Sustainability mandate keeps Tagaytay Highlands safe for generations
WORLD-CLASS residential and leisure estate Tagaytay Highlands continues to visualize a secure future for generations to come. Sprawled across 1,290 hectares of rolling terrain, it is the only mountain resort of its kind and scale that boasts a profusion of flora and fauna, year-round nippy weather, and stunning vistas of Taal Lake, Mt. Makiling, Canlubang Valley, and Laguna de Bay.
Complementing nature’s bounty, Tagaytay Highlands is considered one of the most environment-friendly and sustainable leisure estates in the Philippines. Its environmental conservation programs have, in fact, earned for it the “Friend of Biodiversity” recognition from the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity.
Tagaytay Highlands reinforces this image by adhering to a strict sustainability mandate, ensuring the responsible use of its resources. Under this directive, all structures in the development are designed for resilience to reduce the impact of environmental risks.
Likewise, nearly half of developable areas is allocated for wellness and accessibility features, such as walking paths as well as access ramps for differently abled persons. All residential developments have introduced big lawns and pocket parks of their own, which provide ample space to have their own corner for individual and family outdoor activities.
To promote and protect biodiversity, the ground cover in the resort, including the greens and fairways of Tagaytay Highlands’ championship golf courses, consists of native and low-maintenance plants and trees. Sustainability measures, including the planting of such native trees and shrubs, are kept in mind even in landscape design. To further support environmental protection, a yearly key active program is implemented for the planting of tree species indigenous to Tagaytay Highlands.
Along with reforestation and propagation initiatives, the vast estate operates electricityrun golf carts to help maintain its fresh mountain air.
Tagaytay Highlands makes sure that every drop counts through its conservation efforts. It routinely monitors water levels against projected demand and employs best practices in optimizing water use at the golf course, common areas, and establishments. On some of its new residential projects, retention/detention ponds and rain gardens are developed as landscape features. Also integrated in its environmental sustainability initiatives is the use of LED bulbs as well as PWD friendly amenities.
To keep its wells and attendant pipes clean and fully functional, as well as to ensure steady electricity supply and internet connectivity, Tagaytay Highlands conducts periodic preventive maintenance. Waste management systems divert residual waste from the landfill through composting and recycling programs.
To encourage homeowners to live sustainably healthy lifestyles, residents are granted access to fresh produce and greens at Pick and Pay, Tagaytay Highlands’ organic farm.
Also, Tagaytay Highlands has been holding its “One Tree at a Time” activity for a decade now, with the aim of planting one million trees by 2044. Today, there are over 490,000 trees planted within the Tagaytay Highlands Complex.
Attesting to Tagaytay Highlands’ commitment to sustainability, safety, and security is its recently awarded “Safety Seal” given by the City Government of Tagaytay.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) also hailed Tagaytay Highlands’ developer Highlands Prime, Inc., a subsidiary of SM Prime Holdings, as one of CALABARZON’S 2021 Outstanding Developers for Open Market Projects.
Tagaytay Highlands continues to revisit its sustainability initiatives and regularly sense-checks them against the changing development landscape and evolving needs of its members and nearby communities. The development remains steadfast in its goal to make the estate truly livable to ensure discerning families’ health and well-being in the forthcoming years.