Fort Bonifacio [Archive] - SkyscraperCity

3cr

August 26th, 2009, 04:17 AM

BGC now has a dedicated thread, so please keep topics relevant to the thread's intent. No cross-posting with the Taguig City thread. Thank you very much for your cooperation on this matter.

Link to the last Taguig City and BGC (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=652353&page=405) thread. :colgate:

^^ Thanks Kimber! :)

________________

TAGUIG UNVEILS KEY INFRA, TRANSPORT PROGRAMS
Government & transport groups set sight to traffic-less Metro Manila
http://www.taguig.gov.ph/news.php?ID=112

Taguig Mayor Freddie R. Tinga unveiled the city of Taguig’s key infrastructure and transport programs, including the introduction alternative modes of transportation such as electric jeepneys and e-tricycles and installation of a traffic and security command center.

Tinga said the First Taguig City Transport and Traffic Summit held at Fort Bonifacio yesterday seeks to create and implement a comprehensive transport plan that will help alleviate the worsening traffic situation in the metropolis.

The interagency summit brought together officials from the national government such as the: Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), and the Metro Manila Development Authority (DPWH); the private sector, and members from the urban transport sector.

The participants identified current and critical transport issues, and drew an action plan that would immediately address these problems. They zeroed in on four key components: traffic engineering, traffic enforcement, traffic education and urban transport services.

In the area of urban transport services, the city government plans to pioneer the use of non-motorized alternative the electric jeepney and electric tricycles in the city. These electric vehicles use batteries that can be charged through 110V electricity at just about anywhere.

According to Electric Vehicle Solutions President and CEO Sean Gerard Villoria, the e-vehicles are eco-friendly because it has no gas emissions, noise free, and health-friendly. The alternative transportation is also efficient, easy to use, more stable and safer for road travel.

"With only 8 hours of charging, the e-tricycle can run up to 120 kilometers costing only P38. This way, income of operators can increase by up to 200% and operation can be decreased by as much as 70%," Villoria said.

"These e-vehicles will not only lessen our dependency on diesel and gasoline, but will also give more benefits to our people. Imagine consuming just P20 of electricity against P200 of gasoline for the tricycles," Tinga said.

In the area of infrastructure, the local government will pursue the completion of segments of C-5 and C-6 roads to help decongest traffic along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). A study on an embankment road along Taguig River, interconnecting C-5, C-6 and Laguna de Bay, shall also be undertaken.

Philippine Veterans Investment & Devt. Corp. Usec Ofelia V. Bulaong said they are pushing for the Laguna-Rizal Ecological Transport System (LABART), which will make Taguig the link between Eastern and Southern Luzon.

With LABART, road networks are being proposed for construction from Calamba to Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) Compound in Bryg. Western Bicutan, and from FTI Compound to Rizal.

On the other hand, DPWH Director Robert Lala confirmed that they will undertake the interchanges projects at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, and the C-5 / South Luzon Expressway.

The East Service Road and sections of C-5 service road shall be widened for smooth traffic flow. Additional pedestrian facilities, such as walkways, overpasses and footbridges, shall be constructed in key areas to encourage people and enhance transport integration and intermodality.

But perhaps the city’s biggest initiative is the installation of the Taguig City Command Center, which boasts of a close-circuit television (CCTV) system designed for traffic monitoring, security, rescue and emergency surveillance. The Command Center is targeted for full implementation by next year.

For traffic education, the city shall establish the Transport Training Center, which will offer advanced courses to traffic officers and public transport drivers. This is to reinforce the city’s advocacy for road safety and discipline.

Mayor Tinga also unveiled the Taguig Public Transport Rationalization and Integration Project (TAGTRIP), aims to improve public transport network in the city, linking it to other key areas in Metro Manila and Luzon.

Under the TAGTRIP are key specific programs, namely: Taguig Express Transit (TEXT), the C-5 Bus Rapid Transit (C-5/BRT), and the Southern Regional Transport Terminal Complex (SRTTC).

TEXT is a mass transport system, very much like the Metro and Light Railway Transits, complete with magnetic fare cards. It will also feature integrated and synchronized commuter dispatching to optimize vehicle occupancy.

The SRTTC, on the other hand, will feature a world-class intermodal terminal for vehicles coming from and going to Southern Luzon and hi-tech facilities that will cater to provincial buses plying to southern regional corridors.

The C-5/BRT, meanwhile, shall serve as the main backbone of the Taguig’s public transport network via a feeder transport to be implemented all over the city.

BCDA at forefront of RP's infra development
By Wilson Lee Flores
PhilStar
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=448770

MANILA, Philippines - East Asia is certain to eventually lead world economic recovery, and this dynamic region includes the Philippines. In our resilient and still-growing Philippine economy, one of the wellsprings of economic vigor and engines of growth is the professionally managed Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) headed by chairman Aloysius “Al” R. Santos and president/CEO Narciso L. Abaya.

In this interview with The Philippine STAR, Santos, former De La Salle MBA and Ateneo de Manila MBA professorial lecturer in finance, said, “The public can look forward to continuous Philippine economic growth this year, in spite of the current global financial crises, because President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo wants her administration to pursue major infra projects at this time and for us in BCDA to accelerate massive land development. Her economic reform policies and economic stimulus plans support continuous and substantial Philippine economic expansion.”

He continued, “Even with the present global economic crisis, business people should continue to expand because there’s no such thing as the status quo in business. Businessmen should continue to invest and expand lest competition passes them by. We at BCDA will continue long-term land development through major joint-venture arrangements and for us to also participate in infrastructure development, which for a long time has been very much wanting, in order to strengthen and make the Philippine economy very competitive.”

In his private capacity, Al Santos is also vice chairman of Guidance Management Corp. (GMC). GMC was recently awarded a huge service contract to develop geothermal energy in a 260 square-kilometer area in Kalinga Apayao in Northern Luzon. GMC also produces gold in Camarines Norte. Al Santos is also a major shareholder in the Philippine franchise of California Pizza Kitchen restaurant (CPK), which currently has eight stores in Metro Manila. His wife, Therese Coronel Santos, heads the Cinderella retail chain with over 100 fashion-brand stores nationwide, which include Esprit, Naf Naf, Oshkosh B’Gosh and other name brands.

During Santos’s and Abaya’s watch, BCDA completed various projects like the 94-kilometer Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), which is a major boost to Central Luzon’s economic and tourism progress. He said BCDA and its subsidiaries will undertake and complete more infrastructure projects and developments in the coming years.

On its own, BCDA is vigorously stimulating economic activities with its long-term infrastructure projects and various major joint-venture developments such as the expansion of the Global City beyond its present footprint in Taguig, to as far south as Villamor — formerly Nichols Airbase — and in accelerating investments to realize the vision of Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark as the country’s main international air hub by 2015.

One of the Philippines’ most progressive corporations, the state-owned BCDA in 2007 had assets of P98.72 billion, which doesn’t include its various subsidiaries like Camp John Hay Management, Clark Development Corp., Poro Point Management, Clark International Airport Corp., and others. Last year in 2008, BCDA assets grew to about P112 billion.

With these BCDA projects, the Philippine economy can look forward to and directly benefit from the following:

• The Diosdado Macapagal International Airport

DMIA will be developed by subsidiary Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) into the Philippines’ premier air hub by 2015. Santos explained the rationale behind this eventual shift: “The NAIA has only about 650 hectares of land and can accommodate only one runway. At DMIA we already have two runways. The DMIA has 2,300 hectares of land. BCDA owns a total of over 4,000 hectares of land in Clark, which includes the DMIA’s 2,300 hectares. When we build the Gateway Terminal, we will have a third runway in DMIA. Planned for construction is Terminal 2 of DMIA, which will cost more than P3 billion and which will serve three million passengers. With the use of a modular construction mode, it can readily expand to eventually serve seven million passengers.”

Various big-ticket infrastructure projects, including the Northrail project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2013, will make the DMIA viable as the ultimate air traffic hub of the Philippines. The eventual shift of most international air traffic to DMIA, according to Santos, will greatly benefit and revitalize the local economies of Central Luzon provinces like Pampanga, Tarlac, even Bataan and Zambales.

• Highway construction

The construction of additional interchanges of the SCTEX will further enhance the economic development of Central Luzon. Santos said, “Under the leadership of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, more major infrastructure developments will boost the Philippines to the upper echelons of ‘emerging economy’ status like Thailand, South Korea, and Taiwan.”

• Global City expansion

Santos said that BCDA looks beyond Taguig and wants to expand the Global City to include all the land up to Villamor in Pasay City. BCDA is also set to develop 34 hectares of North Bonifacio, the area bounded by Kalayaan Ave., as part of this new mega-city. The road networks and the utilities’ infrastructure, like power and water systems and sewerage will be completed by end of this year. Among the private-sector business groups investing in this area include Federal Land of the Metrobank Group with their 10.5 hectares; Megaworld, the developer of Napolcom’s 7 hectares, and Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC), the would-be developer of NCBD’s 8.5 hectares. BCDA itself has another 8.3 hectares of land here.

• Other major joint-venture developments

BCDA owns another 35 hectares of prime land behind Forbes Park and Dasmariñas Village and plans to develop this property. Santos told us that the estimated investment here is about US$1.2 billion, which will be spent on a mixed-use development with hotel/tourism components. “We at BCDA were ready to publicly bid out this joint-venture project last year,” he said, “but because of the US-triggered global financial meltdown, we decided to defer the plans for us to do so this year.”

When asked why they prefer joint-venture arrangements instead of an outright property sale, Santos explained, “BCDA used to dispose of properties using the traditional bidding method like the Fort Boni sale to the Metro Pacific Group, but our policy at present is to go into joint-venture arrangements in order to ensure that the government and the country can benefit more from long-term appreciation of real estate, thus maximizing values with every new world-class development in the Global City.”

What is his economic forecast on the present turbulent global economic crisis? Santos replied, “The global economic crisis seems to be getting more severe this year, especially in the US, but I am hopeful that world economic recovery will begin sometime next year. We at BCDA, under the hardworking leadership of President Gloria M. Arroyo, are pushing for more long-term and major infrastructure developments for the country so that Philippine economic growth can be maintained even during these hard times and for the country to have in place the necessary infra for foreign investments when, globally, things start looking up economically.”

3cr

August 26th, 2009, 04:26 AM

^^ Here's an aerial pic of the next frontier... where the Proposed 2nd Global City will rise...

South Bonifacio Area (BGC aerial pic courtesy of Rodel)
http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu4/rhodel2000/Palawan-Puerto%20Princesa/100_2311.jpg

I tried doing a crude estimate of the boundaries. Did I somehow get it right?

Those who want to edit it may click on this link and move and edit the points I created:
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=14.537332&lon=121.0432005&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=1&gz=1;1210382974;145346318;87011;55146;87440;38737;86367;26171;82934;17343;78535;8827;74244;3219;69308;0;44632;1038;40662;1558;40662;11216;23496;18174;13840;16616;6223;19420;4614;16201;0;16513;10085;28975;29183;46007;34225;47980;44203;47668;54825;47772;62978;49226

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b210/ofngol/2008/jusmagwikimapia.jpg

BCDA bucks Fort Bonifacio proposal of Biazon, Jinggoy (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=497418&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
By Marianne V. Go (The Philippine Star (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=497418&publicationSubCategoryId=66)) Updated August 20, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is against the proposal of Senators Rodolfo Biazon and Jinggoy Estrada to retain several military properties in Fort Bonifacio which had been turned over to the BCDA for disposition.

Senators Biazon and Estrada have filed a bill in the Senate seeking the retention of about 100 hectares which houses the headquarters of the Philippine Army, the Philippine Navy (30 hectares), the Philippine Marines, the Bonifacio Naval Station (30 hectares) and another 25 hectares occupied by the Navy Officers Village Association, Inc. (NOVAI).

In an exclusive interview with The STAR, BCDA vice president for business development Aileen Zosa said the proposal would affect the BCDA’s ability to contribute to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.

Under Republic Act 7917, 35 percent of the proceeds from the sale or 50 percent of lease proceeds of Fort Bonifacio properties would go to the AFP Military Modernization Fund.

Zosa pointed out that from 1993 to June 30, 2009, the BCDA has remitted a total of P16.7 billion consisting of P7.2 billion in remittances to the AFP Modernization Fund and P9.5 billion in military replication expenses,

Zosa said the BCDA must replicate all military facilities and housing that it relocates.

“If they increase the retention of military properties (in Fort Bonifacio), it would mean less land to dispose which would mean less revenues and would mean less remittances to the AFP Modernization Fund,” Zosa explained.

Zosa said the BCDA plans to finally bid out by the end of this year another 120 hectares of land, primarily for residential development, at its Bonifacio South area.

She said the BCDA has almost completed negotiations for the relocation and replication of military housing in the former JUSMAG (Joint US Military Action Group) area.

The BCDA has likewise contracted Parsons Philippines to masterplan the development of the area into a mixed development with low to medium density, high-end residential units.

Zosa said that the mixed use development would primarily be residential as it is located at the back of the very upscale Forbes Park. She said the planned development would be at par with its upscale neighbor.

The Bonifacio South area is comprised of the former 35.5 hectare JUSMAG property. In a previous statement, Zosa said Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), Megaworld and Robinsons Land were among those that had expressed interest in developing the JUSMAG property.

Zosa said ALI, as well as Megaworld are keen on acquiring the JUSMAG property as it is adjacent to properties they are now developing, particularly the Bonifacio Global City and McKinley Hills, respectively.

TheEngineer

August 26th, 2009, 05:47 AM

Any colleges/university within or near BGC?

RonnieR

August 26th, 2009, 05:49 AM

Any colleges/university within or near BGC?

STI, Trace College soon, Global City College.

Aziza1121

August 26th, 2009, 11:36 AM

^^Add to that list of educational institutions within/near BGC:
International School Manila
Enderun College
Chinese International School Manila
Manila Japanese School
British School Manila
MGC-New Life Christian Academy
Korean International School Philippines

BGC is really global!

3cr

August 28th, 2009, 03:45 AM

The build-out continues in bustling BGC. 3 Up-coming projects in the pipeline from a developer named Arthaland. Location of their BGC lots shown below...

Arthaland:
(taken from the arthaland website) :cheers:

http://arthaland.com/wp-content/themes/arthaland/images/projects_map5-5.jpg

[dx]

August 29th, 2009, 05:49 AM

Photo by fraginal (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraginal/)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/3843733426_28b336098c_b.jpg

Christian_123

August 29th, 2009, 05:58 AM

Oooh, parang ahas ang C-5! Winding thru squatters and other obstacles!

TheRick

August 29th, 2009, 06:13 AM

;41991232']Photo by fraginal (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraginal/)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/3843733426_28b336098c_b.jpg

Nice to see McKinley Hill Village starting to fill up.
WOW! 1st time i've seen photos of Tuscany ang bilis... ^^

IslandSon.PH

August 30th, 2009, 09:36 AM

Aug. 27

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2552/3870115870_dac5b4db53.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2563/3870088790_2e53201ff2.jpg

ruralvillage

August 31st, 2009, 12:43 AM

Bonifacio Global City connects to the metropolis and to the world (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=500483&publicationSubCategoryId=86)
PERSPECTIVES By Marianne V. Go (The Philippine Star (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=500483&publicationSubCategoryId=86)) Updated August 30, 2009 12:00 AM

Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is in the center of Metro Manila with direct access to all points of the metropolis via C-5, SLEX and EDSA. The city continues to grow and by 2012 it will double in size and will have 2.6 million square meters of building floor area — half of what Makati is today.
| Zoom

A central location excellent for business, a better lifestyle with less pollution, and more open spaces for residents and proximity to Makati’s Central Business District (MCBD) are what Bonifacio Global City (BGC) has to offer.

BGC is in the center of Metro Manila with direct access to the south through C-5 and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). C-5 also connects to the east via Ortigas, and to the north through EDSA, which of course connects to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

Additionally and very strategically, BGC is just a stone’s throw away from the country’s international and domestic gateways of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Creating A Bastion Of Business

The 240-hectare Bonifacio Global City was formerly known as Fort Bonifacio. It was a large military camp (in fact, the largest) in the metropolis. The government privatized it in 1992 under the Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC). A development partner, Bonifacio Land Corporation (BLC) immediately started to master plan it as Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

Bonifacio Global City offers wide roadways, state-of-the-art facilities, and underground fiber optic communication cables. The district also has the metropolis’ most modern water system in the country, an extensive underground LPG piping system and drainage detention structure that can hold 22 million liters of water.

In 2003 Ayala Land, Inc., and Evergreen Holdings, Inc. of the Campos Group acquired BLC to push the development of BGC to new levels.

The High Life On High Street

Bonifacio High Street is a 400-meter-long, 40-meter-wide landscaped promenade, which forms the central linear spine of what will be eventually be a kilometer-long, pedestrian-friendly link between BGC’s east and west ends — which will have a complex including the Philippine Stock Exchange, the Shangri-La Hotel and the Mind Museum, a world-class science museum that will break ground this November. Bonifacio High Street is lined on both sides with exciting options for good food, personal pampering, select shopping and lifestyle shops.

Connections are what BGC is all about and internally each and every block in the new urban plan is linked to ensure that vehicular and pedestrian flows are unimpeded, and enhanced by shade trees, and green open spaces.

BGC is, of course, more than just connections between blocks and districts, says Noel B. Kintanar, head of Commercial Operations of Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation. This “global city” works because it has a dynamic master plan that has flexibility to cater to the needs of locators or investors, the infrastructure to support all these and the centrality to ensure the quickest interface both with the rest of Metro Manila as well as in cyber space.

Internal public transportation is part of the whole package of urban amenities. Kintanar highlighted BGC’s 21 state-of-the-art shuttle buses providing 24-hour service. A mass transit system through a Bus Rapid Transit project is also being studied to allow for even better and quicker shuttle commutes.

Private cars are not forgotten as generous parking areas are evident outside and inside existing developments of Bonifacio High Street, Serendra, and Market! Market! complex. Traffic management is enhanced by a corps of local government unit (LGU) deputized enforcers who are trained professionally.

Locate Locally, Connect Globally

There is no question that for investors, residents or business locators BGC’s global access will quickly translate to global success. The city continues to grow and by 2012, it will double in size and it will have 2.6 million square meters of building floor area that is half of what Makati is today. BGC’s accessibility also translates to sustainability, as this ensures the least amount of travel, time and energy expended for any transaction. Finally its proximity to the Makati CBD is a further guarantee of the value that it offers.

A good business environment is predicated on being in touch with partners, customers and suppliers. Physically and through cyberspace, BGC provides a fully networked option with room in the near future for technology and physical urban design improvement as it grows to fulfill its vision of business and social vibrancy.

Ensuring vibrant success from centrality, accessibility, and sustainability are the hallmarks of Ayala Land’s projects and endeavors with partners and stakeholders. Like the original Makati development, BGC and, further south, Nuvali, are all premised on these attributes for success. Connectivity is the key Ayala Land uses to unlock the potential of its developments. From this perspective, you’re always in the center of action with BGC.

rY17

August 31st, 2009, 01:15 AM

waw.. lumalaki na talaga BGC!

sloanesquare

August 31st, 2009, 10:35 AM

Maybe someone from BGC can comment on this very simple exercise...How can this signage be correct when Mc Kinley Parkway (which has an incomplete section) heads towards and separates Serendra and Market market and terminates at 32nd street....

so if the signage is wrong how long before someone from BGC removes it....and if it is really wrong, has no one from BGC even noticed it? Perhaps its the job of the same person who has not noticed that we have lots of street lights where the bulbs no longer work.

i see we have no BGC officials who read this thread...or they would have responded to this most simple of queries...

otsootso

August 31st, 2009, 11:58 PM

Everyone knows that every city is unique, be it NYC, Barcelona, Mumbay or Manila – what these cities have in common is their huge size. These great global cities have their attractions as well problems and issues.
BGC urban planners can learn from each of these world cities and adopt important characteristics that make them effective, exciting and livable and also learn from their problems. BGC may be a tiny sector of Metro Manila but it is incorporating important urban features like NYC’s pocket parks and re-inventing or improving on them. High Street seems to have been patterned after Barcelona’s popular Las Ramblas. All these will mean more if an efficient mass/rapid transport system with external links to Makati, Ortigas, MRT/EDSA, C-5 and NAIA will be in place. Public transport systems of London or Bogota are good standards worth looking into, imo. It looks like BGC planners has efficient mass/rapid transportation high on their priority list.

sloanesquare

September 1st, 2009, 10:21 AM

I used to say that i would not worry about it since it was not in my own backyard but it has entered my backyard...

