The Queen City is undergoing a major makeover with various million-peso projects under the Public-Private Partnership between the Cebu City Government and Saavedra-led company, Megawide. These projects aim to highlight the natural gifts and rich heritage that Cebu City possesses.
One of these projects is the construction of a Modernized Carbon Market that consists of improving multiple key areas near the Carbon vicinity that are envisioned to significantly impact the trade and tourism of the city. The new market will serve as Cebu’s Heritage District and will be composed of a restored Compania Maritama, an improved Freedom Park, and a modernized Carbon Market.
A BETTER MARKET FOR VENDORS
One of the modernization project’s objectives is to be able to help Carbon market vendors by constructing a new market building that will centralize trade of goods in a single space. The population of the Carbon Market consists of about 1,300 stall owners and at least 5,000 ambulant vendors who all depend on their goods for income.
“They (Megawide) are considering the number of these vendors day and night. In fact, they solicited data from us because they want to accommodate all the vendors. Wala’y ma-left out,” mentioned Matuguina, the city market administrator.
The plans for the project include the construction of a new market building for the ambulant vendors from both the day and night market that will become the center of trade in the new heritage district. Aside from that, there will also be parking areas and a “bagsakan” where all the goods will be delivered.
Although there were concerns about additional fees, Matuguina says that the fees they collect from the vendors will not change. The trade center would also help the farmers sell their produce at cheaper prices because the new arrangement wouldn’t involve any middlemen.
CENTER FOR TRAVEL
The new heritage district also includes the construction of new transport and ferry terminals. There will be more convenient land transportation options as the terminal will contain buses that travel to both the Northern and the Southern parts of Cebu. Moreover, travel time to and from the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) will dramatically improve with a new ferry that will cut straight thru the Mactan Channel to the airport and back.
OTHER PLANS
The new district will also highlight the historical value of the Compania Maritima – an empty neoclassical shell facing the Mactan Channel – and the Freedom Park. There are many plans that have been mentioned and one of these plans is converting the empty building into a walk-in aviary or a museum with cafes.
Lastly, there will also be a new Sto. Niño statue standing at the center of a park which will symbolize the religious belief and festive spirit of the Cebuanos.
PROJECT UPDATES
January 11, 2021: The Cebu City Government finally signed a Joint Venture Agreement today with infrastructure conglomerate Megawide Construction Corp. for the phased redevelopment of the Carbon Public Market. The groundbreaking is planned to take place by late March this year.
Megawide plans to invest 5.5 billion pesos to undertake the first phase of the project.
As new threats arise in the cyberspace, it is important that Information Technology (IT) professionals keep themselves abreast with the right knowledge and latest research on the threat landscape, industry trends and new technologies.
Trend Micro Inc., a global leader in cybersecurity, is bringing DECODE 2020 to the Visayas and Mindanao through its first-ever virtual conference happening on November 10 to 12, 2020.
The premier cybersecurity conference in the country will focus on various topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Protection and Privacy, Cybercrime and Incident Response, and more. These tracks will be presented by renowned industry experts from different parts of the world.
Registration is free and open to all IT professionals.
DECODE aims to share to local technology professionals up-to-date information about cybersecurity and new technologies in order to empower them to secure the digital infrastructures of their organizations, as well as to inspire them to embark on a continuous learning journey.
Trend Micro started this annual cybersecurity conference in 2017 — previously held in Manila — with one common goal which is to spread awareness about the trends in the threat landscape. The company has been organizing the conference to augment the cybersecurity skills gap in the Philippines and maintain its expertise in the industry.
With the theme “ELEVATE! Transform Rapidly, Seamlessly, Securely”, this year’s virtual conference brings a key message to participants to transform securely as new threats arise.
To know more about the virtual conference and to secure your slot for free, visit https://decodeph.com/.
The Poblacion-Dalayday-San Antonio road worth P11.9 million in Boljoon is now open to the public.
