought on foreign lands. Maybe, just maybe, it is time to come home.
Vlad Capistrano is a highly skilled and results-driven licensed real estate broker specializing in the sales, marketing and market analysis of condominium, hectares of raw lots and special high-end properties with more than 10 years of experience in the real estate industry. His expertise, specialization, and achievements in the real estate market, highlighting their value and unique position makes him a trusted advisor and broker for clients seeking to buy or sell their properties.