Over the past 2 weeks:
a motorcyclist crashed behind a jeepney along Lawton road near the entrance of the Fort (about 200m from 5th Avenue Place.)

this morning, a motorcycilst had another incident in front of Essensa.

Clearly if these motorcyclists were wearing pretend-helmets like what kids use just to satisfy the Fort marshalls then they're history.

If motorcycle incidents have become weekly then we have a problem.

Unfortunately as my previous post on an erroneous McKinley Parkway signage illustrates, there are no BGC officials reading this thread so we DEFINITELY have a problem.

kalbongdad

September 1st, 2009, 12:30 PM

actually daily na ang accidents talagang houston este manila we have a problem...:lol:

shyaman

September 1st, 2009, 02:07 PM

Fort Bonifacio
February 2009

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/shyaman_king/HOLIDAY%202009%20-%20FEB%2004/DSC_0431a.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/shyaman_king/HOLIDAY%202009%20-%20FEB%2004/DSC_0452a.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/shyaman_king/HOLIDAY%202009%20-%20FEB%2004/DSC_0453a.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/shyaman_king/HOLIDAY%202009%20-%20FEB%2004/DSC_0456a.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/shyaman_king/HOLIDAY%202009%20-%20FEB%2004/DSC_0439a.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/shyaman_king/HOLIDAY%202009%20-%20FEB%2004/DSC_0443a.jpg

Banner?

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/shyaman_king/HOLIDAY%202009%20-%20FEB%2004/Banner-BGC-01.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/shyaman_king/HOLIDAY%202009%20-%20FEB%2004/Banner-BGC-02.jpg

otsootso

September 1st, 2009, 03:26 PM

Nice to see McKinley Hill Village starting to fill up.
WOW! 1st time i've seen photos of Tuscany ang bilis... ^^

i think a good banner can come out of this nice pic too - showing Makati skyline on the top left, Ortigas on the right, the Fort at the center and a part of mckinley hills below..keep the airplane's wing too. it would be nice to see a banner showcasing Manila's skylines in one kick-ass banner.

ruralvillage

September 2nd, 2009, 01:14 AM

Megaworld matches RLC bid for Boni project (http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20090901-223074/Megaworld-matches-RLC-bid-for-Boni-project)
Philippine Daily Inquirer (http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20090901-223074/Megaworld-matches-RLC-bid-for-Boni-project)
First Posted 21:53:00 09/01/2009

PROPERTY TYCOON ANDREW TAN’S Megaworld Corp. matched the counter-proposal submitted by rival Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) for the development of an 8.38-hectare state-owned property in North Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Being the original proponent of the unsolicited proposal, Megaworld is thus likely to be selected as the joint-venture partner of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) in developing and privatizing the North Bonifacio lots in the refined Taguig development.

A government source confirmed yesterday that Megaworld was able to exercise its right to match the improved bid of P3.15 billion submitted by RLC before the Aug. 28 deadline.

The new price committed by Megaworld is 13 percent higher than its original offer of P2.78 billion.

The BCDA previously declared two other property giants eligible to challenge Megaworld’s original bid—Ayala Land Inc. and Filinvest Land Inc.—but only RLC submitted a counter-proposal.

The competitive challenge procedure, which was announced on June 11 after Megaworld submitted its proposal, was conducted according to the National Economic and Development Authority’s joint venture
guidelines. Doris C. Dumlao

Retro

September 2nd, 2009, 05:46 PM

:ohno:
Removal of Crescent Park trees to give way for another construction project..

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/retro_ga/FBGC09/CrescentParkTree.jpg

leechtat

September 2nd, 2009, 10:27 PM

omg. wherever will they replant those?

national guard

September 2nd, 2009, 10:57 PM

omg. wherever will they replant those?

Hindi na siguro ire-replant 'yan. baka gawing lumber!:ohno:

ruralvillage

September 3rd, 2009, 12:32 AM

Megaworld bags North Bonifacio deal (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/sept/03/yehey/business/20090903bus10.html)
Manila Times (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/sept/03/yehey/business/20090903bus10.html)
By Ben Arnold O. De Vera, Reporter

State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has approved the matching offer of Megaworld Corp. to jointly develop the 8.38-hectare North Bonifacio property.

In a briefing on Wednesday, Aileen Zosa, BCDA vice president for business development, told reporters that the agency’s board on Tuesday decided that “Megaworld shall be declared the winning private sector participant for the joint-venture development of North Bonifa-cio lots, if and only if Mega-world passes the post-qualification stage.”

She said BCDA this week will conduct the post-qualification process, wherein the agency will double-check the documents submitted as well as representations made by Megaworld for the selection process under the terms of reference for the competitive challenge. BCDA will release the results on September 9.

Zosa said a large and established company such as Mega-world will likely hurdle post-qualification.

She said BCDA and Megaworld will sign the contract for the joint venture on October 8.

Last month, Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) submitted a P3.1507-billion bid proposal for the North Bonifacio lots, higher than Megaworld’s unsolicited offer of P2.7891 billion.

Megaworld was given until August 28 to match RLC’s bid, under the National Economic and Development Authority’s guidelines for Competitive Challenge Type Procedure for Public-Private Joint Ventures, or the so-called Swiss challenge.

Megaworld submitted its matching offer on August 25, BCDA said.

Zosa said the agency evaluated the bids by adding up the upfront cash and annual secured revenues proposed by the two real estate firms.

“Megaworld matched RLC’s offer price for the North Bonifacio Lots of at least P37,597.86 per square meter, on a present value basis, by increasing its upfront cash from P700 million to P1.062 billion, resulting in a price of at least P37,603.69 per square meter,” Zosa said, adding that RLC’s proposed upfront cash was still higher at P1.11 billion.

“[But] Megaworld proposed guaranteed annual secured revenues to BCDA of P306.616 million per year for 12 years [on a present value basis, at a 10-percent discount rate], while RLC proposed annual secured revenues to BCDA of P299.5 million per year for 12 years,” Zosa added.

“Thus, the effective offer of Megaworld for the entire property increased to at least P3.1511 billion from P2.7891 billion, as against RLC’s P3.1507 billion,” she said.

Zosa said Megaworld’s bid is between 12-percent and 13-percent higher than RLC’s.

Zosa said Megaworld committed about P20 billion for a mixed-use development of the North Bonifacio property, of which about 90 percent would be residential.

“We are hopeful that this [development] will signal recovery in the real estate sector,” she said.

After the North Bonifacio lots, the BCDA in October will begin disposing the Joint US Military Advisory Group (Jusmag) property in Bonifacio South.

Three proponents, including Ayala Land Inc., have already submitted unsolicited proposals to develop this property, Zosa said.

ruralvillage

September 3rd, 2009, 12:38 AM

BCDA set to bid out South Boni property (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/companies/15492-bcda-set-to-bid-out-south-boni-property.html)
Business Mirror (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/companies/15492-bcda-set-to-bid-out-south-boni-property.html)
Wednesday, 02 September 2009 21:58

STATE-OWNED Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) will begin next month the bidding process for the 35-hectare Jusmag property in South Bonifacio, with three big companies already expressing interest to acquire it.

Aileen Zosa, BCDA vice president, said the agency will determine in its next board meeting the mode of the disposition for the property.

She said the options are competitive bidding for straight acquisition, a joint venture (JV) that would require the formation of a new company, or an unincorporated JV similar to what it did in the disposition of the 8.83-hectare North Bonifacio lots.

“We will release the invitation to bid in October,” Zosa said.

At least three firms, Zosa said, have already expressed interest in the property. She, however, refused to provide further details on the interested parties.

Zosa said the bidding process will probably spill over to next year, with the winning bidder to be named probably in March.

Jusmag is the first property to be disposed by the BCDA in the south side of the former military camp. It currently has 106 military housing units occupied by active officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Zosa said they have already identified a six-hectare property beside the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority—also in Fort Bonifacio—where the BCDA will replicate the structures that will be removed in the Jusmag property.

According to the master plan for the whole Bonifacio South, Jusmag’s development would be predominantly residential.

Zosa said the current third-party appraisal of the Jusmag lots is P15,000 per square meter on a raw land basis.

shyaman

September 3rd, 2009, 01:36 AM

omg. wherever will they replant those?

Hindi na siguro ire-replant 'yan. baka gawing lumber!:ohno:

The way they extract the trees by uprooting them, they're gonna be replanted for sure. Hope it will still be within Fort Bonifacio.

august88boy

September 3rd, 2009, 04:19 AM

:ohno:
Removal of Crescent Park trees to give way for another construction project..

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/retro_ga/FBGC09/CrescentParkTree.jpg

This will break ground for the construction of the science museum.

michael677

September 3rd, 2009, 02:26 PM

ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN

to all motorists out there: be careful when going to bgc using edsa. the road you turn right into traversing edsa northbound (somewhere near the flyover to rockwell) already resembles a moon crater !!!!:bash: it gets worse day by day. in the past, it was just uneven surface. then small potholes started to appear. now they are as large as manholes and it is very deep.

it is like you're driving into a construction area on high speed! i see alot of cars braking abruptly and making dangerous manuvers to avoid that patch of road.

sadly, bgc's infrastructures and accessibility is a big JOKE.
1.) the whole buendia flyover access is unlit.
2.) the c5 access sucks. parang squatter haha!
3.) lawton access is dark
4.) mckinley access is insufficient and traffic prone.
5.) and now the edsa entry point is full of potholes

ruralvillage

September 4th, 2009, 02:30 AM

Megaworld to invest P20 billion for North Bonifacio development project (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/companies/15491-megaworld-to-invest-p20-billion-for-north-bonifacio-development-project.html)
Business Mirror (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/companies/15491-megaworld-to-invest-p20-billion-for-north-bonifacio-development-project.html)
Written by Max V. de Leon / Reporter
Wednesday, 02 September 2009 21:56

LISTED Megaworld Corp. has committed to invest at least P20 billion for the development of the 8.38-hectare North Bonifacio lots, which the company is set to officially acquire next month after it surpassed the competitive challenge submitted by Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC).

Megaworld plans to convert 90 percent of the property into residential units, with the rest for commercial purposes, Aileen Zosa, vice president of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), said.

“Investment commitment of Megaworld is at least P20 billion for the development of the property into a mixed-use complex with predominantly residential uses,” Zosa said.

Megaworld has increased its earlier offer for the North Boni lots from P2.7891 billion to at least P3.1511 billion after its unsolicited proposal was challenged by RLC. The Gokongwei-owned builder tendered a P3.1507-billion bid for the project.

The company now only needs to hurdle the post-qualification review of the BCDA board on September 9, which is a required procedure under the new Joint Venture Guidelines issued by the National Economic and Development Authority.

Zosa said a company like Megaworld is sure to surpass process which only entails double-checking of the original copies of documents submitted during the prequalification phase.

Megaworld and BCDA are expected to finally sign the contract on October 8. As stipulated in its offer, Megaworld will pay BCDA an upfront cash of P1.062 billion.

Over the next 12 years, the company will remit the P306.616 million annually representing the secured revenues offered to the state-owned agency.

Since the bidding is based on a price-only challenge, Zosa said the winning bidder was determined by the combined upfront cash and secured annual revenues.

“Even if they [Megaworld] don’t earn [from sales], we have guaranteed revenues for 12 years,” Zosa said.

The property will be turned over to Megaworld upon contract signing, except for some portions that still house some BCDA warehouses.

Megaworld, owned by property tycoon Andrew Tan, has an existing huge development in the area called the McKinley Hill integrated community, which entails about P50 billion in investments for the residential, office and commercial areas.

RonnieR

September 4th, 2009, 05:09 AM

ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN

to all motorists out there: be careful when going to bgc using edsa. the road you turn right into traversing edsa northbound (somewhere near the flyover to rockwell) already resembles a moon crater !!!!:bash: it gets worse day by day. in the past, it was just uneven surface. then small potholes started to appear. now they are as large as manholes and it is very deep.

it is like you're driving into a construction area on high speed! i see alot of cars braking abruptly and making dangerous manuvers to avoid that patch of road.

Where is it? I passed EDSA and turned right to BGC (northbound) last night but didn't find any....
Yes, Buendia flyover, madilim pa rin!!!!

c6josh

September 4th, 2009, 05:37 PM

[QUOTE=shyaman;42203660]Fort Bonifacio
February 2009

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/shyaman_king/HOLIDAY%202009%20-%20FEB%2004/DSC_0431a.jpg

unbelievable sight...it looks like fort bonifacio's skyline is much taller than the Makati skyline, nevertheless its breathtaking.

ruralvillage

September 4th, 2009, 10:26 PM

JUSMAG property to go first in Bonifacio South privatization (http://positivenewsmedia.com/am2/publish/Business_19/JUSMAG_property_to_go_first_in_Bonifacio_South_privatization.shtml)
Positive_News_Media (http://positivenewsmedia.com/am2/publish/Business_19/JUSMAG_property_to_go_first_in_Bonifacio_South_privatization.shtml)

MANILA, Sept. 5 (PNA) – The Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) is set to start privatizing the 119-hectare Bonifacio South (BOSO) by disposing first the 35-hectare Joint United States Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG) property.

BCDA vice-president Aileen Zosa said the privatization process of BOSO would follow after the privatization of the North Bonifacio in Taguig City.

Zosa said they were now in the final stages of the masterplan for the BOSO property.

“By October or November this year we will be announcing the disposition mode,” Zosa said.

“There are already three unsolicited proposals from major real estate developers in the country, including Ayala Land Inc.,” Zosa said.

At present, the US-based consultants Parson Brinker & Hoff is still finalizing the masterplan of the entire BOSO area.

The masterplan also reviews the transportation component of the development because of the huge traffic along the Lawton Avenue area. Read more. . . (http://positivenewsmedia.com/am2/publish/Business_19/JUSMAG_property_to_go_first_in_Bonifacio_South_privatization.shtml)

Ph Man

September 5th, 2009, 05:07 AM

BOSO. :D

[QUOTE=shyaman;42203660]Fort Bonifacio
February 2009

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/shyaman_king/HOLIDAY%202009%20-%20FEB%2004/DSC_0431a.jpg

unbelievable sight...it looks like fort bonifacio's skyline is much taller than the Makati skyline, nevertheless its breathtaking.

Cool photo. I missed seeing the fort from this angle. It may be dense, but it's a long way to go to match that of Makati, or even Ortigas. Once supertalls get built, then let's do another comparison. Without a doubt, Fort Boni and McKinley are becoming a competition with MCBD and Ortigas in terms of office occupancy. Gone are the days when Grade A office owners have the command for rental rates.

TheRick

September 6th, 2009, 05:19 AM

michael677

September 6th, 2009, 05:47 AM

Where is it? I passed EDSA and turned right to BGC (northbound) last night but didn't find any....
Yes, Buendia flyover, madilim pa rin!!!!

just passed by the area last night. well what a surprise, they covered up the craters already! i just hope they use high quality asphalt this time. because if im not mistaken, this is already the 2nd or 3rd time this year they layed cheap asphalt over it.

i just heard from pagasa that at least 4 typhoons will enter this september. i hope the asphalt will hold.

un buendia flyover hopeless case na un same with the magallanes interchange. we will just grow old and it will still not be lighted. i think theres a quarrel over jurisdiction of makati and taguig and mmda so no one is taking responsibility.

Retro

September 6th, 2009, 09:30 AM

^^ This week they officially close down the helipad at Crescent Park. Beside to this pix they continuously uprooting the remaining tree to give way for new construction project. This area will be getting dense already.

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/retro_ga/FBGC09/Helipad.jpg

Bosnyboy

September 7th, 2009, 05:39 AM

Diba mga national roads yun? e di dapat dpwh ang may jurisdiction

makoy731

September 7th, 2009, 08:49 PM

yeah that area of the fort is very dense. do you guys know if they have a master plan regarding open spaces and parks?

pi_malejana

September 7th, 2009, 09:40 PM

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/retro_ga/FBGC09/Helipad.jpg

wow, medyo may kasikipan pala ang mga daan sa Fort Bonifacio...
may mga area ba na mas maluwag jan??:dunno:
in a few years' time, siguro magiging traffic na rin sa ibang parts jan...

:cheers:

Retro

September 8th, 2009, 02:05 AM

Originally posted by: alejana
wow, medyo may kasikipan pala ang mga daan sa Fort Bonifacio...
may mga area ba na mas maluwag jan??:dunno:
in a few years' time, siguro magiging traffic na rin sa ibang parts jan...

:cheers:

No need to wait for few years time. Rizal drive is always congested during rush hour. So many cars kasi from McKinley use this street as shortcut going to Makati via Kalayaan flyover. I suggest to remedy the problem is that Ft. Boni should also implement number coding 7am-7pm just like in Makati to decongest the entry and exit of Ft. Boni :ohno:

makoy731

September 8th, 2009, 06:40 AM

garycooper

September 8th, 2009, 11:05 AM

wow, medyo may kasikipan pala ang mga daan sa Fort Bonifacio...
may mga area ba na mas maluwag jan??:dunno:
in a few years' time, siguro magiging traffic na rin sa ibang parts jan...

:cheers:

Masyadong talagang tinipid and mga kalye sa The Fort compared to the MOA complex where most roads are really wide. After three fourths of the buildings at the Fort is done, you can expect traffic jams just like in Ortigas and Legaspi Village.

kalbongdad

September 8th, 2009, 01:42 PM

designed siya na maging walkable city kaya desiged siya na palakarin ka...:lol:
kaya masikip daan....:lol:

anone

September 8th, 2009, 05:42 PM

tapos balak pang gawing CBD ang BGC.:lol:

dunamis

September 8th, 2009, 06:19 PM

Actually the streets ng BGC was designed not for highways but for urban highrise development.

BGC is not patterned after LA. Lots of highways but notorious for heavy traffic.

BGC is patterned after NY. More streets to navigate around. Most streets in NY only have 4-6 lanes.

BGC is designed to be walkable and pedestrian friendly. Not car friendly. In the future there will be BRTs and trains that will traverse BGC. In that case there will be lesser need to bring cars into BGC.

Just be patient with the evolution of BGC. With superior infrastructure and masterplanning, it will become one of the best planned CBDs not just in the Philippines but in Asia as well.

Retro

September 9th, 2009, 12:10 AM

^^ Yesterday photo on how Rizal drive look like during rainy rush hour.
Yun lane going to Boni Stop virtually crawling. Minsan may nagcounter flow
pa na vehicle :lol:

According to my friend na taga South marami daw na vehicle from SLEX/C5 exit
making shortcut at this road going to Buendia Makati umiiwas sa EDSA route.
Kaya yan ang result.

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/retro_ga/FBGC09/Rizaldrive.jpg

orly

September 9th, 2009, 01:45 AM

Even though BGC is designed to be a walkable city, the major roads aren't wide enough especially if that area will be dense with highrises. Of course almost all of the condo owners have cars and also many motorists use BGC roads as an alternative route. Little they know that they'll be expecting the same traffic as in EDSA

sloanesquare

September 9th, 2009, 02:59 AM

Yesterday photo on how Rizal drive look like during rainy rush hour.
Yun lane going to Boni Stop virtually crawling. Minsan may nagcounter flow
pa na vehicle

all that talk about BGC being first world...parang ibang bansa...parang hindi sa pinas..etc etc...if you see counterflow, it means our traffic patrol is third world...you cannot be first world in selected items..BGC is so small in area..everything should be managable especially since it is barely 9 years old.

given how small the salaries are of the Marshalls, BGC should be able to put a marshall at every intersection in the major roads...then again if you pay peanuts , you get monkeys.

colour coding will not work..a very high percentage of BGC occupants have multiple cars.

TheRick

September 9th, 2009, 04:11 AM

I would love to see them build a very large parking buildings just outside BGC exits.
That way people can just park there and use the BGC bus to go around.
Maybe that would help minimize the amount of cars going around BGC.
Plus solve parking.

I do agree that the streets should have been designed a little bit bigger.
But I guess they already figured that out since bigger roads would mean less lots to sell.
Their profit would get smaller.

I guess that is one disadvantage of BGC having so many exits - C5, Buendia, Ayala and Lawton... People will use BGC as an alternate route...

Igsuonnimo

September 9th, 2009, 04:40 AM

^^ Kapag galing ka ng Quezon City, walang ibang magandang daan papuntang Bonifacio Global City kundi ang C5.
Dapat talaga sa EDSA ay may magandang access road ito.
Kung galing ka ng Marcos Hi-way sa East Metro Manila, C5 pa rin ang daan papuntang BGC.