While the newly concreted part of this town is open, its improvement for the remaining 14-km road stretch is also underway.
During the town’s 414th founding anniversary on October 31, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has led the groundbreaking of the P55.1 million road project.
Photo from Cebu Provincial Government
The governor committed that the entire Poblacion-Dalayday-San Antonio road will be concreted next year, 2021.
To improve the 880 kilometers provincial road in the entire Cebu Province is one of Garcia’s priority projects. This is following the national standards of 6.1 meters in width and 9 inches in thickness.
Photo from Cebu Provincial Government
Wilfredo Caminero, second district representative, expressed his gratitude and confidence to Garcia’s passion and dedication to serve the Cebuanos.
Board Member Edsel Galeos, representing the 2nd District of Cebu, vowed to work even harder in the provincial board to support the priority programs of Gov. Garcia which include road concreting, waterworks, hospital upgrade, and rural electrification.
Finally, the Cebuanos’ clamor has been heard after eight long months.
Since the outbreak began in March, public transportation – including jeepneys – has been halted. And even though strict restrictions were lifted in August as the entire island of Cebu has been placed under MGCQ, while others already started to return to work, public utility jeepneys (PUVs) were still not allowed to operate.
On November 3, 2020, Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella announced the good news that 1,355 jeepneys are now allowed to operate in 18 designated routes throughout Cebu City.
Mayor Edgar Labella issued Executive Order No. 102 establishing the Balik Pasada Program in line with the recommendations of the Cebu City Jeepney Task Force.
“My directive sets forth the guidelines and requirements for the operations of traditional public utility jeepneys while we are under pandemic restrictions.”
– Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella
The E.O. 102 also outlines the various requirements for the jeepney operators and drivers.
Routes allowed to operate:
04C – Lahug – Gen. Maxilom – Ramos – Carbon
04D – Lahug (Plaza Housing) – Magallanes – Carbon
04L – Lahug (JY Square) – SM via Ayala
06B – Guadalupe – Capitol – Carbon
06C – Guadalupe – B. Rodriguez – Carbon
06G – Guadalupe – Taboan
08F – Mambaling – Colon – SM via C. Padilla
08G – Alumnos – Colon via C. Padilla – Tupas
09C – Basak – P. Del Rosario – Sikatuna – Magallanes
09G – Basak – Magallanes via C. Padilla – Tupas
10C – Pardo – Imus – Colon – Panganiban
10F – Pardo (Bulacao) – Colon via Tupas
11A – Inayawan – Taboan – Colon – Carlock
12D – Labangon – Sikatuna – Colon
12G – Labangon – SM via Taboan – Colon
12L – Labanon – Ayala via Escario – Banawa
13C – Talamban – Colon via Echavez – Sikatuna
62C – Pit-os – Talamban – Carbon via Sikatuna
The City Government also reminded the riding public to always observe social distancing and to wear face masks and face shields at all times.
Read the full Executive Order No. 102 here:
Update
November 21, 2020: The City Task Force has already inspected 28 out of 61 jeepney units in the first day of the jeepney rollout as it returns operations in Cebu City. Of the 28, 19 jeepneys will begin plying. The following are the expected jeepney routes to start plying:
Cebuanos have seen the rise of numerous towering skyscrapers for the past decade or two. No wonder why Cebu is an eye candy for everyone seeking job opportunities, business expansions, residential spaces, or quality places to stay at.
But despite the growing number of condominiums, hotels, and office spaces in Cebu City, there are those that stand out from the group. They are not just the ordinary tall structures but also, towers with distinct, eye-catching, and exceptional aesthetics.
Here are the five (5) beautiful high-rise buildings you can find in the city.
1. CALYX CENTRE
In botany, a calyx is the whorl of protective layer that encloses the petals, looking like a cradle that holds the blossoms of a flower. This is the concept where Calyx Centre in IT Park was born from – to be able to provide space for living, working, and leisure tucked in the protective shell of a green building.
