Villar group forays into housing, education businesses to complete township
THE VILLAR group has forayed into hospital and education businesses as part of its bid to complete the offerings within the township communities of Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc.
Vista Land Chairman Manuel B. Villar, Jr. told reporters on April 23 that a Villar-led holding company has formed a partnership with a group of doctors for the rollout of a hospital chain under the brand “VitaMed.”
The first VitaMed will be a 150-bed hospital — that has room to add 300 more beds — within its Vista City township in Daang Hari.
“We hope to go nationwide also in our hospitals,” Mr. Villar said.
Likewise, the Villar group has ventured into the education business through Georgia School, which offers primary education in four sites.
SEPARATE COMPANY
The hospital and education businesses are under a separate hold- ing company and are not part of listed firm Vista Land, Mr. Villar said.
The two new businesses are a “logical extension” of its real estate business.
“Buyers are looking for these facilities, which undoubtedly complete a township community,” Mr. Villar said in Filipino.
The Villar group adds to the growing list of companies entering the health care industry as well as education.
Ayala Corp. is building a chain of hospitals and satellite clin- ics through property arm Ayala Land, Inc. under the brand “QualiMed” in partnership with the Mercado medical group.
The hospital health care industry is expected to continue reeling in property developers as part of their long-term invest- ment strategy, Claro dG. Cordero, Jr., head of research and valuation at property consultancy firm Jones Lang LaSalle, said in a mobile phone message.
“Investment in health care facilities, in particular, enhances the sustainability of the income of the company/ developer as hospital/ health care is a constant need,” Mr. Cordero said.
“Further, the hospital facility serves as a natural draw to attract buyers of residential condominium developments, retail/ mall patrons as well as hotel guests and may well be an anchor for mixed- use developments,” Mr. Cordero added.
The Ayala group recently made its foray into the education business through a chain of private high schools under the brand Affordable Private Education Center in partnership with UK-based Pearson.
“It is another avenue that the group can look at because it brings steady revenue from tuition. There’s a lot of opportunity since a few groups such as SM and Phinma Corp. are in the industry,” Luis A. Limlingan, business development head at Regina Capital Development Corp., said in a phone interview. —