Roxas City in Capiz may not be the first area one will look at when searching for mega township developments or massive future-forward communities, but just one look at a township called Pueblo de Panay and you will give Roxas City not only a second look, but also your complete attention.
Many people are not aware but there is already this sprawling 670-hectare mixed-use, Filipino-inspired township in Roxas City. Pueblo de Panay, a multi-billion project of Pueblo de Panay Inc. (PDP), is considered as one of the largest real estate developments in Central Philippines.
This flourishing new “city” is around eight years old, and its foot traffic has returned to pre-Covid levels of about 55,000 people per day. And judging from its “Best Masterplanned Community” win during the recent “Lamudi, The Outlook 2022: Philippine Real Estate Awards,” experts from the property field gave the seal of approval to Pueblo de Panay township, a tremendous honor considering the vast field of township developments in the country and how it bested other worthy entries from much established developers.
“We are very honored to receive this citation from Lamudi,” said Jose Nery Ong, president and CEO of Pueblo de Panay Inc. “It took about a decade of putting in the right systems and structures, and eventually, it became apparent that we already have the capability to undertake large-scale projects, such as a township development. Thus, Pueblo de Panay township was born.”
Ong added that he wanted this flagship development “to be a source of pride to the people and community of Capiz.” “Not only was this the right thing to do marketing-wise, but we felt this was our humble way of showing that a countryside-based, homegrown brand could have world-class aspirations.”
Creating Pueblo de Panay township was a journey into self-discovery. Ong’s team did extensive research, banking on the rich history of Capiz for grounding purposes and integrated it with other business and social considerations. “There was a need to be updated with best practices of modern masterplanned developments. Thus, we worked with urban planning experts from Singapore as we considered the island-state as an ideally planned tropical country, with an environment similar to ours,” he said.
Today, Pueblo de Panay township has designated areas for different uses, seamlessly integrated to one another: residential, commercial, medical, educational, and light agro-industrial zones. It is now a viable investment destination, as this is a place where people can live, work, relax, and have fun, which embodies the company’s advocacy of “Life. Work. Balance.”
There are various residential developments inside the township, but what Pueblo de Panay Inc. is proud of is its Monte Vista — the city’s only luxury project of its kind. It is a gated enclave, masterplanned to promote an ideal lifestyle and features walking routes, bike lanes, and underground cabling. It has top-tier amenities and world-class leisure features, making it the “jewel in the crown” of Pueblo de Panay township.
Pueblo de Panay township is where Robinsons Place Roxas is located. There’s also the Food Hub, The Genesis, and ePerformax Center located inside the PEZA-accredited zone. Several leading food and retail brands are also in the township. For education, there is the University of Perpetual Help System –Pueblo de Panay Campus, CHILDS Academy, and an upcoming University of the Philippines Visayas – Capiz Campus. And for leisure and events, there is the Circulo Convention Center, Islands Hotel, Sitio Uno Condotel, Hotel Veronica, Urban Manor Hotel and Restaurant. Since this is an integrated township, the Roxas City Integrated Transport Terminal can also be found here.
The future is bright for Pueblo de Panay
Ong also revealed that the Capiz Provincial Government has already started constructing a large-scale and eco-friendly convention center that will be the “greatest catalyst in the upliftment of the eco-cultural and tourism prospects of Capiz.” “This convention center will not only benefit Capiz but also lift the adjoining economies of our sister-provinces in the northern Panay region,” said Ong. “The sustainable and flexible design of this project will not only serve the eco-cultural tourism needs of the community, but can also be used during natural calamities to help our people.”
With the success of Pueblo de Panay township, the company is also looking into developing more masterplanned townships in the countryside. Future projects will carry the essence of the flagship development — self-contained and integrated to public transport systems. In line with its mission for “Countryside Development” and “Inclusive Growth,” the company is also looking into expansion to other secondary or tertiary cities and municipalities with high growth potentials, starting with Panay Island with a population of 4.5 million residents.
Roxas City is more than a place for seafood and tourism, as it is now home to a township that doesn’t only provide the perfect life-work balance, but more important, is that it brings the entire Capiznon community to economic progress – to stellar heights that it has never reached before.