Calyx Centre is the first ever green, hybrid condominium in Cebu. It’s a 26-storey organically designed, green building with retail, office and residential components. The first 9 floors accommodate office spaces while the residential units start from the 11th floor. The 10th floor serves as the transition level with the following amenities:
25 Meters Swimming Pool
Two Separate Gardens
Spacious Lounge Area
Wi-Fi Station
Two Halls for Events and Parties
Laundromat with Washers and Dryers
Fitness Gym & Sauna
The building spans a 2953 sq.m premium lot beside Asiatown’s “The Walk”.
Ideal Location
Calyx Centre stands high and proud in one of Cebu’s busiest district – Cebu IT Park. It is the home to a diverse mix of international and local software research and development companies, BPOs, and contact centers complemented with 24/7 dining, shopping, and leisure facilities. This makes Calyx Centre a good choice for someone who wants a balanced strike of comfort and high-spirited urban lifestyle, not to mention that other key city destinations are very accessible from IT Park.
Other facilities and amenities
100% power back-up for the whole building is assured through 3 generators with 1 MVA capacity each.
24-hour security (in the building and around Asiatown IT Park)
Car park for 324 vehicles in 5 above ground levels and 1 basement area.
Landscaped green space designed around the ground floor with promenade, restaurants, al fresco dining, banks and shops to complement the Calyx lifestyle.
HOW TO GET THERE?
Exact location: J Delmar Asiatown I.T Park, Lahug Cebu City
BY COMMUTE: You can take a 04L/17B/17C PUJ ride to IT Park and walk your way to Calyx Centre or you can take a taxi/Grab car ride to Calyx Centre in IT Park.
BY CAR: Navigate with Waze or Google Maps and set your destination to “Calyx Center” in Cebu City. Parking space is available.
2. CROWN REGENCY HOTEL AND TOWERS
The bright dancing lights on its façade make Crown Regency Hotel and Towers a delightful sight at night. And yes, it has become its distinctive feature over time – something that other towers in the city don’t have.
This 4-star property near Fuente Circle in Cebu flaunts world-class health and wellness and entertainment facilities, beautifully designed guest rooms and suites, well-furnished function rooms and sumptuous dining outlets. It is considered to be the country’s tallest hotel building.
Guests can bathe in the beauty of their swimming complex complete with 2 full-sized pools, a kiddie pool, an outdoor Jacuzzi, and showers. Gastronomic adventures are never taken for granted here as their finest chefs prepare only the best and the freshest dishes that will surely satisfy your taste buds.
Sky Experience Adventure
Your stay in this hotel wouldn’t be complete without trying Sky Experience Adventure.
Edge Coaster – You can bask in the magnificent 360-view of the entire Cebu City at the world’s first and only Edge Coaster Ride. The ride goes around the edge of the building while riders are locked onto a rail seat. Riders can playfully pull a lever that can tilt their seats up to 55 degrees and see the view below at 130.84 meters.
Skywalk Extreme – This one is definitely not for the faint-hearted. It’s a walk around the edge of the building with an overhead safety harness at 126.55 meters high above the street.
Tower Zip – Tower Zip is the first zip-line in the world to use a fully automatic braking system, giving the rider a smooth and controlled stop. The goal of this adventure is to zip from Tower 1 to Tower 3 at 473 ft high and return to Tower 1 on a Sky Lift at 461 ft. high at a distance of 250 ft.
Climb the 30-foot pole, which is the highest structure of the Sky Extreme Adventure, and enjoy a 360-degree view of the city at almost 600 feet up.
Exact location: along Fuente Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City, 6000 Philippines
BY COMMUTE: You can take any PUJ passing through Fuente Osmeña avenue or book a Grab/taxi ride going to the place.
BY CAR: Navigate with Waze or Google Maps and set your destination to “Crown Regency” in Cebu City. Parking space is available.
3. HORIZONS 101
The tallest building in Cebu is here – Horizons 101.