Retro

September 9th, 2009, 05:09 AM

There is an alternative route going inside BGC if you're coming from Q.C. Yun entry point would be BGC North Gate. Yun entry point is from Kalayaan Ave. just beside Hanjin Corp. Bldg. then ang labas muna would be Serendra/Market-Market. Only a few motorist know this short cut :banana:

Retro

September 9th, 2009, 05:13 AM

I think number coding would make a big improvement on BGC traffic (7am-7pm) since passer-by vehicle would avoid passing thru-BGC route. They might just stick to C5 or EDSA.

orly

September 9th, 2009, 06:56 AM

sloanesquare

September 9th, 2009, 07:04 AM

As I wrote before, I find it embarrasing to call my address FBGC so I just use Fort Bonifacio Taguig 1634.

on the issue of traffic, there are so many suggestions made to alleviate the problem. Yet, everyone knows that the difference between first world peak hour traffic and third world is discipline...

why not try the solution of DISCIPLINE and enforcement for 3 months..if it does not work, then I advocate ALL the remedies suggested above.

its inexpensive, not high tech, but there is empirical evidence that it does work

RonnieR

September 9th, 2009, 07:34 AM

BGC is designed to be walkable and pedestrian friendly. Not car friendly. In the future there will be BRTs and trains that will traverse BGC. In that case there will be lesser need to bring cars into BGC.

Just be patient with the evolution of BGC. With superior infrastructure and masterplanning, it will become one of the best planned CBDs not just in the Philippines but in Asia as well.

Yes, this is true. A BRT will soon be introduced in BGC to Buendia and Ayala Avenue...based on my source, Ayalas got consultants for this. There will be exclusive bus lanes from BGC to Makati's Buendia and Ayala. :)

Retro

September 9th, 2009, 07:54 AM

Yes, this is true. A BRT will soon be introduced in BGC to Buendia and Ayala Avenue...based on my source, Ayalas got consultants for this. There will be exclusive bus lanes from BGC to Makati's Buendia and Ayala. :)

^^ So this mean once all those open parking in nearby Crescent Park will be gone since future public parking might be relocate in nearby entrance and exit point of Ft. Boni. to give way for this BRT project. Ewan ko lang if the current office lease tenants would agree to this idea since majority of BGC relocator come from different city outside Taguig area. Most office worker here at E-Zone bring their own car. It would be a big hassle to drop-off your car sa public bldg. car park then take a bus ride to your work place. Dobleng gastos and inconvenience.

sloanesquare

September 9th, 2009, 08:08 AM

Yes, this is true. A BRT will soon be introduced in BGC to Buendia and Ayala Avenue...based on my source, Ayalas got consultants for this. There will be exclusive bus lanes from BGC to Makati's Buendia and Ayala. :)

filipinos cant even walk to their cars located in the carpark..they have the drivers move the cars to them which explains why a lot of effort and money is placed at making attractive covered entrances from malls to hospitals to churches. (exception of course for hotels)

all of this starts from childhood..look at the number of brats at collegio san agustin who are picked up inside the school grounds instead of walking one block away and getting the driver to pick them up there..that makes unnecessary traffic along palm avenue..ditto at la salle zobel alabang, woodrose alabang.

there are only 5m cars in the whole country. there are possibly 20M households. so the public transport is for those who dont own at least 1 car in the household...

if my interpretation of what BGC offers is correct, eveything to be consumed at the Fort can only be afforded by households who can afford cars.

Then go back to my first paragraph....and these are the people that you think will avail of the BRT?

Christian_123

September 9th, 2009, 08:21 AM

wow, medyo may kasikipan pala ang mga daan sa Fort Bonifacio...
may mga area ba na mas maluwag jan??:dunno:
in a few years' time, siguro magiging traffic na rin sa ibang parts jan...

:cheers:

Pag nagtraffic ng todo sa BGC; I'm pretty sure the wide sidewalks will eventually disappear just like what happened to Ortigas Center's sidewalks.

Yes, this is true. A BRT will soon be introduced in BGC to Buendia and Ayala Avenue...based on my source, Ayalas got consultants for this. There will be exclusive bus lanes from BGC to Makati's Buendia and Ayala. :)

Actually, the taguig government already built a bus station in Tuktukan having a route of Tuktukan-BGC-Buendia-Ayala Avenue and back. It works as a suppliment for the BGC buses that ply-thru BGC..

Oh yeah, on a sidenote.... Jeepneys are now invading Fort Bonifacio....Dumadami na ang mga jeep sa loob ng BGC. Talk about "World class" :lol:

pi_malejana

September 9th, 2009, 08:26 AM

filipinos cant even walk to their cars located in the carpark..they have the drivers move the cars to them which explains why a lot of effort and money is placed at making attractive covered entrances from malls to hospitals to churches. (exception of course for hotels)

all of this starts from childhood..look at the number of brats at collegio san agustin who are picked up inside the school grounds instead of walking one block away and getting the driver to pick them up there..that makes unnecessary traffic along palm avenue..ditto at la salle zobel alabang, woodrose alabang.

there are only 5m cars in the whole country. there are possibly 20M households. so the public transport is for those who dont own at least 1 car in the household...

if my interpretation of what BGC offers is correct, eveything to be consumed at the Fort can only be afforded by households who can afford cars.

Then go back to my first paragraph....and these are the people that you think will avail of the BRT?

i concur...:okay:

Pag nagtraffic ng todo sa BGC; I'm pretty sure the wide sidewalks will eventually disappear just like what happened to Ortigas Center's sidewalks.

Actually, the taguig government already built a bus station in Tuktukan having a route of Tuktukan-BGC-Buendia-Ayala Avenue and back. It works as a suppliment for the BGC buses that ply-thru BGC..

Oh yeah, on a sidenote.... Jeepneys are now invading Fort Bonifacio....Dumadami na ang mga jeep sa loob ng BGC. Talk about "World class" :lol:

kung tutuusin may mali ng konti sa planning ng BGC ano?? imagine kung tanggalin ang sidewalks eh di pano pa matatawag na 1st world... kung magdadag-dag pa ng BRT, dedicated lanes ba yan--kakain na naman ng isang lane... the best way would be to implement one-way traffic...:(

sloanesquare

September 9th, 2009, 08:46 AM

the traffic in the picture above is a function of 5th Avenue being closed from Boni High Street to 32nd street..but the discussion is still valid

michael677

September 9th, 2009, 02:34 PM

Oh yeah, on a sidenote.... Jeepneys are now invading Fort Bonifacio....Dumadami na ang mga jeep sa loob ng BGC. Talk about "World class" :lol:

try going to market market, use the road separating it from Serendra. you might think you're in recto or taft avenue sa ingay ng mga busina ng mga jeep!!!!!:lol: dapat din dun bawal mag U turn. it is one major cause of frustration and non stop honking of cars especially rush hour! magulo tlga sa area na to. what a shame!

Christian_123

September 9th, 2009, 04:27 PM

kung tutuusin may mali ng konti sa planning ng BGC ano?? imagine kung tanggalin ang sidewalks eh di pano pa matatawag na 1st world... kung magdadag-dag pa ng BRT, dedicated lanes ba yan--kakain na naman ng isang lane... the best way would be to implement one-way traffic...:(

Mula ng ginawang grid ang road layout ng BGC, the traffic got seriously horrible inside BGC....The grid also defeated the "pedestrian friendly" plan of BGC...The old circular layout was fine to begin with and it was promoting the "pedestrian friendly" plan because the longer routes discourages car use. Not sure what Ayala was smoking when they decided to change the already built circular roads into a grid based one...

Ngayon, they are planning on adding a BRT sytem. Ang tanong nalang, san nila isasalpak ang mga bus at un dedicaded bus lane? Alam natin na ang sisikip ng mga kalsada sa BGC...

try going to market market, use the road separating it from Serendra. you might think you're in recto or taft avenue sa ingay ng mga busina ng mga jeep!!!!!:lol: dapat din dun bawal mag U turn. it is one major cause of frustration and non stop honking of cars especially rush hour! magulo tlga sa area na to. what a shame!

You said it, Parang nasa taft o kaya recto ka sa sobrang ingay ng mga jeep :nuts: :lol: !

Kaso, i sometimes find the horn creating a musical sound. :lol:

[dx]

September 9th, 2009, 06:02 PM

Nice Fort Bonifacio banner for today. Congrats @shyaman! :applause: :okay:

otsootso

September 9th, 2009, 08:55 PM

--SuperB0y--

September 10th, 2009, 02:00 AM

missionary

September 10th, 2009, 02:53 AM

brt?

sloanesquare

September 10th, 2009, 03:39 AM

try going to market market, use the road separating it from Serendra. you might think you're in recto or taft avenue sa ingay ng mga busina ng mga jeep!!!!!:lol: dapat din dun bawal mag U turn. it is one major cause of frustration and non stop honking of cars especially rush hour! magulo tlga sa area na to. what a shame!

so having observed this, do residents who bought on this side of Serendra still believe that they live on the "exclusive" oasis of 30:70 (greenery)?..or were the apartments on this Recto side priced at 50% discount to the ones facing the pool and gardens to compensate

shyaman

September 10th, 2009, 03:45 AM

SSC banner today. Gawa ko :D.

advance kasi ng 2 hours ang time zone na kina lalagyan ko...kay ito
banner September 10, 2009

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/headers/10.jpg

Thanks ekspi and dex.

RonnieR

September 10th, 2009, 04:32 AM

^^ great banner - The Fort, a growing district....

RonnieR

September 10th, 2009, 04:34 AM

Mula ng ginawang grid ang road layout ng BGC, the traffic got seriously horrible inside BGC....The grid also defeated the "pedestrian friendly" plan of BGC...The old circular layout was fine to begin with and it was promoting the "pedestrian friendly" plan because the longer routes discourages car use. Not sure what Ayala was smoking when they decided to change the already built circular roads into a grid based one...

Ngayon, they are planning on adding a BRT sytem. Ang tanong nalang, san nila isasalpak ang mga bus at un dedicaded bus lane? Alam natin na ang sisikip ng mga kalsada sa BGC...

You said it, Parang nasa taft o kaya recto ka sa sobrang ingay ng mga jeep :nuts: :lol: !

Kaso, i sometimes find the horn creating a musical sound. :lol:

try going to market market, use the road separating it from Serendra. you might think you're in recto or taft avenue sa ingay ng mga busina ng mga jeep!!!!!:lol: dapat din dun bawal mag U turn. it is one major cause of frustration and non stop honking of cars especially rush hour! magulo tlga sa area na to. what a shame!

As I said, I always go to BGC, pass this area almost everyday. I think it's too much or an exaggeration to say that maiingay ang mga jeeps....I didn't hear them honking at all....they are the disciplined bunch compared to those in Taft. This is not an overstatement.

RonnieR

September 10th, 2009, 04:35 AM

when will this start? :)
No details yet. My source does not divulge.

brt?

Bus Rapid Transit

sloanesquare

September 10th, 2009, 06:07 AM

As I said, I always go to BGC, pass this area almost everyday. I think it's too much or an exaggeration to say that maiingay ang mga jeeps....I didn't hear them honking at all....they are the disciplined bunch compared to those in Taft. This is not an overstatement.
actually honking is not the problem..its the fact that they either have no muffler or have holes in their muffler and the fact that they blow black smoke and pass by our apathetic Marshalls unperturbed.....i encourage you to stand for one hour..and then re-write your observation if you find your first comment inaccurate....even when the serendra windows are closed the sound booms in.....you can include the motorcycles in the decibel meter.

we are talking about telling users of BGC, follow our rules or get out since we paid a lot of money to have our 1st world enclave...and while im ranting, its about saying enough to pwede na as your comparison with Taft Avenue implies

consider this: the jeepney issue in taft or aurora blvd or recto or the issue of garbage in Manila Bay all started as minor irritants from an undisciplined people many decades ago...today we see the results of not stopping it then...it was a pwede na irritant then.......

RonnieR

September 10th, 2009, 06:40 AM

actually honking is not the problem..its the fact that they either have no muffler or have holes in their muffler and the fact that they blow black smoke and pass by our apathetic Marshalls unperturbed.....i encourage you to stand for one hour..and then re-write your observation if you find your first comment inaccurate....even when the serendra windows are closed the sound booms in.....you can include the motorcycles in the decibel meter.

we are talking about telling users of BGC, follow our rules or get out since we paid a lot of money to have our 1st world enclave...and while im ranting, its about saying enough to pwede na as your comparison with Taft Avenue implies

consider this: the jeepney issue in taft or aurora blvd or recto or the issue of garbage in Manila Bay all started as minor irritants from an undisciplined people many decades ago...today we see the results of not stopping it then...it was a pwede na irritant then.......

I commented on the issue of honking as per christian and michael...I am with you on the banning of jeepneys inside the Fort. The Fort buses and bus stops are really good and modern just like in Singapore.

sloanesquare

September 10th, 2009, 06:54 AM

I commented on the issue of honking as per christian and michael...I am with you on the banning of jeepneys inside the Fort. The Fort buses and bus stops are really good and modern just like in Singapore.

i will still condone jeepneys in the Fort but they should be road worthy and not noisy and dirty corroding metal boxes (in other words SAFE) and the drivers should stop using their poverty and the fact that they barely make ends meet as an excuse for their incredible driving style.....my crocodile tears for such stories ended a very long time ago when footpath and overhead pedestrian walkway vendors started using this excuse

RonnieR

September 10th, 2009, 08:42 AM

i will still condone jeepneys in the Fort but they should be road worthy and not noisy and dirty corroding metal boxes (in other words SAFE) and the drivers should stop using their poverty and the fact that they barely make ends meet as an excuse for their incredible driving style.....my crocodile tears for such stories ended a very long time ago when footpath and overhead pedestrian walkway vendors started using this excuse

I want them out

Christian_123

September 10th, 2009, 11:10 AM

I want them out

What should the jeepney replacement be then??

actually honking is not the problem..its the fact that they either have no muffler or have holes in their muffler and the fact that they blow black smoke and pass by our apathetic Marshalls unperturbed.....i encourage you to stand for one hour..and then re-write your observation if you find your first comment inaccurate....even when the serendra windows are closed the sound booms in.....you can include the motorcycles in the decibel meter.

we are talking about telling users of BGC, follow our rules or get out since we paid a lot of money to have our 1st world enclave...and while im ranting, its about saying enough to pwede na as your comparison with Taft Avenue implies

consider this: the jeepney issue in taft or aurora blvd or recto or the issue of garbage in Manila Bay all started as minor irritants from an undisciplined people many decades ago...today we see the results of not stopping it then...it was a pwede na irritant then.......

Agreed. RonnieR, we encourage you to stay on that road instead of just passing by it then re-write your observation if you find your first comment inaccurate.

RonnieR

September 10th, 2009, 11:17 AM

What should the jeepney replacement be then??

Agreed. RonnieR, we encourage you to stay on that road instead of just passing by it then re-write your observation if you find your first comment inaccurate.

I did. Sometimes I eat there in the open fast food area near the flower section. Wala namang bumubusina ah.

Fort buses can replace the jeepneys

ormocanon

September 10th, 2009, 12:23 PM

Very nice banner today, makes me proud of my country. Congrats, BGC! :banana: Metro Manila's CBDs should be made into banners more often. :)

michael677

September 10th, 2009, 02:34 PM

As I said, I always go to BGC, pass this area almost everyday. I think it's too much or an exaggeration to say that maiingay ang mga jeeps....I didn't hear them honking at all....they are the disciplined bunch compared to those in Taft. This is not an overstatement.

un grabe na honking nila is may schedule. during afternoon rush hour only towards around 8 or 9pm. you know the intersection where you have the marketmarket children's playground? that area. jeepneys push their way and use all their horns whenever a vehicle stays on the righmost lane but doesnt turn right. that vehicle kasi is intending to go straight and towards the direction of I.S and kalayaan shortcut. but there is no sign that says Right Lane Must Turn Right. and the lane markers clearly point a straight and/or right arrow. so walang kasalanan un vehicle. these jeepneys are really stupid assholes!!!

i see this oftentimes already and it irritates me.

RonnieR

September 10th, 2009, 03:17 PM

^^ i passed by again there tonight...yong sinabi mong street, right is Market Market, in front is STI, don't know but wala naman honking....
Anyway, the best is to capture them in video and post it here so we can hear the honking hehehehe.

;42877270']Bonifacio Global City
by daniele268
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/daniele268/)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3376/3447241505_c482954fa1_b.jpg

TheRick

September 11th, 2009, 12:53 AM

TheRick

September 11th, 2009, 12:58 AM

3cr

September 11th, 2009, 02:52 AM

It seems that BGC’s road standards were not made to encourage the use personal vehicles - wider roads just encourage even more motor vehicle use. In this ‘green’ environmentally concious age, the focus of CBDs througout the world is to provide convenient access to mass transportation as well as encourage pedestrian traffic. It translates to cleaner air, less impact on the environment and reduced oil consumption or demand for parking spaces, as well as a healthier public - it’s all about sustainability.

I think that what makes CBDs like Manhattan or Hong Kong really interesting is their pedestrian traffic – you see people everywhere, walking on the sidewalks or using mass trasportation like subways and buses – of course you also have taxi cabs and some private cars too which add to the whole urban atmosphere, but densely populated and compact as these CBDs are, traffic is not a major issue - just my two cents.

^^ Yup I agree. I think BGC was designed with places like Manhattan, San Francisco, HongKong and Japan in mind where people are very much encouraged to walk and/or take public transport in and around the area as oppose to driving which is still the prevalent means/mindset of many Filipinos when getting from here to there. We just love our vehicles too much that we've become such an auto-centric society. It's precisely this kind of mentality/tendency that actually needs to change, though I'm afraid it will take some time and a good deal of effort to take effect. What BGC needs is better access to public transportation and not wider roads (that only encourage more traffic in the area). Anyway BGC is still in its infancy so there is still time and space to put the necessary infrastructure in place for the much awaited future public transport hub/station in BGC.

Very nice! Fort Bonifacio's skyline is really starting to fill-up! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

dito ko na lang to e post...

advance kasi ng 2 hours ang time zone na kina lalagyan ko...kay ito
banner September 10, 2009

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/headers/10.jpg

RonnieR

September 11th, 2009, 04:16 AM

3cr

September 11th, 2009, 04:29 AM

Jusmag lot auction readied
by Elaine Ramos Alanguilan

State-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority will be putting up the 35-hectare Jusmag property in Fort Bonifacio in the auction block this year.

Aileen Zosa, vice president for business development of BCDA, said the Jusmag property has been initially valued at P20,000 per square meter.

“We want to masterplan the whole area into Bonifacio South to maximize land values and big developers can give us good price. The Jusmag property is initially valued at P20,000 per sq. m. on a raw land basis but the minimum bid offer could be higher with the master plan,” said Zosa.

The 35-hectare property is located near the high-rise condominium Essensa, the posh Forbes Park and right across the headquarters of the Philippine Army.

Zosa said developable land in the proposed Bonifacio South is about 93 hectares, with the Jusmag property accounting for nearly half of the entire area.

She said the auction for the Jusmag property is the first phase of Bonifacio South. Part of the master plan is to widen Lawton Avenue, the main road artery in Fort Bonifacio.

She said the proposed Bonifacio South would be mixed-use development and include cultural, convention center and arts centers, institutional and government offices, “which are usually forgotten in the quest for profits in real estate development."

^^ Mmmm... I wonder if they will be moving the proposed Taguig coliseum and convention center in Bonifacio South.

pau_p1

September 11th, 2009, 10:18 AM

Any idea what will replace that small area where Sakae Sushi and Crepes 'n Cremes (beside McDonald's) is located? they've closed those 2 shops.. will McDonald's be closed too?

pau_p1

September 11th, 2009, 10:30 AM

talking about traffic in BGC... yeah traffic has gone bad where cars need to go out of BGC at McKinley Drive, in Kalayaan, and to C5...seems traffic management has been to worse when vehicles overflow to inner roads of BGC..

I specially hate that Market Market exit to C5..masyadong traffic pag traffic... but sa tagal kong pumupunta sa BGC.. never pa naman ako nakaencounter dun ng severe honking.. kahit nasa traffic..

RonnieR

September 11th, 2009, 10:33 AM

Any idea what will replace that small area where Sakae Sushi and Crepes 'n Cremes (beside McDonald's) is located? they've closed those 2 shops.. will McDonald's be closed too?

Close na ang Sakae Sushi? I will miss the roving ramp of sushi!

dunamis

September 11th, 2009, 02:55 PM

Maybe they will transfer Sakae Sushi and Crepes and Cream near Forbestown Burgos Circle. Foot traffic is heavier there with Ascendas, Net Plaza, Ayala BPO building, etc, etc.

They might follow the footsteps of UCC.

Gaganda na yung area na yun once na matapos na yung Forbeswood Parklane and simulan na yung Park in front of it.

bartman

September 11th, 2009, 09:30 PM

Wonder if there are any Serendra unit owners could comment about this topic about the jeep noise... I would imagine they are the most affected by this.

