AYALA HEIGHTS: Millionaires’ haven turned nature park

Ayala Land Inc., (ALI) will open a first-a-kind nature’s park in Cebu, utilizing part of the  200-hectare property, which was supposedly for a high-end residential project, Ayala Heights, in barangay Busay, Cebu City.

While waiting for the result of the geological study conducted by international firm Ove Erup, the company decided to open a 71-hectare Ayala Nature’s Park that will attract eco-tourism enthusiasts, including elementary and high school students, among others.

ALI president Jaime I. Ayala announced that the Park is scheduled to open in the middle of this year, it will offer a natural science laboratory, camping area, and hiking trails among others.

The Park will be handled by different non-government organizations (NGOs) such as University of San Carlos Water Resource Center, People Collaborating for Environment and Economic Management (PCEEM) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The group has created the “Ayala Heights Nature Park Foundation.”

The Ayala Heights Nature Park Foundation was formed a year ago.

Ayala Heights was developed in the latter part of 1990s when the country’s economic shape was crippled due to the lingering effect of the 1997 regional economic crash.

Immediately after 1997, one of the badly hit industries was the real estate sector, thus aside from the social issues the development of Ayala Heights may have also been affected by the real estate fall down which negative effect lingered up to early 2000.

Currently, ALI has three product lines these are the Ayala Land Premier, Community Innovations Inc., and Avida.

Ayala Heights is supposed to be another “millionaires’ haven” in Cebu, aside from Maria Luisa Estate Park, Beverly Hills, and other luxury exclusive subdivisions, but because geological issue ALI chose to temporarily suspend the aggressive marketing of the project for years now.

Ayala said the Ove Erup is expected to submit its geological study report on the area this year, after which the company will decide to pursue the development in some of the areas.

“There are still remaining areas that can be developed. We also make sure that existing buyers are well protected,” Ayala said.

While the property has been an idle for several years, ALI has decided to make use of some of the areas like the 71-hectare Nature’s Park, to stress the company’s commitment to environment and protecting the watershed.

The Foundation is also geared towards brining back the biodiversity of the area, re-planting exotic plants.

Ayala Heights’ phase one, which utilized only about 6.8 hectares, is already sold out, about 113-hectare lot is still underdeveloped

The project’s Phase 1 and 2 have already occupants, and lot owners.