This gigantic 2-tower condo in Cebu City is giving its occupants a wonderful view of the skyline and the central business districts, the Mactan Channel, and the mountain ranges of Cebu. It provides Cebu’s progressive population a first-rate, high-rise residence.
Standing high with 55 floors, Horizons 101 offers comfortable units, world-class rest and relaxation facilities, and worry-free living features and amenities that include:
FEATURES:
High-speed Elevators
Back-up Power
Sky Gardens
Elevator Key Card Access
Strategically Located CCTVs
AMENITIES:
Swimming Pool
Play Room
Billiard Room
Fitness Gym
Multipurpose Room
AV Room
Commercial Area
The property was built by employing the highest standards of engineering principles. Its foundation uses 16000 cubic meters of concrete and around 10M kilograms of metals that are incorporated into its structures, making it a tower that is reliably solid from top to bottom.
Horizons 101 is just minutes away from key destinations like schools, malls, hospitals, churches, banks and restaurants. It can be accessed easily by the city’s mode of transportation – the PUJ.
BY COMMUTE: You can take any PUJ passing through Mango Avenue or book a Grab/taxi ride going to the place.
BY CAR: Navigate with Waze or Google Maps and set your destination to “Horizons 101” in Cebu City. Parking space is available.
4. One Montage
Dubbed as the next iconic hub of Cebu, One Montage Tower is a grade A building that features 29 floors dedicated for office and retail spaces. It is conveniently located along Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Cebu City, right next to Cebu Business Park which makes accessibility the least to worry about.
One Montage Tower is the first of Montage, a three-building mixed-use project of Innoland Development Corporation which vaunts approximately 40,000 square meters of Grade A office space, 7,000 square meters of retail space, and either a residential or hospitality component.
Presently, turnover of office spaces to occupants ready for fit out has already started.
OTHER INFORMATION
Exact location: Archbishop Reyes Ave., Camputhaw, Cebu City
Contact numbers: 0917-628-3427(office) and 0917-713-6574(retail)
Cebu Exchange is an P8-billion Grade-A green office development designed to address the IT and business process outsourcing (BPO) industry’s growing demand for quality space. Office units are good for BPO offices, rental offices, co-working space, conference rooms, executive office, law firms and others.
It is located along Salinas Drive at the gateway of Cebu IT Park, Cebu City.
Cebu Exchange is an P8-billion Grade-A green office development designed to address the IT and business process outsourcing (BPO) industry’s growing demand for quality space. Office units are good for BPO offices, rental offices, co-working space, conference rooms, executive office, law firms and others.
It is located along Salinas Drive at the gateway of Cebu IT Park, Cebu City.
SRD53 The Exchange Cebu Featured Photo – Cebu Grand RealtySRD53 The Exchange Cebu Featured Photo – Cebu Grand Realty
The 538-ft 39-storey building has a total of more than 300 units and is said be the largest multi-certified green office tower in the Philippines sprawling approximately 11 hectares of gross floor area.
Registered with the US Green Building Council and the Philippine Green Building Council, Cebu Exchange Tower aims to achieve a dual green building certification as it is pre-certified for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and on track for a Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) certification.
BY JEEPNEY: If you’re commuting, you can ride 17B/C from USC Main (near Jollibee) or 04L from Ayala Cebu Terminal. Drop off at Cebu Exchange Tower (at the entrance of Cebu IT Park). The tower is located just right across, near Toyota.
BY CAR: Navigate with Waze or Google Maps and set your destination to “Cebu Exchange” in Cebu City.
There are many ways to spend a vacation in Oslob such as having a close-encounter experience with their various marine life or relaxing in the pristine white sand beaches of grandiose resorts but sometimes a simple and peaceful resort like Down South 118 Beach Resort is already more than enough to heal the soul.
Down South 118 is a humble resort situated in Barangay Calumpang – just a few minutes from the famous whale shark watching of Oslob. When you’re not swimming with the gentle giants of Oslob, you can check this place out and relax with style without worrying about the budget.