Just imagine how much people will be in that area if they go through the Taguig Convention Center or SM Mall close by that area.

I have a friend who lives there at Serendra. No complaint on jeepneys' honking! Only in SSC you hear the complaint on honking. hahahaha.

1S unit owner here. i'm on the 5th floor, by the rotunda between market2 and shops@serendra. not much jeep noise.

there have been at least two concerts held on the field next to high street that i can recall. surely the crowds during those times would approximate the traffic that the convention center or the sm mall would bring. no big deal.

the worst traffic i've encountered was during makati day around the first week of may this year. traffic going to makati was backed up all the way to the fort. by taxi, it took about one hour from serendra to ayala/makati av. it probably would have been faster to walk. :lol:

TheRick

September 11th, 2009, 10:57 PM

1S unit owner here. i'm on the 5th floor, by the rotunda between market2 and shops@serendra. not much jeep noise.

there have been at least two concerts held on the field next to high street that i can recall. surely the crowds during those times would approximate the traffic that the convention center or the sm mall would bring. no big deal.

the worst traffic i've encountered was during makati day around the first week of may this year. traffic going to makati was backed up all the way to the fort. by taxi, it took about one hour from serendra to ayala/makati av. it probably would have been faster to walk. :lol:

Thank you for the very informative input. ^^

bartman

September 12th, 2009, 04:33 AM

the worst traffic i've encountered was during makati day around the first week of may this year. traffic going to makati was backed up all the way to the fort. by taxi, it took about one hour from serendra to ayala/makati av. it probably would have been faster to walk. :lol:

should've been first week of june :bash:

OtAkAw

September 12th, 2009, 07:19 AM

^^The traffic nga is horrible! Why can't someone just shell out money and build some monorail or something to connect FBGC to other business districts?!

Retro

September 12th, 2009, 12:49 PM

^^ I think its high time to implement number coding inside Ft. Boni to regulate transient vehicle. There are lot of cars coming from SLEX going inside Ft. Boni. even its already between 7am-10am this cause added congestion during week day rush hour :banana:

ruralvillage

September 13th, 2009, 07:55 PM

PSE update! See below:

Philippine Stock Exchange moving to Makati (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=504964&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña (The Philippine Star (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=504964&publicationSubCategoryId=66)) Updated September 14, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - In a move aimed at streamlining costs and further boosting productivity, the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) is integrating all its offices at the Ayala Tower in Makati as it vacates its headquarters in Tektite, Ortigas.

The move is also seen as a prelude to the relocation of the PSE’s corporate headquarters to the Bonifacio Global City that will serve as a unified trading floor for brokers holding office in Ortigas and Makati.

PSE president Francis Lim said beginning next year, the PSE’s corporate offices will be housed at Ayala Tower. “We’re targeting the first quarter this year for the integration of our offices. This would allow us to save costs,” he said.

The local bourse had initially entered into a joint venture with Ayala Land Inc. for the development of a 5,000-square meter area along 28th street and 5th avenue in Bonifacio Global City but construction was delayed due to market conditions.

The proposed project is expected to be developed in two phases with the first one involving the construction of the PSE’s 15-story headquarters on a 2,000-square meter lot.

Phase 2, on the other hand, involves the development of a high-rise commercial office building.

Funding for the development of the unified PSE building will partly come from the sale of the Tektite and Ayala offices, which have a combined value of between P600 million to P800 million.

The Tektite office occupies 4,340 square meters of lot which was donated by Philippine Realty & Holdings Corp .while the Ayala office occupies 3,190 square meters.

PSE’s relocation to Fort Bonifacio is expected to offer more employment opportunities to the residents of Taguig and encourage other corporate players to eventually move their businesses in the city.

The construction of the new PSE building was delayed due to few changes in the design and floor area. The new building is expected to be up by 2014.

kalbongdad

September 14th, 2009, 06:16 AM

sana iconic bldg ng pse....sayang naman ang opportunity kung hindi nila maipapakita sa mundo na magagaling din ang pse...:) para dami pa invest...

TheRick

September 14th, 2009, 01:37 PM

14-Sept-09

Ph Man

September 14th, 2009, 04:07 PM

very clever move. while building a hirise iconic tower is not yet viable, building a 15-storey tower to house the unified PSE will be the best option. and eventually, let's hope that the earlier renders of the cylindrical tower become a reality.

makoy731

September 14th, 2009, 04:08 PM

14-Sept-09

http://www.readyforoccupancy.com/2009-023.JPG

http://www.readyforoccupancy.com/2009-022.JPG

who's constructing that new building that totally blocked SOMA's view?

dunamis

September 14th, 2009, 04:15 PM

Its the Infinity by Nuvoland.

makoy731

September 14th, 2009, 04:46 PM

I'd hate to be one of those residents who's views got completely blocked.

TheRick

September 15th, 2009, 02:01 PM

15-Sept-09

kalbongdad

September 15th, 2009, 04:42 PM

ganda na talaga ng bgc.....the last time na pumasok ako dyan...was last christmas pa....dumadaan ako paminsan minsan...pero hindi ako pumapasok mismo sa bgc...nice pics.....parang hinihikayat ako na pumunta ulit....:)

RonnieR

September 15th, 2009, 05:43 PM

15-Sept-09

http://www.readyforoccupancy.com/2009-030.JPG

Just curious, what's this green one? net for construction of what tower?

RonnieR

September 15th, 2009, 05:44 PM

BGC - really a beautiful place, well planned.
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/September13photos012.jpg

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/September13photos004.jpg

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/September13photos003.jpg

RonnieR

September 15th, 2009, 05:45 PM

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/September13photos014.jpg

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/September13photos015.jpg

TheRick

September 16th, 2009, 12:59 AM

Just curious, what's this green one? net for construction of what tower?

Was taken from Chowking... Construction net belongs to Boni E-Service building...

manila_eye

September 16th, 2009, 01:14 AM

how fort boni transformed in less than a decade :cheers:

marlowe_cano

September 16th, 2009, 03:35 PM

Megaworld wins right to develop Bonifacio land

Megaworld Corp., controlled by Andrew Tan, the fourth richest Filipino, has secured the right to develop a huge chunk of land in the Bonifacio Global City.

In a disclosure on Wednesday, Megaworld said the Bases Conversion Development Authority, which is tasked to manage the former military base, gave the company the right to develop the 8.38-hectare North Bonifacio Lots in the Bonifacio Global City.

The property, which is located in the northern district of Fort Bonifacio and extends all the way to Kalayaan Avenue, is close to a school zone composed of the British, Japanese, and American international schools and various local schools.

In its second proposal, Megaworld sought to acquire the property for P3.151 billion or P37,603.69 per square meter.

Under the proposal, BCDA shall be entitled to an upfront cash of P1.062 billion and annual revenues of about P307 million for 12 years.

"Megaworld is committed to invest a minimum of P15.6 billion over 20 years for the development of the property into a mixed-use complex," the company said.

Megaworld has submitted a marginally higher bid than Robinsons Land Corp. of the Gokongwei group for the property.

On Wednesday’s Megaworld’s shares were flat at P1.50 each. - GMANews.TV

ruralvillage

September 16th, 2009, 10:56 PM

^^ More great news! :banana:

Megaworld to invest P15.6 billion in North Boni development (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=505798&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña (The Philippine Star (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=505798&publicationSubCategoryId=66)) Updated September 17, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Megaworld Corp., the property development arm of the Alliance Global group of tycoon Andrew Tan, is spending at least P15.6-billion over the next 20 years to convert a portion of the northern district of Bonifacio Global City into a mixed-use complex, according to a disclosure it filed with the Philippine Stock Exchange.

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has awarded to Megaworld the right to develop the 8.38-hectare North Bonifacio lot after matching the offer of its lone challenger, Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) with its final bid of P37,603.69 per square meter a total amount of P3.151 billion.

Megaworld’s winning bid is slightly higher than RLC’s offer of P37,597.86 per square meter and 13 percent higher than its original bid of P2.78 billion.

Under Megaworld’s proposal, the BCDA shall be entitled to an upfront cash of P1.062 billion and annual revenues of P306,616.325 for 12 years.

Tan said the company is confident about the long-term development potential of the property and remains firmly committed to Bonifacio Global City as the upcoming premier central business district in the country.

The company’s proposal for the North Bonifacio lots is a mixed-use development of more than 500,000 square meters of gross floor area and is predominantly residential.

With a cash position of P15.7 billion as of end-June this year, Megaworld boasts of its strong capability to carry out large-scale property development projects. It has a successful track record of building self-contained communities under its pioneering “live-work-play-learn” concept.

In the first half this year, Megaworld reported a net income of P2 billion, up 12 percent from the same period a year ago. Consolidated revenues rose 16 percent to P8.73 billion, with real estate sales accounting for P6.07 billion or an increase of 15 percent from the year earlier level of P5.28 billion.

Megaworld currently has five townships within Metro Manila, as well as stand-alone projects in the Makati central business district. It has about 275,000 square meters of BPO office space and expects to complete another 60,000 square meters by yearend.

The company is launching five new residential condominium projects this year estimated to generate around P12 billion in sales.

Among these projects include Two Central (a prestigious high-rise building located in Salcedo Village that will make available around 400 units), Tower Three in Eastwood City in Libis, Parkside Villas (a seven-cluster community that will rise beside the five-star Marriott Hotel in Newport City in Pasay), The Venice Residences (a seven-tower residential project in Mckinley Hill in Bonifacio Global City), and Morgan Suites Executive Residences (also within the 50-hectare Mckinley Hill township).

Around 80 percent of the company’s sales come from residential projects while 10 to 15 percent come from lease operations.

Megaworld has set aside P8 billion to P10 billion for its capital expenditures this year, mostly to go to project development.

Part of the capex will be used to fund the construction of a new hotel under the Richmonde brand, in EastwoodCity.

The new four-hotel will offer a total of 100 to 150 rooms with the development cost pegged at $70,000 per room. A third branch of the Richmonde Hotel is also being planned in Manila’s Binondo district where Megaworld is building a township to be called Cityplace. – With Ma. Elisa P. Osorio

ruralvillage

September 16th, 2009, 11:15 PM

Megaworld clears BCDA for joint venture on North Bonifacio lots (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/sept/17/yehey/business/20090917bus11.html)
Manila Times (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/sept/17/yehey/business/20090917bus11.html)

STATE-OWNED Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said it will sign next month the contract with Megaworld Corp. for the joint development of the 8.38-hectare North Bonifacio lots, after the agency officially announced that the real estate firm won the bidding.

“The signing of the joint venture [JV] agreement for the project is scheduled on October 8, 2009, following approval by the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel of the draft JV contract,” Aileen Zosa, BCDA vice president for business development, said in a statement.

Zosa said Megaworld has passed the post-qualification process done by BCDA.

The agency’s bidding for the private sector partner for the development of the North Bonifacio property was implemented using the National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) guidelines for Competitive Challenge Type Procedure for Public-Private Joint Ventures, or “Swiss challenge.”

Earlier, BCDA had said Megaworld trumped Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC), as the former’s effective offer for North Bonifacio reached P3.1511 billion. Zosa had said BCDA evaluated the bids by adding up the upfront cash and annual secured revenues proposed by the two real estate companies.

Megaworld has increased its upfront cash, from an initial unsolicited proposal of P700 million, to P1.062 billion, which resulted in a price of about P37,603.69 per square meter on a present value basis. This is higher than RLC’s P37,597.86 per square meter offer.

Zosa had said Megaworld has committed to invest about P20 billion for a mixed-use development of the property.
-- Ben Arnold O. De Vera

dunamis

September 17th, 2009, 06:13 AM

Its good that MW develops that property. Maybe they'll develop it like the Bellagios, 8 Forbestown and One Central.

Federal Land is taking toooooooo long with their projects in North Boni. No we can see more action.

in_a_rush

September 17th, 2009, 11:55 AM

ang daming pera ng Megaworld! Newport city,Eastwood,McKinley hill, pagcor city tapos eto pa.

michael677

September 17th, 2009, 01:11 PM

^^
the intersection of serendra, marketmarket, STI, and Every Nation is now well lit! they have installed a tower light in the area! in the past, numerous accidents have occured because it is dark and it being a major intersection.

this is now among the brightest intersections in manila. others are the ramon magsaysay-araneta ave intersection, arlegui-recto, buendia-makati ave, makati ave-paseo de roxas, makati ave-kalayaan, and the rockwell intersections.

i hope next they will improve on the c-5 entry points to bgc. espcially on the c5 northbound side since the area is still with no lights.

pau_p1

September 17th, 2009, 01:30 PM

they are also installing stoplights in every intersection in Crescent Park West.. while their uprooting the trees in the center of the park.. some of the trees are replanted along 3rdAve.

TheRick

September 17th, 2009, 01:39 PM

17-Sept-09

http://www.readyforoccupancy.com/2009-039.JPG

http://www.readyforoccupancy.com/2009-040.JPG

http://www.readyforoccupancy.com/2009-042.JPG

http://www.readyforoccupancy.com/2009-052.JPG

ruralvillage

September 18th, 2009, 07:08 AM

^^ Awesome neighborhood TheRick! :banana: :banana: The future is here!

BGC triple its '03 size and still growing (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=506222&publicationSubCategoryId=76)
(The Philippine Star (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=506222&publicationSubCategoryId=76)) Updated September 18, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Just a little over six years ago, Bonifacio Global City was viewed merely as the periphery of the Makati Central Business district that provided an alternative route to those heading for or coming from the country’s largest business center.

Today, Bonifacio Global City has emerged as a premier district in its own right. Highlighted by condominiums, headquarters of global corporations and unique retail developments, BGC has become a preferred district where the essentials of live, work and play converge. Many now send their children to the three international schools there, regularly shop in its two main malls, and frequently dine in its highly-rated fine dining restaurants. All told the district, which now has a gross floor area of 1.3 million sqm. and has grown more than three times its size in 2003. By 2012, gross floor area is expected to hit 2.6 million or the size of Makati and over twice the figure today.

The urban center’s expansion was boosted six years ago when major property companies Ayala Land and Evergreen Holdings of the Campos group pooled resources to take the lead in Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC), the firm responsible for developing the area. Since then, Bonifacio Global City has metamorphosed from a military camp into a destination for business, retail and entertainment. Moreover, the city is bound to keep growing as a range of activities and projects continue to be launched to sustain its growth.

According to Noel Kintanar, FBDC head of commercial operations: “The vision is to create and ideal and balanced lifestyle with sufficient time for work, recreation and one’s passions in life. By creating an environment that fosters such a balance, we hope to attract locators who will contribute further to this over-arching goal. The 20,000 people who now live here, 30,000 employees who work here and over 150,000 shoppers who visit our malls everyday inspire us to keep on going.”

Following the redevelopment of the city center masterplan, Bonifacio High Street was launched. The unique shopping experience designed around a kilometer-long stretch park, has since won a loyal following as well as local and international awards. It has also defined the outdoor orientation of Bonifacio Global City.

Development of the city is now moving northwards. Conceived to showcase BGC’s recreational amenities, City Center North along major roads 32nd Street and 34th Street, consists of 14 commercial lots that are around 2,000 sqm. each. “While we want City Center North to be a live-work-play area like the rest of district, it will highlight the ‘play’ aspect of the community,” clarifies Kintanar. Thus, the are will showcase a proposed sportplex, skatepark and an open field for recreation and sports.

Ph Man

September 18th, 2009, 08:27 PM

man...by reading the headline...i thought Fort Boni is tripling its land area. it should have been more elaborate.

i'm glad the gross leasable space for retail and office is catching up with the residential.

what's that low-rise structure on the third photo with "Makati" on its roof? that section looks chaotic and crowded.

TheEngineer

September 19th, 2009, 12:06 AM

man...by reading the headline...i thought Fort Boni is tripling its land area. it should have been more elaborate.

Yup, the head is vague.
And the 'triple' is being used as a verb with object, it should be 'triples'
since BGC is singular in form.

3cr

September 19th, 2009, 02:32 AM

forbestown @ night...

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l255/dodecruz/P1000686.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l255/dodecruz/P1000688.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l255/dodecruz/P1000690.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l255/dodecruz/P1000693.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l255/dodecruz/P1000695.jpg

^^ Wow Forbestown commercial area is quickly taking shape. Looks like on track to be operational na by year's end (hopefully even sooner). Great alternative place to hang out kung sawa na sa Boni High Street! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

Jarvijarv

September 19th, 2009, 04:44 AM

[QUOTE=TheRick;43222324]17-Sept-09

http://www.readyforoccupancy.com/2009-039.JPG

^^
Awesome! I love the density and variation. Definitely a place to look forward to walking or jogging around. Just don't lose the green spaces!

orly

September 19th, 2009, 05:24 AM

Judging on those pictures I'd say that there's really more in BGC than it meets the eye. I think now BGC is worth exploring compare to 3-4 years ago. The only areas I've been to is the serendra-market2x-highstreet district.

It's really surprising to see BGC's progress over the past 3 years

sloanesquare

September 20th, 2009, 06:40 AM

theres movement at the station.......sun life is imminent and the hyundai at 26th and 5th is being fenced up.....

kalbongdad

September 20th, 2009, 10:03 AM

yup galing ng development ng bgc mabilis at maganda....hopefully hindi mawala ang mga green areas....

lochinvar

September 20th, 2009, 02:04 PM

How come there are so many low rise at the very center? These are waste of resources. Some day soon these are going to be demolished for tall ones just like what's happening in Ayala.

Juan Pilgrim

September 20th, 2009, 03:19 PM

^^You may be right...

but those variations in height and structural design will prevent the perception of congestion in that area.

anyway, I am glad there is a McDonalds right across One Mckinley Place.

:horse:

sandersb

September 21st, 2009, 05:58 AM

i like bgc's infra's and roadworks... clean and pleasant to the eyes. i just hope all places in metro manila would ble like bgc's... anyway, i havent been there...

chesterot

September 21st, 2009, 03:32 PM

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW092109/content.php?id=046
:banana::banana::banana:

THE BONIFACIO Global City expects to become as big as Makati in terms of floor area in three years, the developer of the former military reservation in Taguig said, pointing to the mushrooming of condominiums, corporate headquarters, and retail businesses.

This would be a huge change from what used to be viewed as just an alternate route to the Makati central business district (CBD).

In a statement, the Fort Bonifacio Development Corp. (FBDC) said it expects Bonifacio Global City’s gross floor area to hit 2.6 million square meters (sq. m.) by 2012 or more than twice the figure today. Citing various studies, FBDC said it expects the supply of residential units to reach 8,442 units — at par with Makati’s and surpassing Ortigas’ 7,000 units.

Property analysts have projected Bonifacio Global City to come out of depressed prices first. Rates in Fort Bonifacio fell by a fifth to P550 per sq. m. in the second quarter.

This was slower compared to the 42% drop in the price of prime offices in the Makati district to P700 per sq. m. from April to June. Property experts expect land prices at Fort Bonifacio to go up in the future as it dethrones Ortigas Center in Pasig as an alternative CBD three to five years from now.

"The vision is to create an ideal and balanced lifestyle with sufficient time for work and recreation. By creating an environment that fosters such a balance, we hope to attract locators who will contribute further to this goal," Noel Kintanar, FBDC head of commercial operations, said.

FBDC is a joint venture between Ayala Land, Inc. and Campos-led Evergreen Holdings, Inc., as well as the government’s Bases Conversion and Development Authority. Ayala Land and Evergreen bought the controlling stake in the property firm from Metro Pacific Investments Corp. in 2003.

With the opening of the Bonifacio High Street commercial center, FBDC said the development is spreading northward through the "City Center North" area, which has 14 commercial lots that are around 2,000 sq.m. each.

Aside from City Center North, other developments include a science museum — The Mind Museum — which is expected to draw 250,000 visitors annually upon completion in 2011.

"This will be in addition to plans to expand and upgrade the transport system and other systems, infrastructure, and amenities that will ensure a city that works," FBDC said.

Fort Bonifacio dates back to the American colonial period, when the US government acquired land in Taguig for military purposes. After Philippine independence, the area, known then as Fort William McKinley, was renamed Fort Bonifacio and became the home of the Philippine Army and later, the Philippine Marines.

When Fort Bonifacio land was privatized in 1995 and placed under the administration of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, the whole area was restored to Taguig.

High-end residential condominiums include Essensa, Serendra, Pacific Plaza and Regent Parkway, Forbeswood Heights, and Kensington. Office buildings include Net Square, Bonifacio Technology Center, the HSBC Building, Hanjin Philippines, and the Singapore Chancery.

More projects are set to rise on the area, which include the six-star, 60-storey Shangri-La at the Fort which would have 500 hotel rooms and 234 apartments. It is scheduled to open in 2012.

