Villar family to jump on infrastructure bandwagon

MANILA, Philippines - The family of Sen. Manuel Villar is hoping to jump on the infrastructure bandwagon, with particular preference for construction, water distribution and power, which are deemed by most investors to be long-term, inflation proof and run contrary to business cycles.

In an interview, Villar, Vista Land & Lifescapes founder, said they are mulling the possibility of breaking into the power business, which most family-owned conglomerates see as the next big thing in which they want to become involved big time.

“Power is a new thing. We have to study it since we don’t have much experience,” Villar said.

Villar said there are vast investment opportunities in infrastructure where they can generate solid returns while supporting essential services that are crucial to continued economic development.

He said the company has a construction unit they can use for construction projects to be bid out by the government.

He also pointed out that the company has been in the construction and water distribution businesses for over 30 years.

“My son Paolo (chief finance officer of Vista Land), owns a water company which recently won the bid for the bulk water supply for Iloilo,” Villar said.

Villar said the firm supplies the water requirements of Camella subdivisions nationwide, serving at least 100,000 households.

“The water business is worth at least P1 billion and we are still growing the business,” Villar said.

Aside from this, Villar said the family is also expanding its retail business which they plan to fold into either Polar Properties Holdings Corp. or Vista Land.

The Villar family already owns five malls including Starmall in EDSA and Shaw Boulevard, as well as Starmall Alabang (Metropolis).

The group is currently developing its San Jose Del Monte mall, which shall have 26,000 meters of leasable space. Development cost is around P800 million.

Another mall that is slated to open next year is on Molino Boulevard.