The most notable feature of the resort is its adorable maritime theme with fun and quirky decorations displayed in their receiving area, restaurant and the shared restroom.
Just over the ocean is a dining pier for a unique over-the-ocean dining experience while enjoying the sea breeze and an unobstructed 180-degree view of the ocean.
Down South 118 is the best way to get lost in thought and let go of stress with the hypnotizing sound of the crashing waves and the tranquilizing combination of sun lounge chairs and a breeze that caresses the skin.
Simple and affordable yet elegant and very much comfortable, this seaside abode offers amenities that prioritize the comfort of its guests. Their rooms are pleasant to the senses and are spacious enough for enjoyable private moments.
They are fully equipped with everything that the guests might need for their stay. The greatest thing about them is the fact that they are all facing the ocean so guests wouldn’t have to worry about missing out on the azure views of the sea and sky especially on the terr.
Since it is a small resort, it can’t accommodate many guests but that just adds to the positives of the place with a lower concentration of people. Lazing about can also get mind-numbing sometimes so the resort also offers other activities such as kayaking, paddle boarding, boating, and snorkeling.
All of these things make Down South 118 the best resort that’s closest to an exclusive getaway with their quality staff, amenities, and other activities for prices that will put the mind at ease.
RATES & OTHER INFORMATION
ROOM RATES:
Shell Room: P2,000 per night, good for 2 persons with breakfast
Pearl Room: P3,500 per night
Good for 3 persons with breakfast
Includes free 20 minutes use of Kayak
Facility includes coffee and tea making facilities
Exact Location: Brgy. Calumpang, Oslob, Cebu – 5 to 10 minutes from the Whale Shark Watching of Oslob
BY BUS: Find your way to the Cebu South Bus Terminal (as of writing, stationed at Lantaw, SRP). Ride a bus bound for Oslob via Santander or Bato-Oslob. If the driver isn’t familiar with the resort, then you can just tell him to drop you off near the Whale Shark Watching and start asking the locals from there.
BY CAR: Navigate with Waze or Google Maps and set your destination to “Down South 118 Resort” in Oslob, Cebu. Parking space is available upon arrival.
“Blanco” is a Spanish term that means White which is a color for new beginnings. Blanco Beach Resort in Malapascua Island promises to provide to its guests a new way to experience the beach and nature at the same time in their secluded paradise.
The best thing about this secluded resort is its two-faced beauty with one side dominated by lush, green plants and a beachfront on the other. Its deluxe rooms also highlight these natural views with their seaside and regular room variants.
Relax and let go while ambling along the sandy shores of the beach or watching the setting sun. Or maybe enjoy hefty meals with friends and family at their beach bar that has an indoor replica of the sandy beach front.
There are also water sports and other beach activities that will surely alleviate boredom. Most important of all, no one should ever miss the chance to take a swim with the famous Thresher Sharks – the main highlight of Malapascua Island.
The Blanco Beach Resort invites its guests to a serene stay inside their sandy paradise. Their staff and members are always willing to provide guests the vacation that they deserve and to make sure that the resort is a haven for anyone to embrace the best that nature has to offer.
RATES & OTHER INFORMATION
ROOM RATES:
Sea View Deluxe Room (1 queen size bed and additional single bed, good for 2-3 persons)
Single – P5,000 per night
Double – P5,800 per night
Extra Bed – P1,800 per night
Children (5-10 y.o.) – P850 per night
Deluxe Room (good for 3 persons)
Single – P5,000 per night
Double – P5,800 per night
Extra Bed – P1,800 per night
Children (5-10 y.o.) – P850 per night
Family Room (70 sqm. w/ 2 rooms, 1 king size bed, 1 queen size bed)
Exact location: Malapascua Island, Logon, Daanbantayan, Northern Cebu — 4 hours away from the city.