The Philippine Stock Exchange is planning to build a unified headquarters at Fort Bonifacio, leaving its offices in Makati and Ortigas.

The 14-storey St. Luke’s Medical Center, which will have 600 beds and an 11-storey medical arts building with 366 doctors’ offices, will open this year.

Fort Bonifacio will also become the site of the country’s tallest building, the 66-storey skyscraper Federal Land Tower costing P20 billion. — Kristine Jane R. Liu

habagatcentral1

September 21st, 2009, 03:39 PM

By the way, is the height requirement a concern in BGC because it's at the departure/approach way of Runway 24 of NAIA?

3cr

September 22nd, 2009, 04:32 AM

^^ Depends eh... Bonifacio Global City and North Bonifacio areas are not under the flight path but the southern areas/developments in the Fort Bonifacio Campus such as McKinley Hills and the future BOSO/SOBO (Jusmag) area are (see below). What actually restricts the height of buildings in BGC / North Bonifacio is the implementation of FAR and also quite dependent on the lot size the building/structure is going to be built on.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/2756640629_3f7545dbe0_o.jpg

from Bonifacio Global City website (http://www.fbdcorp.com/)

3cr

September 22nd, 2009, 04:42 AM

theres movement at the station.......sun life is imminent and the hyundai at 26th and 5th is being fenced up.....

^^ This is quite exciting news! :okay: :okay:

crispypata

September 22nd, 2009, 08:35 AM

How come there are so many low rise at the very center? These are waste of resources. Some day soon these are going to be demolished for tall ones just like what's happening in Ayala.

Hi I believe Ayala's long term vision is to really have smaller buildings in the BGC Center so that it can be demolished in the future for taller developments. So BHS buildings are just temporary.. siguro mga 20 years iba na yan...

michael677

September 22nd, 2009, 02:13 PM

Hi I believe Ayala's long term vision is to really have smaller buildings in the BGC Center so that it can be demolished in the future for taller developments. So BHS buildings are just temporary.. siguro mga 20 years iba na yan...

i also heard this from someone i know who is supplying electrical cables to ayala. sabi nya BHS will be totally demolished after some time

kalbongdad

September 22nd, 2009, 02:25 PM

i also heard this from someone i know who is supplying electrical cables to ayala. sabi nya BHS will be totally demolished after some time

dapat lang mukha naman siyang temporary structures....hindi sya ganun kaganda....although at least may mapupuntahan ka

ruralvillage

September 23rd, 2009, 01:16 AM

Megaworld mulls up to P5 billion of 5-year fixed-rate bonds
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña (The Philippine Star) Updated September 23, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Megaworld Corp., the upscale property development firm of tycoon Andrew Tan, plans to issue as much as P5 billion worth of five-year fixed rate bonds to raise funds for its proposed projects, the company told the Philippine Stock Exchange
yesterday.

The principal amount of the bond offer is worth P3 billion but Megaworld said the issue size can be increased to P5 billion, depending on market demand.

The bonds, which will have a term of five years and six months, have been assigned the highest AAA rating by Credit Rating & Investors Services Philippines Inc., reflecting the strongest capability of the company to repay its debt obligations.

BDO Capital & Investment Corp. and HSBC are the designated joint lead managers and bookrunners for the issue.

Proceeds from the offering will be used to partially fund capital expenditures for Megaworld’s proposed central district development in Bonifacio Global City, as well as for general corporate purposes.

Megaworld earlier announced it was allotting at least P15.6 billion over the next 20 years to develop an 8.38-hectare government property located at the northern district of Bonifacio Global City into a mixed-use complex.

The company topped the offer of its lone challenger, Robinsons Land Corp., with a final bid of P37,603.69 per square meter or a total of P3.151 billion, slightly higher than RLC’s offer of P37,597.86 per square meter and even 13 percent higher than its original bid of P2.78 billion.

Under Megaworld’s proposal, the state-run property owner Bases Conversion Development Authority will be entitled to an upfront cash of P1.062 billion and annual revenues of P306,616.325 for 12 years.

Megaworld said it is optimistic about the long-term development potential of the property and remains firmly committed to the Bonifacio Global City as the next premier central business district in the country.

The company’s proposal for the North Bonifacio lots is a mixed-use development of more than 500,000 square meters of gross floor area and is predominantly residential.

With a cash position of P15.7 billion as of end-June this year, Megaworld boasts of a strong capability to carry out large-scale property development projects. It has a successful track record of building self-contained communities under its pioneering live-work-play-learn concept.

In the first half this year, Megaworld reported a net income
of P2 billion, up 12 percent from the same period a year ago. Consolidated revenues rose 16 percent to P8.73 billion, with real estate sales
accounting for P6.07 billion or an increase of 15 percent from the year earlier level of P5.28 billion.

Megaworld currently has five townships within Metro Manila, as well as stand-alone projects in the Makati central business district. It has about 275,000 square meters of BPO office space and expects to complete another 60,000 square meters by yearend.

The company is launching five new residential condominium projects this year estimated to generate around P12 billion in sales.

Among these projects include Two Central (a prestigious high-rise building in Salcedo Village that will make available around 400 units), Tower Three in Eastwood City in Libis, Parkside Villas (a seven-cluster community that will rise beside the five-star Marriott Hotel in Newport City in Pasay), The Venice Residences (a seven-tower residential project in Mckinley Hill in Bonifacio Global City), and Morgan Suites Executive Residences (also within the 50-hectare Mckinley Hill township).

Around 80 percent of the company’s sales come from its residential projects while 10 to 15 percent come from lease operations.

ruralvillage

September 23rd, 2009, 01:18 AM

Megaworld mulls up to P5 billion of 5-year fixed-rate bonds (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=507638&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña (The Philippine Star (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=507638&publicationSubCategoryId=66)) Updated September 23, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Megaworld Corp., the upscale property development firm of tycoon Andrew Tan, plans to issue as much as P5 billion worth of five-year fixed rate bonds to raise funds for its proposed projects, the company told the Philippine Stock Exchange
yesterday.

The principal amount of the bond offer is worth P3 billion but Megaworld said the issue size can be increased to P5 billion, depending on market demand.

The bonds, which will have a term of five years and six months, have been assigned the highest AAA rating by Credit Rating & Investors Services Philippines Inc., reflecting the strongest capability of the company to repay its debt obligations.

BDO Capital & Investment Corp. and HSBC are the designated joint lead managers and bookrunners for the issue.

Proceeds from the offering will be used to partially fund capital expenditures for Megaworld’s proposed central district development in Bonifacio Global City, as well as for general corporate purposes.

Megaworld earlier announced it was allotting at least P15.6 billion over the next 20 years to develop an 8.38-hectare government property located at the northern district of Bonifacio Global City into a mixed-use complex.

The company topped the offer of its lone challenger, Robinsons Land Corp., with a final bid of P37,603.69 per square meter or a total of P3.151 billion, slightly higher than RLC’s offer of P37,597.86 per square meter and even 13 percent higher than its original bid of P2.78 billion.

Under Megaworld’s proposal, the state-run property owner Bases Conversion Development Authority will be entitled to an upfront cash of P1.062 billion and annual revenues of P306,616.325 for 12 years.

Megaworld said it is optimistic about the long-term development potential of the property and remains firmly committed to the Bonifacio Global City as the next premier central business district in the country.

The company’s proposal for the North Bonifacio lots is a mixed-use development of more than 500,000 square meters of gross floor area and is predominantly residential.

With a cash position of P15.7 billion as of end-June this year, Megaworld boasts of a strong capability to carry out large-scale property development projects. It has a successful track record of building self-contained communities under its pioneering live-work-play-learn concept.

In the first half this year, Megaworld reported a net income
of P2 billion, up 12 percent from the same period a year ago. Consolidated revenues rose 16 percent to P8.73 billion, with real estate sales
accounting for P6.07 billion or an increase of 15 percent from the year earlier level of P5.28 billion.

Megaworld currently has five townships within Metro Manila, as well as stand-alone projects in the Makati central business district. It has about 275,000 square meters of BPO office space and expects to complete another 60,000 square meters by yearend.

The company is launching five new residential condominium projects this year estimated to generate around P12 billion in sales.

Among these projects include Two Central (a prestigious high-rise building in Salcedo Village that will make available around 400 units), Tower Three in Eastwood City in Libis, Parkside Villas (a seven-cluster community that will rise beside the five-star Marriott Hotel in Newport City in Pasay), The Venice Residences (a seven-tower residential project in Mckinley Hill in Bonifacio Global City), and Morgan Suites Executive Residences (also within the 50-hectare Mckinley Hill township).

Around 80 percent of the company’s sales come from its residential projects while 10 to 15 percent come from lease operations.[/QUOTE]

kalbongdad

September 23rd, 2009, 03:10 AM

that is good news...yung megaworld mukhang mas maganda ang mga building kesa robinsons at ayala...case in point eastwood...parang maganda ang eastwood developments ngayon

TheRick

September 23rd, 2009, 04:42 PM

23-Sept-09

http://www.readyforoccupancy.com/2009-075.JPG

http://www.readyforoccupancy.com/2009-077.JPG

http://www.readyforoccupancy.com/2009-079.JPG

http://www.readyforoccupancy.com/2009-084.JPG

http://www.readyforoccupancy.com/2009-089.JPG

ruralvillage

September 23rd, 2009, 11:01 PM

^^ Great photos The rick! :banana:

Megaworld plans P5b worth of bonds (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideBusiness.htm?f=//2009/september/23/business3.isx&d=/2009/september/23)
Manila Standard (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideBusiness.htm?f=//2009/september/23/business3.isx&d=/2009/september/23)
by Jenniffer B. Austria

Megaworld Corp. plans to issue up to P5 billion in fixed-rate bonds to partially finance its proposed central district development in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

Megaworld said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange that it would issue P3 billion in unsecured fixed-rate bonds with an oversubscription option for another P2 billion.

The bonds, which will be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, will have a term of five-and-a-half years.

The property company has tapped BDO Capital and Investment Corp. and The HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corp. as joint lead managers and bookrunners for the issue.

Ratings firm Credit Rating and Investor Services Philippines Inc. assigned an “AAA” rating to the proposed bond issue, the highest rating it could give to reflect Megaworld’s strong capacity to repay debt obligation.

Megaworld last week won the contract to develop the 8.38-hectare property of state-run Bases Conversion Development Authority in Fort Bonifacio.

Megaworld bagged the project after submitting a winning bid of P3.151 billion, or P37,603.69 per square meter, for the North Bonifacio lots.

Megaworld offered BCDA an upfront cash of P1.062 billion and annual revenues of P306.6 million for 12 years. It committed to invest a minimum of P15.6 billion over 20 years for the development of the property into a mixed-use complex.

The company in June raised P5 billion from a stock rights offering.

Megaworld over the last three years has conducted four capital-raising activities. In 2006, it raised $100 million from an offshore offering of five-year bonds and another P5 billion through a follow-on offering. It raised about P10.8 billion the following from a stock rights offering to finance the construction of township developments, namely Manhattan Gardens in Cubao, Eastwood City in Quezon City, McKinley Hill in Fort Bonifacio, Cityplace in Manila, Newport City in Pasay and Forbes Towncenter in Taguig City.

Megaworld last year also issued P5 billion worth of unsecured corporate notes.

The company said it would spend P8.9 billion this year in the development of various real estate projects.

The company expects consolidated revenues of P17.5 billion this year, including P12.5 billion from sales and P2 billion from rental income, and a net profit of P4 billion.

Share price of Megaworld yesterday edged lower at P1.54 from Friday’s close of P1.56.

3cr

September 24th, 2009, 04:46 AM

^^ BGC is indeed transforming quickly into a possible future successor to Makati as the country's premier financial district. At the rate it's going, it's going to definitely pass Ortigas/Mandaluyong soon for sure especially once the unified stock exchange moves in the neighborhood. McKinley Hill is also turning out to be a nice IT/BPO park as well. Hopefully North Boni will soon follow the other two's success...

I read in a Manila Times article before that as far as Megaworld's plan for the 8 ha North Boni lot, 90% of the buildable land is going to be allotted for residential and only 10% is for other purposes. Looks like more condos instead of offices again...

"Zosa said Megaworld committed about P20 billion for a mixed-use development of the North Bonifacio property, of which about 90 percent would be residential."

^^ http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/sept/03/yehey/business/20090903bus10.html

kalbongdad

September 24th, 2009, 04:49 AM

agree....ibig sabihin mas marunong at magaling ang mayor diyan kesa makati...

RonnieR

September 24th, 2009, 05:09 AM

23-Sept-09
http://www.readyforoccupancy.com/2009-089.JPG

^^ nice...Bellagio towers with that park.

There is a sign on this Hyundai show room:
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/DSC05594.jpg

sloanesquare

September 24th, 2009, 05:56 AM

shame..its still going to be an auto dealership.. ...British United Automobiles inc, a newly formed company under the autohub group of companies, is the official importer of MINI Vehicles in the Philippines...we need something here to attract pedestrian traffic like a huge Virgin record shop or Disney shop

Bosnyboy

September 24th, 2009, 05:56 AM

Ano kaya gagawin dyan sa hyundai showroom? Something big daw, another car showroom kaya or something big as in gozilla big?

Eriq

September 24th, 2009, 08:22 AM

Ano kaya gagawin dyan sa hyundai showroom? Something big daw, another car showroom kaya or something big as in gozilla big?

Read the post above you. It's a MINI dealership.

aranetacoliseum

September 24th, 2009, 09:01 AM

THE MIND MUSEUM from umami mag.vol.1
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/fighter24/structure2.gif
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b304/fighter24/fascade.jpg

a billion-peso project aims to be a pioneering world-class science museum in the country that offers an experimental adventure into the world of science. envisioned to hold 175 interactive exhibits and displays, it serve as an entertaining and engaging learning facility, not just for the students, but also for teachers and families. scheduled to start construction in the latter part of this year, the mind museum looks forward to opening its doors in 2011.

with such a huge project at hand, the mind museum has forged partnership with companies from various sectors to reach their goal. renowned filipino architecture designer and architect lor calma and partners inc. are behind the building's futuristic design, while the exhibition master plan and exhibit design were undertaken by cincinnati-based film jack rouse associates. project consultant include canadian cobalt engineering, who are building design and engineering, and science center singapore, who gives advices on museum planning. the mind museum has also partnered with national geographic channel to gain access to its vast media collection and as venue for visiting national geographic explorers.

set to rise on a 12000 square meters JY campos Park in Bonifacio global city, the mind museum is a project of the bonifacio art foundation, inc. (BAFI). BAFI is a non-profit org. that is supported bu contributions from bonifacio global city property owners.

LIST OF SPONSORS
*museum site - fort bonifacio development corporation
*The lobby - family of mariano k.tan
*the introductory hall - JPMorgan chase & co.
*the 10 most beautiful experiments in science - ayala foundationm inc.
*life gallery - ajinomoto phil.corp.
*the human brain exhibit - st.luke's medical center
*earth gallery - del monte phil. inc and nutriasia
*our only earth footpath - HSBC
*universe gallery - globe telecom,inc.,IMI group of companies, and manila water company
*atom centerpiece - RFM/Swift
*how me live & here to there nodes(technology gallery) - pilipinas shell petroleum corporation
*technology of play zone(technology gallery) - Timezone
*changing gallery/plaza - ayala land inc.
*awesome lab - bank of the philippine islands
*audio visual equipment - SONY

FOR MORE INFO. VISIT themindmuseum.org or contact manny blas, managing director of the bonifacio art foundation, inc. at mablas@fbdcorp.com or 8562870

sky32mayflower

September 24th, 2009, 10:19 AM

hey guys! is selling items forbidden in this thread? I'm in the business of selling lcd and plasma tvs which are perfect for condo unit owners. Btw i own one in sapphire.

Christian_123

September 24th, 2009, 02:51 PM

23-Sept-09
http://www.readyforoccupancy.com/2009-084.JPG

If they didn't built High street, the huge rotunda that was formerly there would look like this today if it was converted into an open air park. Burgos circle is the only last example of what the true design of BGC with radial roads should look like.

The grid that replaced the original design sucks as hell personally and just promotes more heavy car usage which defeated the "pedestrian friendly" design of BGC.

You can't walk properly if everything around you is heavy air pollution ain't it?

manila_eye

September 24th, 2009, 05:05 PM

im really excited for the mind museum... any idea is there is voluntary work available?

3cr

September 26th, 2009, 02:11 AM

^^ Yup me too excited and looking forward to the Mind Museum eventually coming to fruition. Will definitely be a very nice addition to BGC! :okay: :okay:

If they didn't built High street, the huge rotunda that was formerly there would look like this today if it was converted into an open air park. Burgos circle is the only last example of what the true design of BGC with radial roads should look like.

The grid that replaced the original design sucks as hell personally and just promotes more heavy car usage which defeated the "pedestrian friendly" design of BGC.

You can't walk properly if everything around you is heavy air pollution ain't it?

^^ As far as the grid pattern in BGC, this pattern is actually the most efficient, controllable (if using traffic lights), and friendliest pattern as far as both vehicle and foot traffic is concerned which is one of the reasons why BGC's pattern was changed to such. The original circular pattern would have created more grid-lock in the long run especially with how undisciplined the drivers are in the Philippines. The circular pattern is actually considered quite out-moded (though it may look more pleasing) as they were first designed especially for animal/horse-drawn carriages in mind (which can't make 90 degree turns) more so than for pedestrian ease/concerns. Remember the shortest point from A to B is a straight line and so the grid pattern BGC has adapted will actually make it a more pedestrian friendly city indeed!

BGC was designed with places like Manhattan, San Francisco, HongKong and Japan (just to name a few) in mind where people are very much encouraged to walk and/or take public transport in and around the area as oppose to driving which is still the prevalent means/mindset of many Filipinos when getting from here to there. That's also why the number of lanes in BGC streets have been purposely designed with fewer lanes in keeping with this green city / new urbanist concept. The problem really is that we filipinos just love our vehicles too much that we've become such an auto-centric society. It's precisely this kind of mentality/tendency that actually needs to change, though I'm afraid it will take some time and a good deal of effort to take effect. What BGC needs is better access to public transportation and not wider roads / more lanes (that only encourage more traffic in the area). Anyway BGC is still in its infancy so there is still time and space to put the necessary infrastructure in place for the much awaited future public transport hub/station in BGC.

Bosnyboy

September 26th, 2009, 06:36 AM

Read the post above you. It's a MINI dealership.

Aah sorry ha coz i didnt know that while i was posting that question, sloansquare was also posting the answer. Tignan mo ang timestamp oh Magkasabay kami.

Climax777

September 26th, 2009, 10:00 AM

Widespread flooding in many parts of metro mla.:ohno:,including BGC?:cheers:

fwh_buyer

September 26th, 2009, 05:59 PM

No flooding in BGC, thank God, so it's time to help those who were victimized!

fwh_buyer

September 26th, 2009, 06:01 PM

OMG! I take it back--I just saw a photo of a totally flooded Burgos Circle. What time was that? We were in and out and didn't experience it at all.

mygz14

September 26th, 2009, 06:17 PM

It calls for better drainage in MM and nationwide. That's one reason why we shouldn't have subways here in Manila YET since people in government can't solve our flooding problems or having problems implementing it.

3cr

September 27th, 2009, 12:42 AM

17-Sept-09

(Before the storm)
http://www.readyforoccupancy.com/2009-039.JPG

and today forbestown sept 26, 2009

(During the storm)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2531/3954897203_d21bdd23f2_o.jpg

"ondoy you will be remembered."

via FB

^^ Grabe yung dumaan na bagyo. Pati BGC binaha and sadly it looks really bad. Makes me wonder how the Bellagio, Forbeswood Heights, and Fort Palm Springs do after the storm? Grand Hampton twins seem to have been spared from what Realtor_Manila / Cynch reported and hopefully the rest of the projects in the vicinity did too.

Hanggang saan kaya umabot ang baha sa BGC kung ganoon? Just that when I saw this pic of Burgos Circle, I would not have been surprised if it did flood some of the basement parking levels of the surrounding projects. Mukhang grabe kasi itong baha sa pic eh. Hopefully the Bellagio, FWH and the other projects in the vicinity didn't get damaged/flooded like those establishments in Burgos Circle look they did. Siguradong law suit waiting to happen ito. Drainage must have been blocked by construction debris kasi diba full of construction activities naman dito sa areang ito? Regardless who/what caused this flood, they should do something about it asap para di na maulit ito.

