Citihomes Builder and Development Inc. (CBDI) recently attended Meralco’s first-ever business forum for real estate developers. The forum focuses on Meralco's sustainable energy solutions tailored specifically for real estate developers. CBDI EVP, John Philip Wang, was the keynote speaker extolling the benefits of the program to the company’s first residential development that adapt the program.
During the forum through its “Developers Journey Program,” Meralco highlighted beneficial commitments to real estate developers like CBDI:
• Streamlined project planning and energization: Meralco provides support during the early stages of project development, assist with masterplan preparation, alignment on utility layouts, and value engineering. This collaboration ensures a smoother, hassle-free energization process by addressing power requirements right from the design phase.
• Dedicated partner: Real estate developers will be assigned a dedicated journey partner, streamlining communication and handling all inquiries or service applications. This partner remains consistent across multiple sites, ensuring a unified approach to project energization and fast-tracking application processes.
• Efficient service application: The program will enhance the service application experience through online submissions and one-time filing of company documents, even across multiple projects. This simplifies the bureaucratic process and reduces administrative burden, leading to quicker approvals and easier compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Certified private electrical contractors: Only Meralco-certified private electrical contractors trained to meet technical standards shall be sourced for the program. These third-party contractors help ensure safe installations and can handle various tasks, from constructing poles to securing local government permits, expediting the entire project cycle.
Meralco ensures it works closely with developers to provide safe and timely energization, making sure that power is available exactly when needed and minimizing delays in project timelines and operational starts. The institution’s renewable energy solutions, such as Net Metering and Zero Export, allow developers to generate their own power through renewable sources.
This power can either be exported back to the grid, reducing payable power consumption per household, or used entirely for the community’s common areas, resulting in operational cost savings. Since renewable energy is clean, it also adds value to the property by making it more eco-friendly and cost-effective.
CBDI has pioneered this program for its BERDE Certified residential community, Liora Homes Naic in Cavite, during development for efficient energy use, enhancing property value, and ultimately environmental sustainability.