There are two options for travel to Blanco Beach Resort:
OPTION 1:
Go to Cebu North Bus Terminal. Take a taxi to the Cebu North Bus Terminal. Board a Ceres Bus or a V-hire bound for Maya. If you’re unsure, you can ask around. The bus fare costs P200 per head.
Ride a boat at Maya Port. Alight at Maya Port where you can ride a boat to Malapascua Island for P50 – P100 per person. There are daily boat schedules and the last trip is at sundown.
OPTION 2:
Round trip Package. The resort has private services that can take guests from Mactan Cebu International Airport to Blanco Beach Resort for P9500/room or P3000/head for 4 persons and above. The package includes a roundtrip private van and boat ride. Payment in cash is required upon check in to the resort.
NOTE: Due to a newly enforced law by Marina Coast Guard, there will be no more boat scheduled to cross to/from Malapascua after 5:00PM. Guests are advised to leave Cebu City latest at 12:00NN to avoid any inconvenience on travel to Blanco Beach Resort.
They say that good ideas start with brainstorming, but we say; “great ideas start with a cup of good coffee.” What more could we ask if we have the perfect place to indulge ourselves with a good cup coffee? Nothing.
Heirloom Coffee & Kitchenette offers not only authentic coffee, but also a great place for healthy food enthusiasts and nature lovers. Treat not only your taste buds, but also your eyes to a magnificent 360-degree view of the mountains of Cebu City.
Photo by Jan Mckingley O. Hilado
Look no further. It’s only sprawled in Brgy. Sinsin, Cebu City. It’s within your reach, but it definitely is a whole new experience. Take your coffee experience a notch higher with all these at hand.
Photo by Jan Mckingley O. Hilado
Photo by Jan Mckingley O. Hilado
OTHER INFORMATION
Operating hours: 8AM to 6PM daily, Thursdays to Sundays
Philippines’ residential and consumer markets will soon enjoy an upgrade of the services of NOW Telecom, the country’s deemed fourth major telco player.
The National Telecommunications Corporation has issued on September 14, 2020 an extension of NOW Telecom’s provisional authority (PA) to install, operate, and maintain a nationwide mobile telecommunications system. According to the company, the issued PA is not specific to 3G (third gen) mobile communications technology but can extend to recent technologies such as 4G, 5G, “or even outer space.”
“As the country’s fourth telco, NOW Telecom, an affiliate of publicly listed telecommunications, media, and technology firm Now Corp., is currently setting the stage for its public listing as well as its 5G or fifth generation network rollout,” the company said in a media release.
WHO IS NOW TELECOM?
NOW Telecom is an affiliate of NOW Corp, originally incorporated as MF Schroder & Co. in 1996. NOW Corp has expanded over the years with several subsidiaries that focus on providing telecommunications, media and information technology products and services through software licenses and services, IT manpower and resource augmentation; and broadband and wireless cable TV services.
NOW Corp. said its telco unit is among four firms with cellular mobile telephone service (CMTS) licenses in the country, alongside SMART, Globe, and DITO.
Mel Velarde, NOW Corporation’s president and CEO, initially bid for the third telco slot which was eventually awarded to Dito owned by Davao City-based businessman Dennis Uy.
In February 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte granted NOW Telecom a renewal of its legislative franchise to operate for another 25 years. The company also signed in 2019 a memorandum of understanding with SK Telecom, South Korea’s largest telecom provider, “to help design the company’s 5G network.”
“NOW Corp and NOW Telecom were the first to introduce 5G broadband speed of up to 3Gbps direct to our existing enterprise clients,” Mel Velarde said.
Telco giants PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom have started rolling out 5G but on a limited scale. NOW Telecom said it has also the requisite frequencies to provide 5G services.
NO FORMAL DECLARATIONS FROM THE GOVERNMENT YET
While the company is gearing up to be the 4th major telco player, NTC Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios noted that the Philippines has only three major carriers: Globe Telecom, PLDT, and Dito Telecommunity, which is slated to commercially launch by the first quarter of 2021.