Btw here's a link which shows a video that looks like it's taken in one of the establishments in the Burgos Circle. Grabe ang baha! Kung BGC/Burgos Circle binaha despite its more modern drainage / water collection system, I can only imagine how much worse it has been in the other parts of the metro. This storm is really one for the books. :ohno: :ohno: :ohno:

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-333905

3cr

September 27th, 2009, 01:10 AM

Storm watch at the rooftop of Fairways Tower... Grabe ang dumaang bagyong ito!

4xhGpR6OPPw&feature=related

fRyrkefz2uM

3cr

September 27th, 2009, 01:40 AM

Great news indeed for BGC! The PSE's consolidation in Makati is a definite sign of the PSE's eventual move to BGC. Things are indeed starting to fall into place! BGC is quickly transforming into a possible competitor if not future successor to Makati as the country's premier financial district. Only time will tell. At the rate it's going, BGC will definitely surpass Ortigas/Mandaluyong for the no.#2 spot in the coming years especially once the unified stock exchange moves in the neighborhood. It would definitley bring BGC not only more prestige and legitimacy as a premiere CBD but also as a top (if not the top) financial center of the Philippines. :banana: :banana: :banana:

Philippine Stock Exchange moving to Makati
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña The Philippine Star
September 14, 2009

MANILA, Philippines - In a move aimed at streamlining costs and further boosting productivity, the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) is integrating all its offices at the Ayala Tower in Makati as it vacates its headquarters in Tektite, Ortigas.

The move is also seen as a prelude to the relocation of the PSE’s corporate headquarters to the Bonifacio Global City that will serve as a unified trading floor for brokers holding office in Ortigas and Makati.

PSE president Francis Lim said beginning next year, the PSE’s corporate offices will be housed at Ayala Tower. “We’re targeting the first quarter this year for the integration of our offices. This would allow us to save costs,” he said.

The local bourse had initially entered into a joint venture with Ayala Land Inc. for the development of a 5,000-square meter area along 28th street and 5th avenue in Bonifacio Global City but construction was delayed due to market conditions.

The proposed project is expected to be developed in two phases with the first one involving the construction of the PSE’s 15-story headquarters on a 2,000-square meter lot.

Phase 2, on the other hand, involves the development of a high-rise commercial office building.

Funding for the development of the unified PSE building will partly come from the sale of the Tektite and Ayala offices, which have a combined value of between P600 million to P800 million.

The Tektite office occupies 4,340 square meters of lot which was donated by Philippine Realty & Holdings Corp .while the Ayala office occupies 3,190 square meters.

PSE’s relocation to Fort Bonifacio is expected to offer more employment opportunities to the residents of Taguig and encourage other corporate players to eventually move their businesses in the city.

The construction of the new PSE building was delayed due to few changes in the design and floor area. The new building is expected to be up by 2014.

TheRick

September 27th, 2009, 03:36 AM

If the Burgos Circle was the only place in BGC that got flooded then something is really off there. Like you said its probably blocked drainage or somebody didn't follow the plan for the drainage.

makoy731

September 27th, 2009, 06:21 PM

are there any other parts of the fort that was flooded? are there any more pictures?

RonnieR

September 28th, 2009, 12:11 AM

are there any other parts of the fort that was flooded? are there any more pictures?

Yesterday, Sunday, after the flood, I went to Eastwood and BGC. BGC was flood free...i don't know if during the height of the typhoon (Saturday), other parts were flooded.

imanaddict

September 28th, 2009, 12:38 PM

It was flooded near the area of the international schools according to a friend who studies there. Probably a few inches above the ankles. Students were stranded for a while.

I've been driving along the burgos circle almost everyday (rain or shine) yet I've never seen it flood (not even build puddles). This either is "the worst flood" of my life or there's something wrong with the drainage system. But it is noticeable that from 32nd avenue, the road is sloping downwards toward the circle. Apparently, this is the only slope in the area.

TeslaCoil

September 28th, 2009, 10:12 PM

There's nothing wrong with the drainage. The whole metro was flooded and there's nothing we can do to stop it from pouring more. The water has no where to go if the drainage exits are already supersaturated. Even the most advanced cities in the world experience flooding once in a while.

--SuperB0y--

September 29th, 2009, 01:14 AM

3cr

September 29th, 2009, 01:22 AM

^^ Good point. Guess we should actually count our blessings considering how the other areas of the Metro were devastated by this storm of the century. It really helped too that BGC / Fort Bonifacio as a whole benefitted location-wise by virtue of being located at the highest portion of the guadalupe plateau. That's also why only very isolated cases of flooding in the area were reported. The key thing now is what are the plans that need to be undertaken and implemented after lessons learned from this incident. This way things can be done so that such incidents can be avoided and not have to happen again in the future.

Just fyi...Based on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration,Typhoon Ondoy brought down 341 millimeters of rain in the metropolis in only six hours. As comparison, the average rainfall in the whole of September is 391.7 millimeters. And Typhoon Katrina, which flooded New Orleans, brought down only 250 millimeters of rainfall.

Government study foresaw flooding – Palafox
Business Mirror
Written by Dennis D. Estopace / Reporter
Monday, 28 September 2009
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/top-news/16610-government-study-foresaw-floodpalafox.html

THE government was warned 32 years ago that ceding control of urban development may have adverse consequences, such as the devastation experienced by the metropolis on Saturday.

“Some are saying it’s [the flooding of key Metropolitan Manila areas] an act of God. It’s not. It’s neglect on the part of the government,” architect Felino Palafox Jr. told the BusinessMirror on Monday as casualties of Typhoon Ondoy grew to more than a hundred dead and thousands of people displaced.

In the document sent by Palafox, the Metro Manila Transport, Land Use and Development Planning Project (Mmetroplan) already cited the Marikina Valley as among the areas deemed “unsuitable for development.”

The area that includes the city of Marikina were among those that sustained the most damage, according to news reports. In one hard-hit site alone, Provident Village, TV reports said 58 bodies had already been recovered, presumably people who never had time to leave their homes as floodwaters rose too quickly.

“Development should be restricted by the application of controls in three major areas—in the Marikina Valley, the western shores of Laguna de Bay, and the Manila Bay coastal area to the north of Manila,” said the report submitted in July 1977 to then-Public Works and Highways chief Alfredo Juinio.

“We’ve told government all along [that] this would happen because of the flooding the same month in 1970,” Palafox said.

He said he was working for the government then when he and a group of researchers undertook this World Bank-funded study on a land-use plan that was finalized by Hong Kong-based consulting firm Freeman Fox and Associates.

Palafox cited a recommendation from the study that the government should monitor the Marikina Riverbank so that the water would not reach 90 meters. Likewise, no structure should have been allowed within nine meters from the riverbank, he added.

“Dahil hindi sinunod ’yun, parang massacre ang nangyari ,” he said.

The three-volume report also noted that “urban development is spreading into [these] areas which are, in their present state, unsuitable for development—either because they are low-lying and liable to flooding, or because development is without adequate facilities for the treatment and disposal of sewage [the norm in Manila] and so will continue to contribute to the severe pollution of areas, such as Laguna de Bay.”

The study added: “The unsuitable areas for development, where pressures are nevertheless considerable, are primarily the flat coastal areas to the north where extensive areas are liable to flooding and where increased pressures for reclamation are likely to further exacerbate this problem.”

Another is “the Marikina Valley, to the east, where the land is liable to flooding and where development with inadequate provision for the treatment and disposal of sewage is contributing to the severe pollution of Laguna de Bay and where flooding is a problem in the adjacent areas.”

Finally, the study said the pressure for development, but requiring control, includes “the western shores of Laguna de Bay where development without adequate facilities for the treatment and disposal of sewage is contributing to the severe pollution of Laguna de Bay and where flooding is a problem in the adjacent areas.”

“In order to avoid development contributing to longer-term flooding and water pollution, it is necessary that the short-term development is restricted in these areas. Only when remedial measures to deal with the problems have been implemented, should the development of these areas proceed on a significant scale,” the study said.

“Lessons are to be learned, for sure, but these have been taught three decades ago,” Palafox said.

__________________________

[B]Certain Metro Manila property prices expected to slump
Business World
http://www.bworld.com.ph/BW093009/content.php?id=054

PROPERTY PRICES in certain areas in Metro Manila that were hardest hit by floods triggered by Tropical Storm Ondoy are likely to fall, as developers and buyers reassess whether those locations are fit for their projects and their homes, respectively.

While analysts could not immediately say how much real estate prices in those areas — portions of Marikina City and Pasig City as well as several municipalities in Rizal province — would suffer, they were unanimous in saying that both buyers and developers would think twice before investing in those locations.

In a phone interview yesterday, Ramon Jose E. Aguirre, research manager at Colliers International, said people would likely prefer areas that are on higher ground after seeing what the rains did to those locations. "It would have negative impact not just on prices, but also the preference of peopleIt’s still vague how big the effect would be, but it’s obvious that the values of properties there are in danger [of dropping]...The new developments there could become hard sells."

Prince Christian R. Cruz, senior economist of online research house Global Property Guide, agreed that prices in those areas would suffer, but said it was still too early to say by how much.

Claro Cordero of Jones Lang La Salle, for his part, said property prices in Cainta and Marikina, which he placed at between P8,000 to P15,000 per square meter for commercial lots and P2,000 to P5,000 for residential lots, could dip by as much as 15%. "It won’t be immediate. Initially, it should be around 10% to 15% at most. That represents the bargaining power of the owner...He doesn’t have any option but to bring it down."

Mr. Cruz added that developers too could adopt a wait-and-see position, as the government could impose regulations for projects in flood-prone areas. "After the Cherry Hills [disaster in Antipolo] for example, government came out with stricter regulations for building foundation [for projects on sloped areas]...Now, [regulators might demand better] flood control systems," he said.

Mr. Cordero, meanwhile, said that those areas would be off the map for some investors for some time. "We were talking to some investors and, at this point, it was an eye-opener for them...It would eventually go back to normal. But in short term, they would take out Cainta and Marikina from their priorities," he said.

Officials of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations were not immediately available for comment.

Mr. Cruz said the government must also improve infrastructure, since developers’ investments would be for naught if flood waters could damage them as a result of poor drainage and sewerage systems.

Mr. Aguirre said property developments in hard-hit areas could slow as property firms review their options.

Now, they would think twice ...depende talaga sa movement ng government in uplifting sewerage and [flood control] infrastructure," he said.

[I][B]In the immediate term, Mr. Cordero said developers and those looking to buy homes can be expected to shun the flood-prone eastern areas of Metro Manila and prefer the southern areas instead. "If you are looking for hotspots for property development, it’s southern vs eastern Metro Manila...The loss from the east side would benefit developers on the south side south since projects there were barely affected," he said.

Mr. Cruz, however, said that given the scarcity of space in Metro Manila, property developers and buyers would eventually come back to the eastern areas. "The problem is if you don’t want to live there, where do you go?" he said, pointing out that aside from Marikina, the other places that were submerged were not flood-prone before.

Architect Felino Palafox, Jr., part of the team that wrote a study back in 1977 that cited the Marikina Valley as one of the areas unsuitable to property development, said the recent calamity should goad the government to undertake better-designed preventive steps.

"It will happen again. This is not the first time and this would not be the last time. Maybe the intensity of rainfall was the first, but the floods happened before," he said.

3cr

September 29th, 2009, 03:45 AM

Property developers don’t see rush to buy condos
Business World
http://www.bworld.com.ph/BW100109/content.php?id=102

PROPERTY DEVELOPERS are not expecting a sudden spike in demand for condominium units in the aftermath of the devastation brought by storm Ondoy at the weekend.

There should also be no adverse effect on the industry overall despite the devastation of many residential areas in low-lying cities and towns, because of the huge housing demand that remains untapped.

But developers and the government should start looking at precautionary measures for property projects, industry players and analysts said.

"If there is anything that we learned from this tragic incident, it is the need for us to be more prepared for contingency [measures during these types of calamities]," Anthony Charlemagne C. Yu of Andrew L. Tan-led Empire East Holdings, Inc. said.

While Ondoy affected "horizontal" projects, Mr. Yu said there should be no significant shift in the market.

He was addressing observations that home buyers would now choose condominiums over houses and lots.

Ayala Land, Inc. president Antonio T. Aquino said the country’s top real estate firm expected condominium sales to be "normal and not be affected."

"Land values in the affected areas will be depressed for a short period, then recover afterwards," he added.

Jaime E. Ysmael, Ayala Land chief finance officer, said the company was fortunate it did not have projects in devastated areas.

But while the disaster would not create more demand for condominiums, it would nonetheless influence the buying decisions of consumers who are now expected to be more wary in selecting locations.

"Housing demand is still there and there is still a huge backlog that needs to be addressed," Mr. Ysmael said.

Mr. Yu also said: "Housing is a basic necessity and the challenge faced by the most productive segments of our population remains adequate housing in places within the metropolis."

But "land values in the Philippines, as developed areas are considered, will continue to be very stable regardless of the adversities," he said, pointing out that the value of land is dictated by demand and supply.

With a growing population especially in the metropolitan area, demand for affordable housing would not slacken in the next two decades, Mr. Yu said.

"Affordable housing is not a necessity dictated by economic conditions; it is necessity in any economic milieu," he said.

CB Richard Ellis Philippines, Inc. director Victor J. Asuncion, for his part, said affected areas would have difficulty attracting tenants. But because Filipinos have short-term memories, Mr. Asuncion said the aversion would be temporary.

"As soon as the government has the roads fixed, the public will have a different perspective. But this time, the government and the property developers should have precautionary measures [whenever a calamity strikes]," he said.

Mr. Asuncion believes the crisis will create a new demand for projects on higher locations.

"On top of the existing original demand, there will be an increase in demand for new houses coming from these affected areas," he said.

"The lesson everyone should learn is that developers should respect the nature and should not alter the natural topography of the land."

RonnieR

September 29th, 2009, 05:58 AM

Any other pictures of flooding?

the flood at Burgos circle receded fast...so in BGC, it is okay. I was there at Serendra last night and had dinner with friends at Contis.

Considerable number of people were eating and strolling in BGC-High Street, although lesser number compared to the usual volume on a Monday night.

TheRick

September 29th, 2009, 08:04 AM

yes it's a case of too much water too soon. the water apparently subsides immediately after the rain, it didn't stayed. if there's a problem with drainage, water will stay! the problem with burgos area is that it's on the lowest part of a sloping terrain, so all the water rushes towards it.

what i can't believe, actually, is that there's an on-going discussion in another Fort thread that points the blame to this and that! discussions being that "we paid so much" that this should not happen. this is a global city. etc. etc. how can one even have that discussion when the whole metro is devastated. ang daming nasalanta. ang daming nawalan ng kabuhayan, even their loved ones. yet, one can chose to be that petty! how insensitive to think that BGC residents should deserve better than the rest of the metro just simple you paid more! last i heard, nabaha din naman parts ng correntian, ng valle verde, and other exclusive villages.

this is just my opinion. just need to vent.

Great point!

For me its not really about blaming someone but trying to find out if there is really MW/BGC can do to prevent this from happening again. If something like a blocked drainage due to construction contributed to flood then I hope they fix it. But the drainage system was really 100% working then it was really just too much water for the system to handle.

I never noticed that the burgos cirlce slopped down from 1st street from GH2 to Bellagio... It might be one of the lowest part of BGC... Here is one of the pics I took this is from Bellagio 1 facing GH2 on the 1st st... I'm just guessing that its about 5ft to 6ft drop...

It could very well be too much water at one of the lowest part of BGC...

http://www.readyforoccupancy.com/2009-105.JPG

kalbongdad

September 29th, 2009, 09:49 AM

a big lesson that needs to be learned....pag hindi pa ba naman tayo matuto ewan ko na lang.....

dunamis

September 29th, 2009, 10:33 AM

I saw FBDC people checking the drainage in Burgos Circle yesterday. Maybe they are working on some corrective actions to prevent flooding in the future. At least they are acting swiftly this time.

Yes we need to count our blessings. I don't complain anymore. My relatives in Marikina were almost wiped out if the rain did not stop. Everyone needs to be sober and help out because many Filipinos need our help.

3cr

September 29th, 2009, 09:28 PM

^^ Good to hear that they are working on it already! Yup we should be thankful and count our blessings talaga!
Maswerte pa rin tayo sa BGC kung tutuusin kumpara sa ibang lugar in and around Metro Manila na tinamaan ng husto.

Thanks for the scoop Rick! Sana nga! As a Fairways Tower investor, this is good and welcome news indeed! Our BGC view won't be blocked (too much then by buildings)! :)

I heard from the staff that the lot beside the Singapore Embassy will be occupied by the Dutch Embassy...

http://www.readyforoccupancy.com/2009-108.JPG

3cr

September 30th, 2009, 12:49 AM

St. Luke’s, Korean university ink deal on stem cell research
Business World
http://www.bworldonline.com/BW093009/content.php?id=043

The research partnership between St. Luke’s Medical Center and a Korean university will initially focus on stem cell therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but will expand later on to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

PRIVATE HOSPITAL St. Luke’s Medical Center has agreed with South Korea’s Hanyang University, the Hanyang University Hospital, as well as stem cell company Corestem to collaborate on research on stem cell therapy for "intractable neurodegenerative diseases" or diseases relating to the worsening of the cells of the brain and the spinal cord.

A memorandum of understanding was signed Monday by Jose F. G. Ledesma, president and chief executive officer of St. Luke’s and Chong Yang Kim, president of Hanyang University.

Dr. Filipinas F. Natividad, vice-president for research and biotechnology of the nonprofit health institution, said yesterday that under the agreement, the parties would cooperate on providing stem cell therapy for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease which causes muscle weakness throughout the body as nerve cells degenerate.

Medical experts are hoping stem cell research will provide therapy for the disease, which may eventually lead to the loss of the patient’s control over all voluntary movement.

Stem cells have the ability to transform into specialized cells and be developed into tissue or muscles, which can then be used to treat diseases. Research on stem cells has been controversial because of ethical disputes over human cloning, as well as the harvesting of stem cells from human embryo. But it holds promise for treating diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

"[St. Luke’s] will be providing the safe and secure environment for the investigation of the neurodegenerative disease of the patient. [St. Luke’s] will likewise make available medical equipment," Ms. Natividad said.

Hanyang University and Hanyang University Hospital, she said, would provide the training on how to administer therapy and the process stem cells.

Mark Pierre S. Dimamay, scientist at St. Luke’s Center for Stem Cell and Research, said Corestem would likewise assist in processing stem cells from the bone marrow of the patients and healthy donors.

"Healthy relatives of the patients are preferred as donors for the cells have to genetically match those of the patient’s," he said.

Ms. Natividad said the agreement likewise covers the exchange of medical practitioners from the two hospitals.

"The agreement will be valid for three years," she added.

Mr. Dimamay said the medical center is monitoring 50 to 60 cases of ALS.

"Initially, the agreement would be covering ALS. But later on, we would like to have discussions on expanding cooperation [on] the use of stem cell therapy [to] other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s," he said.

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that often impairs a person’s motor skills and speech.

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that is characterized by the progressive degenerative brain syndrome that affects the memory, thinking, behavior and emotion generally diagnosed on individuals over 65 years of age.

RonnieR

September 30th, 2009, 06:02 AM

^^ that's good news - Dutch Embassy in BGC

taken last 9/28
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/DSC05659.jpg

sloanesquare

September 30th, 2009, 06:15 AM

^^ that's good news - Dutch Embassy in BGC

taken last 9/28
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/DSC05659.jpg

SO DOES THIS REPLACE THIS POST FROM FEB 2008?

Congratuations to GW (Gibs and Co.) - read in the news paper that the 42 floor residential Module project with Korean developer Hyopan Land in BGC will be breaking ground soon as well as the announcement of their latest office tower project for the Norwegian shipping company Torvaid Klaveness Group also in BGC. It mentioned that the location will be in South Fort Boni area and situated on a "Y" crossroad (triangular shape lot? - the one along 5th Ave. and McKinley Parkway beside the Singaporean embassy kaya ito?)

Here's a brief description/excerpt...

This glassy building in Global City will be the shipping company's headquarters. The 20 level tower takes a visually compelling form with its crown shaped like a forward hull of a ship. It will be located on a lot situated on a "Y" crossroad along an excluive lot in Bonifacio South of booming BGC. "We're" proud to have been able to elegantly bend old traditions with new traditions with new innovations by designing a unique tower that keeps the form of a ship's bow yet wrapped in modern skin," said Arch. Daniel Terence O. Yu, GW's chief executive architect.

With 14,000SQM of premium business space, Klaveness office tower will be equipped with ammenities exclusive to floor tenants. It will also house a gym, restaurant row, and auditorium for private presentations and training facilities. Private landscaped gardens adorn the rooftop offices.

