Robinsons Cybergate to open by October

CEBU, Philippines - Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) targets October for the opening of its first mixed-use commercial building in Cebu tagged as Robinsons Cybergate located at the Fuente Osmeña area.

The seven-story building designed as a medical and BPO facility, has around 6,000 to 7,000 square meters of available spaces for tenants while 6,500 square meters are intended for BPO locators.

RLC general manager for commercial centers division Cornelio S. Mapa Jr., said the project is already 80 percent completed and is ready for occupancy by October this year.

Considering the location of the facility, which is not only suitable for BPO operations but also for medical and wellness related offices and businesses as it is near within the city’s hospital hub, the Gokongwei-led company decided to allocate one floor to accommodate specialty clinics.

Close to 40 office spaces will be available solely for medical professionals for their private clinics.

Meanwhile, RLC is currently applying for economic zone accreditation from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).          

The first three floors will be offered to tenants like banks, drug stores, small food court, spa and wellness services and HMOs, among others.

In an earlier interview with JG Summit Holdings Inc., president and chief operating officer (COO) Lance Gokongwei, he said that the company is looking at expanding its land bank in Cebu to prepare for more projects in the next few years.

The company recently acquired a 4-hectare property at the North Reclamation Area near the old White Gold Department Store, and is currently drawing up plans to develop the property for mixed-use development, Gokongwei said.

He said the four-hectare land will have a hotel, commercial complex, residential units, and office buildings.

The young Gokongwei, who is now in-charge of the conglomerate’s operation built by his father John Gokongwei, said that Cebu offers a huge opportunity for the group’s several business arms, specifically retail, real estate and airline operations.

Although he did not divulge any specific preference of the company’s property interest in terms of location, Gokongwei said the company is on constant lookout for opportunities to purchase or buy-out good real estate properties in Cebu, to add up to its existing land bank.

RLC is among the most profitable business of JG Summit Holdings Inc., with its 18 malls, 23 residential subdivisions, 22 residential condominiums, six office buildings and three hotels.

In Cebu, the Gokongwei Group operates the Robinsons shopping mall in Fuente Osmeña, the Midtown Hotel, Robinsons Supermarket at the Banilad Town Center, and the Blue Coast subdivision in Mactan, Aspen Heights in Consolacion among other affiliate businesses.

So far, the RLC’s biggest investment venture in Cebu is the construction of the five-star resort and condotel coastline project called AmiSa located in Mactan Island. — Ehda M. Dagooc