Rising out of the shadows
By Charles E. Buban
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 19:58:00 12/11/2009
Filed Under: Real Estate, Construction & Property
JERRY RUBIS HAS BIG shoes to fill. As assistant vice president for marketing and training of Suntrust Properties Inc., his company must follow the footsteps of Megaworld Corp. and Empire East Land Holdings Inc.
“We belong to the same group headed by property tycoon Andrew Tan. While Megaworld has a successful track record of building self-contained communities under its pioneering live-work-play-learn concept and Empire East Land Holdings Inc. is making a name in developing and marketing housing projects either in the form of condominium communities or house-and-lot packages, commercial and office space and mixed-use complexes, Suntrust on the other hand, is now aspiring to carve a name as a major provider of uniquely crafted living spaces to low-to-moderate-income Filipino families,” he said.
With 11 projects developed and in the process of developing, Suntrust seems to be making good on its promise.
“Since 1997, Suntrust Properties has created numerous self-sustaining residential communities in Dasmariñas, General Trias and Silang in Cavite. We also have ongoing condominium developments located at the very heart of Metro Manila. By next year, we want to be very aggressive as we have several properties already lined up,” Rubis reported.
Major projects
For example, Suntrust Properties has two major projects being developed in Manila: Suntrust Parkview located on Concepcion Street in Ermita and Suntrust Adriatico Gardens in Malate.
After the successful UN Gardens in Manila, the company decided to embark on similar undertakings within the city: Suntrust Parkview on Concepcion Street, Ermita and Suntrust Adriatico Gardens on Adriatico Street, Malate.
“We also have several upcoming projects outside Metro Manila like the Cybergreens and Cyberville in Dasmariñas, Cavite. Both are technology-themed neighborhoods featuring underground cabling for electricity, telephone and broadband services,” Rubis said.
Empowered
With overseas Filipinos’ remittances to the country expected to hit between $17 billion and P19 billion (P784 billion and P876 billion) next year, Rubis is confident that more and more low- to middle-income families will be more empowered to buy houses they could call their own.
“Despite the US-led global slowdown, there is a continued hiring of Filipino workers overseas especially in the healthcare industry. And with better access by overseas workers and their beneficiaries to money transfer services, money continues to come in, a trend that is expected to intensify through next year,” Rubis said.
According to him, the global healthcare industry is relatively recession-proof and with income steadily coming in, families of these overseas Filipinos are more enthused to shop for new yet affordable homes.
“By combining well-thought-out designs which focus on space saving and functionality features, Suntrust Properties is able to deliver high standard of comfort and style low- to moderate-income Filipino families will definitely appreciate,” he said.
Rubis believes that with Suntrust Properties ready to cover the affordable housing segment, the group of property tycoon Andrew Tan now has one of the most comprehensive coverages on the Philippines’ housing market.