3cr

October 1st, 2009, 01:53 AM

Bonifacio Global City: Built with character, designed with soul
PERSPECTIVES By Chonx Tibajia
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=494201

Bonifacio Global City is a vibrant place 24/7.

Life in the city is a balancing act – and it starts with capturing the very soul of the city. Career, socialization, rest, leisure, education, worship, and chores are part of everyday life, so why shouldn’t they be part of where we live? Balanced cities are ones that provide the settings for balanced lives. It is the distinctive and exciting mix of live-work-play that gives these cities a sense of place and a strong urban character.

One city that has successfully created urban lifestyle equilibrium is Ayala’s Makati. The city dynamically adapts to the needs of its dwellers and evolves over time to afford its dwellers the balanced life that they desire. Only a few minutes away is the emerging business district that is successfully doing the same – Bonifacio Global City.

In 2003, Ayala Land, Inc. and Evergreen Holdings, Inc. of the Campos Group partnered to spearhead the development of Bonifacio Global City’s 240 hectares to become the vibrant home and lifestyle destination to many urban Filipinos.

Up until 1992, Bonifacio Global City was better known as Fort Bonifacio, a large military camp at the core of the metropolis. In a bold move the government privatized it in 1992 under the Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC), which embodies the public-private partnership of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority with Ayala Land and Evergreen Holdings.

Redefining The Geometry Of Success

Today, what was once a military camp is a masterplanned city patterned after successful global cities like New York and Barcelona. The first step in the new urban plan was to develop its central retail core, known as the hugely popular Bonifacio High Street.

A 400-linear-meter pedestrianized street, Bonifacio High Street is highlighted by a 40-meter-wide lushly landscaped retail promenade where culture, creativity and community are cultivated. Bonifacio High Street is the spine of what would eventually be kilometer-long, people-friendly commercial axis linking the east and west ends of BGC, with Market! Market! and the twin-wing Serendra development anchoring the east end with its direct connection to C-5, while the unified PSE (Philippine Stock Exchange), the luxury hotel Shangri-La, and the Mind Museum – a highly anticipated facility world-class science museum – anchoring the west end.

Office and mixed-use buildings are likewise integrated with the Bonifacio High Street via pedestrain walkways, allowing for active city living to thrive both north and south of BGC. To provide balance and urban texture to the bustling city, a generous distribution of green parks and pocket open spaces punctuate the built environment. Places of commerce likewise abound, allowing residents the convenience of living in a well-planned urban environment. These include St.Luke’s Medical Center, International School Manila, HSBC, and Bonifacio E-Services.

Building An Infrastructure For Business And Beauty

For Noel Kintanar, head of Commercial Operations of FBDC, Bonifacio Global City is not merely about developing a piece of land – the City works because it has been master planned and constantly adapts to emerging conditions and sustainable green technologies. Same is true for developer partner Ayala Land, Inc., which takes pride in incorporating green spaces into its master planned communities to allow for that work-play balance, as well as preserve the environment.

Today, BGC is planning a district-wide reuse water system as a cutting-edge sustainability project through Bonifacio Water Corporation, in partnership with Manila Water.

The supply of electricity throughout the city has been planned well in advance to accommodate future needs. Underground wiring ensures that there are no unsightly power linesto maintain a clear streetscape for the community. BGC also provides piped gas (through Bonifacio Gas Corporation, a joint venture between FBDC and Pilipinas Shell), which is both safe and convenient for locators.

For easy navigation around the City, 24 buses – 10 of which are Mercedes buses — serve as internal public transportation. A Bus Rapid Transit system is also in the works. Those who prefer to drive their own vehicles, however, will find delight in BGC’s adequate parking slots throughout the city.

The Bonifacio Global City Shield was a program launched by Bonifacio Global City Estate Association together with police authorities to provide 24-hour monitoring and roving security and police around the area.

Culture Makes A City Complete

No city is complete without culture. Along with the development of BGC comes the development of culture via its public arts program. Open spaces are enhanced by environmental art that serve as landmarks. Bonifacio High Street is peppered with modern art sculptures. Soon to open is the Bonifacio Arts Center, a performance venue in association with Ballet Philippines of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The rest of BGC is set to have more art funded by the lot owners and is managed by Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc.

Bonifacio Global City, with its central spine, the vibrant Bonifacio High Street, succeeds in giving dwellers with a sense of place – a sense of community and a wealth of lifestyle options that only a balanced life can provide. It builds on the lessons learned from the first successfully balanced city – Makati and imbues it with its own distinct flavour. The standard that BGC sets for urban development in the Philippines and Asia that brings its own brand of balance to urban living, sending all the right messages – safety, convenience, exclusivity, and enrichment.

BGC promotes pedestrian-friendliness, wide open spaces for recreation, sustainable development, a safe and secure environment, a rich variety of leisure options, and an exciting local arts and culture scene.

A dream community for passionate minds, there is always something exciting going on at every turn. Life is a balancing act, but at Bonifacio Global City, balance is an innate way of life. Balance and variety, vibrancy within a clear physical framework defines a district’s distinctive character and gives it a strong sense of place, a spirit of success and a robust urban character.

________________________

Bonifacio Global City connects to the metropolis and to the world
PERSPECTIVES By Marianne V. Go (The Philippine Star)
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=500483&publicationSubCategoryId=86

A central location excellent for business, a better lifestyle with less pollution, and more open spaces for residents and proximity to Makati’s Central Business District (MCBD) are what Bonifacio Global City (BGC) has to offer.

BGC is in the center of Metro Manila with direct access to the south through C-5 and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). C-5 also connects to the east via Ortigas, and to the north through EDSA, which of course connects to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

Additionally and very strategically, BGC is just a stone’s throw away from the country’s international and domestic gateways of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Creating A Bastion Of Business

The 240-hectare Bonifacio Global City was formerly known as Fort Bonifacio. It was a large military camp (in fact, the largest) in the metropolis. The government privatized it in 1992 under the Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC). A development partner, Bonifacio Land Corporation (BLC) immediately started to master plan it as Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

Bonifacio Global City offers wide roadways, state-of-the-art facilities, and underground fiber optic communication cables. The district also has the metropolis’ most modern water system in the country, an extensive underground LPG piping system and drainage detention structure that can hold 22 million liters of water.

In 2003 Ayala Land, Inc., and Evergreen Holdings, Inc. of the Campos Group acquired BLC to push the development of BGC to new levels.

The High Life On High Street

Bonifacio High Street is a 400-meter-long, 40-meter-wide landscaped promenade, which forms the central linear spine of what will be eventually be a kilometer-long, pedestrian-friendly link between BGC’s east and west ends — which will have a complex including the Philippine Stock Exchange, the Shangri-La Hotel and the Mind Museum, a world-class science museum that will break ground this November. Bonifacio High Street is lined on both sides with exciting options for good food, personal pampering, select shopping and lifestyle shops.

Connections are what BGC is all about and internally each and every block in the new urban plan is linked to ensure that vehicular and pedestrian flows are unimpeded, and enhanced by shade trees, and green open spaces.

BGC is, of course, more than just connections between blocks and districts, says Noel B. Kintanar, head of Commercial Operations of Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation. This “global city” works because it has a dynamic master plan that has flexibility to cater to the needs of locators or investors, the infrastructure to support all these and the centrality to ensure the quickest interface both with the rest of Metro Manila as well as in cyber space.

Internal public transportation is part of the whole package of urban amenities. Kintanar highlighted BGC’s 24 state-of-the-art shuttle buses providing 24-hour service. A mass transit system through a Bus Rapid Transit project is also being studied to allow for even better and quicker shuttle commutes.

Private cars are not forgotten as generous parking areas are provided outside and inside existing developments of Bonifacio High Street, Serendra, and Market! Market! complex. Traffic management is enhanced by a corps of local government unit (LGU) deputized enforcers who are trained professionally.

Locate Locally, Connect Globally

There is no question that for investors, residents or business locators BGC’s global access will quickly translate to global success. The city continues to grow and by 2012, it will double in size and it will have 2.6 million square meters of building floor area that is half of what Makati is today. BGC’s accessibility also translates to sustainability, as this ensures the least amount of travel, time and energy expended for any transaction. Finally its proximity to the Makati CBD is a further guarantee of the value that it offers.

A good business environment is predicated on being in touch with partners, customers and suppliers. Physically and through cyberspace, BGC provides a fully networked option with room in the near future for technology and physical urban design improvement as it grows to fulfill its vision of business and social vibrancy.

Ensuring vibrant success from centrality, accessibility, and sustainability are the hallmarks of Ayala Land’s projects and endeavors with partners and stakeholders. Like the original Makati development, BGC and, further south, Nuvali, are all premised on these attributes for success. Connectivity is the key Ayala Land uses to unlock the potential of its developments. From this perspective, you’re always in the center of action with BGC.

3cr

October 1st, 2009, 03:13 AM

Shang Properties net income up 10% for 1H (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=504143&publicationSubCategoryId=76)
PhilStar
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=504143&publicationSubCategoryId=76

MANILA, Philippines - Shang Properties, Inc., the real estate development arm of the Kuok Group in the Philippines, posted a 10 percent increase in its income for the first six months of the year. Net income rose from P400 million in 2008 to P447 million in 2009 despite the economic uncertainty that prevailed in the first half. The increase is attributable to higher lease incomes from both the Shangri-La Plaza mall and The Enterprise Center, totaling P777 million for the first six months.

In addition, sales of residential condominiums from the Company’s latest project, The St. Francis Shangri-La Place, continued at a fast pace. This P5 billion, twin tower 60-storey project, located within its 8.6 hectare property in Ortigas Center, is set for completion this year with only a few units remaining for sale.

In view of the company’s exemplary performance, SPI’s Board of Directors recently declared cash dividends in the amount of P 0.031 per share to stockholders of record as of Sept. 2, 2009. The dividend is to be paid on or before September 15, 2009. Including the dividend paid in March of this year, total dividends paid in 2009 now amount to P0.061 per share.

Other investments of the Kuok Group in the Philippines include the Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts - - - Makati Shangri-La, Edsa Shangri-La, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu, Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa, as well as the Shangri-La at the Fort, which is currently under development.

Upcoming developments include the expansion of the Shangri-La Plaza mall as well as another residential project scheduled for groundbreaking this year.

RonnieR

October 1st, 2009, 04:57 AM

^^ Yes, i saw the on-going digging/excavation at Shang The Fort :)

pau_p1

October 1st, 2009, 10:23 AM

madalas nga daw na parang pool yun pag umuulan.. i wonder kung gaano kataas tubig dun nung Ondoy...

august88boy

October 1st, 2009, 01:10 PM

hope this coming supertyphoon won't bring destructive floods :ohno:
many people have already suffered much from ondoy

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/01/09/pepeng-could-be-super-typhoon-pagasa

Planning Democracy

October 2nd, 2009, 03:02 AM

saan part ng BGC nag baha?

sloanesquare

October 2nd, 2009, 04:51 AM

to some it may be trivial but to me to see the NEW HIGH POST lighting on the intersection of McKinley and 5th Avenue is another piece of incremental information why The Fort is eating in on Makati's turf and why Ayala Land needed to be a part of this development.

As i already commented, Buendia has just turned on its new centre island lighting which the street does not need . There are other streets in Makati desperately in need of these lights and the electricity budget .

RonnieR

October 2nd, 2009, 04:52 AM

saan part ng BGC nag baha?

Burgos Circle lang. Last night, we had dinner at Dell near Burgos circle. I saw some workers there working the drainage. According to my friend from Megaworld, the flood receded naman daw faster than in other parts of the metro. Further, he said that Megaworld is addressing the problem on drainage at Burgos Circle.

RonnieR

October 2nd, 2009, 04:53 AM

to some it may be trivial but to me to see the NEW HIGH POST lighting on the intersection of McKinley and 5th Avenue is another piece of incremental information why The Fort is eating in on Makati's turf and why Ayala Land needed to be a part of this development.

I noticed these tower lights installed near STI and Market 2X. Good...:cheers:

makoy731

October 2nd, 2009, 06:38 AM

I noticed these tower lights installed near STI and Market 2X. Good...:cheers:

can someone please post pictures of these lights?

sloanesquare

October 2nd, 2009, 07:55 AM

can someone please post pictures of these lights?
pictures should be at night to show that they actually illuminate. the problem with a lot of our lights like Ayala Avenue, or the area in front of Shang Makati,or corner Arnaiz Pasay Rd and Edsa is that there are lights but you cant see a thing

michael677

October 2nd, 2009, 02:48 PM

I noticed these tower lights installed near STI and Market 2X. Good...:cheers:

at last count, there are 4 intersections in bgc with these tower lights. another is at the intersection of rizal drive and 32nd street where you have St Lukes and Mercedes Benz! :)

i think they should put at c5 northbound entrance also.. so dark there

sloanesquare

October 4th, 2009, 10:06 AM

just noticed a fenced and bannered lot ready to go behind icon plaza and global one building...RCBC Savings Corporate Centre

IsaRic

October 5th, 2009, 04:54 AM

hi, just wondering, where can i access the previous threads?

RonnieR

October 5th, 2009, 07:15 AM

can someone please post pictures of these lights?

sorry but no photos....the lights are similar to C5 elevated U turn areas...bright.

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/8894/lif7hires.jpg
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=494201&publicationSubCategoryId=86

RonnieR

October 5th, 2009, 09:19 AM

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/BGC-3.jpg

3cr

October 5th, 2009, 09:45 PM

i passed by serendra and saw diggings at the pedestrian lane at the rotunda. looks like theryre installing pedestrian traffic lights ! :cheers: good move by ayala! so this one plus the ones theyre currently installing over at ayala center... hope this creates a ripple effect and spreads over other parts of manila. coz currently majority of pedestrian lights are busted.

^^ Cool! With more and more cars passing through in McKinley Parkway, this pedestrian traffic light from Serendra to MarketMarket (and vice-versa) has been sorely needed. It's been so hard to cross before because the vehicles don't really stop for pedestrians so it's great news that they have finally decided to install one na... :okay: :okay:

3cr

October 5th, 2009, 10:05 PM

'Gov't, private developers liable for flood damage'
ABS-CBN News
http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/09/30/09/govt-private-developers-liable-flood-damage

MANILA - Government agencies and private developers are jointly liable for the massive loss of life and property in several Metro Manila cities for practicing poor urban planning and allowing commercial and residential structures to be built in flood-prone areas, according to "green" architect and urban planner Felino Palafox Jr.

Palafox said a 1977 World Bank-funded study identified Marikina Valley, the western shores of Laguna de Bay, and the Manila Bay coastal area as among development areas that should prepare for flooding, earthquakes and possible changes in topography.

The Metro Manila Transport, Land Use and Development Planning Project (Metroplan), which was finalized by Hong Kong-based consulting firm Freeman Fox and Associates, has been used as a blueprint by urban planning developers and various government agencies and urban planners. Unfortunately, he said corruption and lack of planning has led to the shelving of some of the plan's recommendations.

"You see the irony here. National government agencies are aware that there is a flooding level of so many meters, then another national government agency would approve subdivision plans for only nine-meter high houses. There are about 32 signatures to obtain just to do a development project. It's like an obstacle course," he said in an ANC interview last Tuesday.

Proposed Parañaque spillway (in red) to flush out the excess water to the Laguna Bay and South China Sea

He said the Metroplan addressed flood-mapping in Metro Manila, specifically after the massive typhoon in 1970. He said the Metroplan included the construction of the Manggahan Floodway, which would divert floodwaters from reaching Metro Manila by diverting the water to the Laguna Lake.

"There was supposed to be a Parañaque spillway to flush out the excess water to the Laguna Bay and South China Sea, but this was never done. It was part of the recommendation," he said.

Palafox said the study recommended the monitoring of the Marikina Riverbank so that the water would not reach 90 meters. Likewise, no structure should have been allowed within 9 meters from the riverbank, he added.

The architect said he is currently working with Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando on several development projects in the city. He said that in Marikina, structures should be built above 17 meters which is above the maximum flood level of the city.

This is the reason why SM Marikina, which he helped design, was built on stilts, with the lower level of the mall used only for parking and all the shops on higher levels.

"In Marikina, instead of nine-meter high buildings you go upward and build a boulevard with dikes. All subdivisions should go medium-rise or high-rise and there should no longer be individual houses. It should be mixed use. You live upstairs, you work in the middle and you shop downstairs, just like Paris," he said.

Manila like Paris

1970's study already showed low-lying areas in Metro Manila are prone to flooding - Palafox

Palafox said that in 1905, American architect Daniel Burnham envisioned building Manila like the city of Paris. "He said it should be designed like Paris beside the River Seine, like Manila beside Pasig River. He said the esteros of Manila could be like the canals of Venice. We were alright until the 1940s when the Americans left and then we adopted wrong models of urban planning," he said.

As an architect, he said he often tells potential clients that they should practice due diligence and look at the 100-year flood history of a potential development area before starting construction. He lamented, however, that some short-sighted clients would only look at the 25-year flood history of an area since the planned structures are not built to last.

"We are always reacting to crisis. It bothered me when I saw these reports and pictures and people are saying it's an act of God. It's not. It's us not following the plans and proposals. If you are an urban planner, an environmental planner, these have been planned as early as 1905," he said.

He said that to address the problem of flooding, the government should consider "vertical urbanism" and build more high-rises instead of "horizontal urbanism."

He criticized the lack of coordination among government agencies and cited the EDSA corridor as a prime example of how urban planning has failed in the Philippines.

"I did a study in Harvard on the EDSA corridor on how not to do a city. You have high-transit stations surrounded by low-gated communities and low-density military camps. How do you make people walk to it?" he said.

He said that to address the problem of climate change and future flooding in the Philippines, urban planners should start redesigning cities in the country by looking at the lessons of the past and seeing what other countries are doing.

"In a crisis like this, it's an opportunity to be creative and learn. Technology can address these problems," he said.

3cr

October 5th, 2009, 10:31 PM

Storm damage has dampening effect on property market
By BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT
October 2, 2009, 11:08am
Manila Bulletin

The damage to real estate caused by typhoon in Metro Manila and nearby areas has a dampening effect to some extent on investors in the property market in those affected areas.

This was the assessment made by Jaime Ysmael, senior vice-president and chief finance officer of Ayala Land Inc., on the impact of the flooding in those areas on the property market.Ysmael is also the president of the Asian Public Real Estate Association (APREA).

“It will dampen the interest of investors which is a natural reaction but we cannot be sure if it is a permanent thing because people forget,” Ysmael said.

On the part of ALI as a developer, Ysmael said that the geological location of the property that they are planning to develop is very important in their decision making.

“We are very conscious of location and geological location of our properties. We make sure that customers who buy properties from us are not subjected to that kind of disaster. We are quite deliberate in choosing location and with the disaster we have to monitor closely,” Ysmael said.

ALI, the property arm of the Ayala Corp., is the country’s biggest property developer and surprisingly it has not undertaken a development in those affected areas although it has few developments in the eastern part of Metro Manila but which have been spared from the wrath of typhoon Ondoy.

Ysmael further noted the local property market has been posting growth in the past four years. The growth has been sustained even with the impact of the global financial crisis.

“The trends are consistent although the third quarter is raining but the overall number is still good,” Ysmael said. “We’ve never been into recession and there no property bubble to speak of, prices are stable and in fact some are increasing,” Ysmael said. The underlying reason, he said, is there is an increased demand for mid-range housing there is liquidity for the high-end sector.

3cr

October 5th, 2009, 10:58 PM

The BGC boom continues and it definitely looks like it's really just a matter of time now. At the rate it's going, BGC will definitely surpass Ortigas/Mandaluyong for the no.#2 spot in the coming years especially once the unified stock exchange moves in the neighborhood. The article said possibly as soon as 3 years time! Great news indeed! :banana::banana::banana:

Bonifacio Global City expects to equal Makati space by 2012
http://www.bworldonline.com/BW092109/content.php?id=046

THE BONIFACIO Global City expects to become as big as Makati in terms of floor area in three years, the developer of the former military reservation in Taguig said, pointing to the mushrooming of condominiums, corporate headquarters, and retail businesses.

This would be a huge change from what used to be viewed as just an alternate route to the Makati central business district (CBD).

In a statement, the Fort Bonifacio Development Corp. (FBDC) said it expects Bonifacio Global City’s gross floor area to hit 2.6 million square meters (sq. m.) by 2012 or more than twice the figure today. Citing various studies, FBDC said it expects the supply of residential units to reach 8,442 units — at par with Makati’s and surpassing Ortigas’ 7,000 units.

Property analysts have projected Bonifacio Global City to come out of depressed prices first. Rates in Fort Bonifacio fell by a fifth to P550 per sq. m. in the second quarter.

