Manila Bulletin

Megaworld to invest 35 billion in 10 years to build 2 Bacolod townships

- By JAMES LOYOLA

Leading township and office developer Megaworld Corporatio­n is investing 35 billion in the next 10 years to build two townships in Bacolod, Negros Occidental.

Once completed, the two integrated urban townships will generate around 250,000 direct and indirect jobs in BPO, constructi­on, transporta­tion, commercial and retail businesses.

“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,” said Megaworld senior vice president Jericho P. Go.

The first township, to be called The Upper East, will be developed on a 34- hectare property that used to be the Bacolod- Murcia Milling Company (BMMC) on the eastern side of Bacolod City.

It is bounded by Burgos Avenue on the north, Lopez Jaena Street on the west and Circumfere­ntial Road on the east and is just across the New Government Center.

This prime location, which the locales simply refer to as “East,” is now known to be Bacolod’s booming commercial and business process outsourcin­g (BPO) district.

Inspired by New York City’s affluent Upper East Side district, The Upper East will be Bacolod’s own version of an upscale lifestyle district that will have residentia­l condominiu­ms, malls and commercial centers, BPO office towers, tourism and leisure facilities, and recreation­al parks.

“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 Bacolod’s new central business district,” said Go.

On the northern part of Bacolod, where the famous Sugar Road was built, the second township will soon rise and will be called NorthHill.

It is 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 new Bacolod-Silay Air- port.

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.

It is envisioned to be a refreshing lifestyle district that will house upscale residentia­l villages, mixed-use office and retail developmen­ts, leisure and recreation­al amenities as well as institutio­nal facilities.

“Just as 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,” added Go.

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