This was slower compared to the 42% drop in the price of prime offices in the Makati district to P700 per sq. m. from April to June. Property experts expect land prices at Fort Bonifacio to go up in the future as it dethrones Ortigas Center in Pasig as an alternative CBD three to five years from now.

"The vision is to create an ideal and balanced lifestyle with sufficient time for work and recreation. By creating an environment that fosters such a balance, we hope to attract locators who will contribute further to this goal," Noel Kintanar, FBDC head of commercial operations, said.

FBDC is a joint venture between Ayala Land, Inc. and Campos-led Evergreen Holdings, Inc., as well as the government’s Bases Conversion and Development Authority. Ayala Land and Evergreen bought the controlling stake in the property firm from Metro Pacific Investments Corp. in 2003.

With the opening of the Bonifacio High Street commercial center, FBDC said the development is spreading northward through the "City Center North" area, which has 14 commercial lots that are around 2,000 sq.m. each.

Aside from City Center North, other developments include a science museum — The Mind Museum — which is expected to draw 250,000 visitors annually upon completion in 2011.

"This will be in addition to plans to expand and upgrade the transport system and other systems, infrastructure, and amenities that will ensure a city that works," FBDC said.

Fort Bonifacio dates back to the American colonial period, when the US government acquired land in Taguig for military purposes. After Philippine independence, the area, known then as Fort William McKinley, was renamed Fort Bonifacio and became the home of the Philippine Army and later, the Philippine Marines.

When Fort Bonifacio land was privatized in 1995 and placed under the administration of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, the whole area was restored to Taguig.

High-end residential condominiums include Essensa, Serendra, Pacific Plaza and Regent Parkway, Forbeswood Heights, and Kensington. Office buildings include Net Square, Bonifacio Technology Center, the HSBC Building, Hanjin Philippines, and the Singapore Chancery.

More projects are set to rise on the area, which include the six-star, 60-storey Shangri-La at the Fort which would have 500 hotel rooms and 234 apartments. It is scheduled to open in 2012.

The Philippine Stock Exchange is planning to build a unified headquarters at Fort Bonifacio, leaving its offices in Makati and Ortigas.

The 14-storey St. Luke’s Medical Center, which will have 600 beds and an 11-storey medical arts building with 366 doctors’ offices, will open this year.

Fort Bonifacio will also become the site of the country’s tallest building, the 66-storey skyscraper Federal Land Tower costing P20 billion. — Kristine Jane R. Liu

3cr

October 6th, 2009, 12:15 AM

Urban-devt programs’ review up
Business Mirror
Written by Estrella Torres & Butch Fernandez / Reporters
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/top-news/16915-urban-devt-programs-review-up.html

MALACAÑANG has ordered a comprehensive review of urban planning and development programs that will integrate disaster-risk reduction measures amid threats of more flash floods and fierce typhoons as part of the impact of climate change.

Presidential Deputy Spokesman Anthony Golez admitted on Monday that local governments were remiss in the urban planning and development programs that led to massive flooding in Metro Manila and Rizal when storm Ondoy dumped record rainfall on September 26.

At the same time, Sen. Francis Escudero prodded government authorities to revisit earthquake-preparedness plans for Metro Manila, particularly in areas traversed by the West Valley fault, also known as the Marikina fault line.

“Even as we try to cope with the devastation caused by Ondoy, let us not make the fatal mistake of forgetting that dire warnings have been made regarding a possible big quake in Metro Manila,” Escudero said.

The senator aired the warning after at least 1,100 people were killed by two successive earthquakes in Sumatra, Indonesia, on Wednesday and Thursday last week.

He cited a 2002 study funded by the Japanese government which, he said, showed that “if a 7 to 9 magnitude quake triggered by the West Valley fault line hits Metro Manila today, it could be unlike any tragedy seen or imagined in Metro Manila.”

According to Escudero, the Metropolitan Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study includes 100 actions plans that would mitigate the impact on areas expected to suffer most from the projected quake.

“We need not reinvent the wheel. Let us see what our resources are and find out how we can address the concerns raised in the study. Our people have suffered more than enough from ad-hoc governance,” the senator added.

He said a worst-case scenario in the study says that up to 35,000 Metro Manila residents would likely be killed and over 3 million others displaced by a big quake. It also projects that tens of thousands of homes and buildings would collapse from the temblor.

The West Valley fault line is one of three cutting across Metro Manila. The two others are the Manila Bay and Manila Trench fault lines.

The last big earthquake that hit Metro Manila and the rest of central and northern Luzon in July 1990 killed 1,700 people. Reports also said the intensity 7.7 quake hurt 3,000 persons and displaced 148,000 people. Property and infrastructure damage was placed at $2 billion.

‘Failures there for years’

Meanwhile, Golez said failures in effective urban planning were already there for many years. He emphasized the need for remedial measures on urban planning.

“[But] the [problems in] urban planning...[were] not invented by the present or the sitting mayor or the sitting local officials. It has been there from the very start. So it’s hard to put the blame on anybody as of the moment,” said Golez in a press briefing on Monday.

“One very important ingredient in coming out with an urban-planning and development [plan] would be putting into consideration disaster risk-reduction measures,” he said, adding that local policies and ordinances must now integrate specific measures on disaster-risk reduction.

Golez, meanwhile, said the government would also strengthen measures to ensure sustainable environment, particularly on the approved mining and logging projects to prevent extensive catastrophes due to typhoons.

He said any decisions of the national and local governments in scrapping mining and logging operations should be based on the state’s policy to implement safe mining practices.

Golez said President Arroyo has ordered government agencies, particularly the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, to facilitate massive cleanup and rehabilitation works of Metro Manila, Rizal and the Northern Luzon provinces devasted by Typhoon Pepeng.

Meanwhile, the Nacionalista Party (NP), led by its standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar, raised the need to seriously establish a comprehensive climate-change adaptation program that will prepare the country for the catastrophic impact of typhoons, flash floods and drought.

The NP conducted rescue operations last weekend after Typhoon Ondoy submerged Metro Manila and Rizal that killed close to 300 and affected 600,000.

NP spokesman and former Cavite representative Gilbert Remulla said while the government and concerned citizens have been widely engaged in relief operations to alleviate the miseries of displaced families in evacuation sites, a more strategic and comprehensive response must be put in place.

NP officials and youth volunteers are now focused on providing relief assistance to victims of Ondoy, particularly in the hard-to-reach areas in Cainta, Pasig and Marikina and Rizal province and other affected areas. The NP is likewise poised to provide assistance in the Northern Luzon provinces hit by Super Typhon Pepeng.

Remulla said the extent of devastation of typhoon Ondoy should teach us lessons to urgently establish climate change-mitigation and adaptation programs to ensure that there would be no more casualties and lesser damages to crops and properties.

He added that the Philippines experiences an average of 10-12 typhoons every year and belongs to the countries that sit on the Pacific Ring of fire where frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.

The NP official cited the latest findings of the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) that the pace and scale of climate change are now outstripping science predictions as the impact are coming sooner and faster.

The preliminary findings from the new World Bank study on the Economics of Climate Change, meanwhile, estimates that the costs of adaptation to climate change by developing countries will reach $100 billion a year for the period 2010 to 2050.

Philippine experts said the government would need an estimated P3 billion to P7 billion annual budget to implement climate change-adaptation programs to ensure sufficient agriculture products supply for the rest of the population.

Go Global

October 6th, 2009, 02:44 AM

sloanesquare

October 6th, 2009, 05:14 AM

What's the use of having more reviews, studies, research and what-have-you? What the government needs to do is follow through with recommendations from previous studies that have already been done concerning the impact of urban growth.

Refer to Palafox's interview: Business Mirror
Written by Dennis D. Estopace / Reporter
Monday, 28 September 2009
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/hom...odpalafox.html

I liken this move to creating more laws without enforcement. What would the point be then ??

thats because in this country we pretend that earthquakes, typhoons, floods, wear and tear of buildings, potholes, squatters only occur as frequently as snow happens in the philippines...

so when they do happen the immortal words uttered are; PAGARALAN NATIN MABUTI ITO..

there is nothing to study..the squatters in malabon are below sea level..the squatters in cavite were always going to throw their rubbish on the Bay, payatas was always going to collapse on the houses below.

do people realise there is a law criminally charging mayors and councillors who allow indigents living in dangerous areas including the riles....

this came out during the payatas deaths in 2001.

hahaha..theres a law......

dancethingy

October 6th, 2009, 01:49 PM

^^ A law that could prosecute practically all Mayors in METRO MANILA!!! FABULOUS.....

dvbaicrviser

October 6th, 2009, 02:26 PM

IsaRic

October 6th, 2009, 09:37 PM

hi, just wondering, where can i access the previous threads?

Just want to bump my question :banana: anyone?:ohno:

3cr

October 7th, 2009, 01:37 AM

^^ You can click on this link below to see the last thread. Hope this helps... :)

Link to the last Taguig City and BGC (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=652353&page=405) thread. :colgate:

Waldenstrom

October 7th, 2009, 03:43 AM

Just want to bump my question :banana: anyone?:ohno:
it's under the Thread Archives (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=760&order=desc&page=2) section :)

RonnieR

October 7th, 2009, 04:33 AM

it's under the Thread Archives (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=760&order=desc&page=2) section :)

it's good to see you back :0

IsaRic

October 7th, 2009, 08:31 AM

RonnieR

October 7th, 2009, 12:36 PM

Thanks!

Hey, are there any plans for a subway system in BGC (Or for the whole Metro for that matter)? Those streets are pretty narrow, i can imagine it being congested in a few years time. What other modes of public transport are there other than roadways?

Current:

BGC buses to/from Makati CBD
e-trikes around BGC
jeepneys but with certain/limited areas only.

Plan:
BRT to connect to Makati CBD
MRT line

leechtat

October 8th, 2009, 11:41 AM

Sana lahat sila pag-aalisin at kung pwede lang, isang Super Mayor muna ang humawak sa buong Metro Manila sa loob ng 5-10 years. At kapag naiayos na ang lahat ng mga malalaking problema gaya ng squatters at infrastructures, ibalik uli ang mga local units.

Si Bayani Fernando o Richard Gordon ang dapat sa katungkulang ito. :)

^^ i would vote for this if possible... go BF!! and good to know about that law... who's metro manila mayor's head shall we chop off first?

kratos1211

October 8th, 2009, 12:16 PM

Thanks!

Hey, are there any plans for a subway system in BGC (Or for the whole Metro for that matter)? Those streets are pretty narrow, i can imagine it being congested in a few years time. What other modes of public transport are there other than roadways?

Fort Boni Bus route

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2673/3992749352_6e29a7f470_b.jpg
from Fort Boni Website (http://www.fbdcorp.com/)

superpilyoako

October 9th, 2009, 06:21 PM

FB ang banner ngaun ah. Congrats FB!!

alheaine

October 10th, 2009, 02:03 PM

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/headers/10.jpg

^^
:banana:congratz...:lol:

RonnieR

October 10th, 2009, 02:21 PM

^^ parang last month or just recently lang, FB was the banner....

superpilyoako

October 10th, 2009, 05:40 PM

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/headers/10.jpg

^^
:banana:congratz...:lol:

that's LISBON, i'm referring to the one before that...:lol:

sick_n_tired

October 12th, 2009, 04:20 AM

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2641/4000986249_b93e2ddacb.jpg

doublex

October 12th, 2009, 05:49 AM

Something should be done about the intersection of 28th Street and 3rd Ave (near Net Square). Almost every week there seems to be at least one nasty vehicular collision here. I saw another one today. Does anyone know if there are plans to put a traffic lights here? Or speed bumps? Or will the section of 28th Street from 3rd ave to Rizal Drive be eventually taken up by the Mind Museum?

sloanesquare

October 12th, 2009, 07:25 AM

something should be done about the traffic lights in front of SOMA....on McKinley parkway going to Serendra. Its been 3 months since I used it ( and I promised myself I would avoid it) and its like Recto.....5 lanes (2 countertflow) with the 2 counter flow lanes turning right towards Sampaguita Bridge.

WHY? green light lasts 20 seconds and no marshalls visible.

NICE JOB

TheEngineer

October 13th, 2009, 02:38 PM

Something should be done also with the area/s flooded at the height of Ondoy typhoon.
BGC would have been remarkably unique had it escaped this flooding incident, being able to withstood the deluge while the whole of metro was submerged in water.

RonnieR

October 14th, 2009, 08:39 AM

Good news: Mind Museum is set for construction (excavation). Ground breaking very soon. (reliable source).

RonnieR

October 14th, 2009, 09:25 AM

Another good news:

Sun Life is LEED tower. I heard it's 26 floors or more. There are heavy equipments at the site.

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/SunLifeBGCphoto2.jpg

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/SunLIfeBGC.jpg

RonnieR

October 14th, 2009, 09:26 AM

10/14
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/TheFortphoto2.jpg

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/TheFortphoto4.jpg

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/TheFortphoto5.jpg

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/TheFortphoto6.jpg

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/TheFortphoto3.jpg

IsaRic

October 14th, 2009, 10:38 AM

Liking the darker color. Gives it an Art Deco feel. Im getting tired of seeing white paint!

ruralvillage

October 16th, 2009, 01:30 AM

Piped-in gas in BGC removes risks posed by sub-standard cylinders (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=514491&publicationSubCategoryId=76)
(The Philippine Star (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=514491&publicationSubCategoryId=76)) Updated October 16, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The risks to consumers of fires and explosions posed by sub-standard LPG cylinders in many parts of the country were recently highlighted with the filing of HB 5942 or the LPG Bill now being deliberated in the Philippine legislature. These risks, point out LPG experts, can easily be eliminated through a number of ways including the use of piped-in gas lines such as those found in Bonifacio Global City.

According to the Association of (LPG) Cylinder Manufacturers, Inc., as many as 900 incidents of fire that claimed scores of lives from 2001 to 2004 were traced to exploding gas tanks. The association pointed out that cylinders that had been junked in other countries, smuggled into the Philippines, then re-used by unscrupulous dealers, were likely to pose such dangers. Traders who use substandard cylinders now account for a significant share of the LPG market in the Philippines where high energy costs have prompted users to seek alternative fuels.

A testimony to advanced technology, exploding substandard tanks and other related risks have practically been eliminated in Bonifacio Global City and the commercial area of Eastwood City, where piped-in LPG is predominantly used. Bonifacio Gas Corporation operates in these two areas, linking residents and restaurants in a reticulated system of pipes that conform to international standards. The company is further seeking to expand its service in other communities.

The systems utilize earthquake-proof polyethylene pipes with leak-free electro-fused interconnections for distributing gas. From a centralized tank farm, the fuel is released in vapor form – and not in liquid form — into the network. In liquid form, gas expands 250 times when vented into the atmosphere. Distributing gas in vapour form is thus safer since the presence of gas is greatly minimized, says Serge Bernal, general manager of Bonifacio Gas.

For these reason, a number of building owners have banned the use of LPG cylinders and opted to tap into a piped-in network. They have also realized that a piped-in system does not need to maintain gas pressures at the high levels necessitated by cylinders. The higher the pressure used, the greater the danger posed by a leak because more gas will be pushed out or vented into the atmosphere. Bernal says the Bonifacio Gas system maintains a pressure of only 17 psi compared to the 80-100 psi needed by cylinders.

RonnieR

October 16th, 2009, 03:09 AM

Megaworld to invest P15.6B in Bonifacio

By Doris Dumlao, Abigail L. Ho
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 19:50:00 09/16/2009

Filed Under: Construction & Property

MEGAWORLD CORP. plans to invest at least P15.6 billion over the next 20 years to develop the 8.38-hectare property in North Bonifacio into a mixed use complex.

Megaworld can now prepare its investment plan after it passed the Bases Conversion and Development Authority’s post-qualification process, making the real estate giant the official winning bidder for the project.

Megaworld was recently awarded the right to develop the prime properties as a joint venture partner of state-owned BCDA.

In turn, BCDA will be paid with an upfront cash of P1.06 billion plus P306.62 million in annual revenues for the next 12 years, the property company disclosed yesterday.

The property is in the northern district of Fort Bonifacio and extends all the way to Kalayaan Avenue. It is close to a school zone that covers the British, Japanese and American international schools.

Megaworld bagged the project with a winning bid of P3.15 billion or P37,603.69 per square meter.

Excluding areas which cannot be put up for sale, such as those allotted for open space and roads, the bid valued the property at close to P80,000 a square meter.

The Gokongweis’ property development arm Robinsons Land Corp. challenged Megaworld in the bidding.

But because Megaworld was the original proponent of the unsolicited project, it simply had to exercise its option to match the improved offer made by the Gokongweis.

Megaworld thus increased its bid by 13 percent from the initial offer of P2.7891 billion or about P33,283.88 per square meter, which it submitted early this year.

In a statement issued yesterday, BCDA vice president for business development Aileen An Zosa said the signing of the joint venture agreement between the government firm and Megaworld was slated for Oct. 8.

However, the actual signing would only take place upon approval of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel of the draft joint venture contract, she said.

Retro

October 18th, 2009, 11:40 PM

Mind museum will be RP’s 1st world-class science museum
Written by James Mendoza / Researcher
Sunday, 18 October 2009 Business Mirror

CHILDREN and children-at-heart were awed as they gathered last week at the NBC Tent in Bonifacio Global City to witness the unveiling of the plan for the Mind Museum in Taguig that introduced to the public what has been promised as the country’s “first world-class science museum.”

A brainchild of Bonifacio Art Foundation Inc. (Bafi), the Mind Museum “is our answer to the call of the times,” Antonio Aquino, president of Bafi, said.

“Study after study has shown that if we were to make a case for a better economic and social future for our children, we have to have a strong foundation in the sciences,” Aquino said.

He said the responsibility does not rest on scientists and universities alone.

Manuel Blas II, managing director of the Mind Museum, said, “Since we began, we have been asking the question, ‘What if we had our own science museum?’”

He explained that the Philippines has not had something like this before, even if other countries have had theirs for over a hundred years already.

He said the idea gained positive response from many sectors, including a number of big companies.

“It was indeed a very encouraging sign, since this is a billion-peso project and our good ideas and intentions would never take off without the financial backing that we needed.”

The museum’s projected cost is P1 billion. The funding came from donations from individuals and companies “who have adopted the cause as part of their corporate social-responsibility programs.” Blas said they began the fundraising in 2007.

“As of today, we have already reached 83 percent of our target,” he said.

The museum will rise on a 12,000-square-meter site at JY Campos Park in Bonifacio High Street. It will have more than 175 interactive exhibits in five galleries and a science-themed park outside.

Its unique architecture is designed for functionality and sustainability. For instance, it has an especially curved roof designed for efficient rain collection.

The Mind Museum’s future curator, Maria Isabel Garcia, gave the visitors a virtual walk-through of the museum. She said the building is a “living space that has mysterious cavities, exciting chambers, a meandering bridge, and even its own version of a looping highway.”

Upon arrival, visitors will be greeted by a robot at the lobby. The Main Corridor, she explained, “will initially dispel notions that science is cold by giving [visitors] playfully elegant projected multimedia renditions of the 10 most beautiful experiments in science.

It will also feature an atrium, called the Hall of Philippine Science. Garcia said it will “showcase our efforts in conservation science, sustainable communities, science education, science as a profession, and a special exhibit on rice.”

The museum is divided into five main galleries. The first gallery, the Universe Gallery, will tell the story of the universe’s “expanding and accelerating immensity.” The gallery will also house a planetarium, Garcia said.

The Earth Gallery houses a cast from real fossils of the “most complete T. Rex ever unearthed.” The gallery will give visitors “4.6 billion years of Earth’s history in 12 minutes.”

A giant version of the human brain sits at the Life Gallery, besides exhibits that showcase the “exuberant varieties of life.” The Atom Gallery will house interactive exhibits that will explain the quantum world.

The Technology Gallery is found on the second floor. “Here, you will find the beginnings and development of tools that have changed all aspects of our lives,” explained Garcia.

Design firm Jack Rouse Associates undertook the master plan and exhibit designs, while Science Center Singapore acted as planning consultant.

Filipino firm Lor Calma and Partners Inc. designed the building itself.

Construction of the museum will begin in November 2009. It is set to be completed in the third quarter of 2011.

Capping the unveiling was Bella Gaia (Beautiful Earth), an audio-video presentation directed by filmmaker and classical violinist Kenji Williams, in collaboration with the US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Bella Gaia is a 50-minute live performance by Williams against a large-screen backdrop of orbiting visuals of Earth from outer space. In this performance, Williams collaborated with Ballet Philippines, which provided the much- needed choreography at the foreground.

The project’s sponsors, students, representatives from the Department of Education and Taguig City Mayor Freddie Tinga graced the event.