But NOW Corp is standing by its earlier claims. Citing a report from BusinessWorld, the company said NTC Deputy Commissioner Cabarios himself “confirmed” that NOW Telecom is the fourth telco given its license to operate a mobile network.
PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY CONDITIONS
The PA is subject to the infusion of additional capital of at least P1.9 billion based from the first two years capital expenditure of P6.3 billion in the submitted rollout plan and approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the increase in the authorized and paid-up capital, according to the telco unit.
On top of that, NTC also required the company to accelerate the installation of its broadband data service in suburban and rural areas and shall directly comply with the 70:30 ratio of urban to suburban and rural network rollout coverage in each phase of project implementation.
Lastly, the company is prohibited from sharing or co-using its frequency to either PLDT or Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, and DITO Telecommunity Corporation or any other entity without first securing approval from the commission.
UPDATES
NOW Telecom seeks to go public in the Philippines or overseas and has tapped Unicapital Inc. as its financial adviser. The company said it was planning to list by way of introduction. This means trading its shares without undertaking a traditional initial public offering.
Apart from access to the stock market, a listing will allow NOW Telecom to meet the requirements of its franchise.
Earlier, the company announced that it plans to spend $713 million for its five-year 5G fixed wireless access business plan in an attempt to deploy the 5G FWA network in the National Capital Region and offer a broadband plan of up to 10 gigabit per second service.
5G is a mobile standard that promises ultra-fast internet speeds and low lag times, making it ideal in powering emerging applications like connected cities, automated manufacturing and driverless cars.
“We are moving forward with the corporate restructuring of NOW Telecom to take it to the next level. NOW Corp and NOW Telecom were the first to introduce 5G broadband speed of up to 3Gbps direct to our existing enterprise clients,” – Mel Velarde, CEO, NOW Group of Companies
OTHER INFORMATION
Main Office Address: 2244 España Boulevard, NowPlanet.TV Building, Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines
Local developer is set to elevate the game for skyscrapers in the metro.
Double M Towers, a maiden project of the M. Montesclaros Development Corp. (MMDC), will soon become the newest and tallest building in the city. Situated along B. Rodriguez St., Cebu City (near Vicente Sotto Hospital), this P4 billion project is a two-tower mixed use project featuring a condominium and a hotel. Groundbreaking ceremony was held last year, November 8.
“We are now focusing on Cebu,” said engineer Fritz Canono, MMDC chief operating officer.
The Condominium
The first tower is a 57-story condominium project with 1206 units all designed to accommodate modern conveniences and transforming urban living experience. It is eyed to be completed in the next 5 years.
Studio Unit
1-Bedroom Unit
The Hotel
The second tower is a 25-story hotel with 125 rooms, with its first nine floors to house retail, commercial spaces, a mall, and business process management companies. Here’s the list of the spaces for its first 9 floors:
1000 sq. meter premium grocery store space
13 commercial spaces on 2 floors
4 meeting rooms
900 sq. meter convention center
3 BPO floors (2000 sq. meter each)
The hotel is targeted to be completed in the next 3 years.
Accessibility
Double M Towers also boasts its location as one of its advantages when considering the property. Built in the heart of the city, it is near to majority of the key destinations in the metro – a great deal for everyone. To wit;
COMMERCIAL STRIPS/ MALLS:
Robinson’s Cybergate (550m away)
Mango Square (900m away)
Robinson’s Galleria Cebu (3km/ 14min away)
Ayala Mall (2.6km/ 9min away)
SM City Cebu (4.2km/ 16min away)
SM Seaside City (4.4km/ 13min away)
OFFICES/ BUSINESS PARKS:
Cebu Business Park (2.7m/ 9min away)
Cebu IT Park (4.3km/ 12mins away)
Gatewalk Central (5.2km/ 18min away)
SRP (4.4km/ 13min away)
HOSPITALS:
Vicente Sotto Hospital (450m/ 1min away)
Chong Hua (600m/ 2min away)
Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital (1.4km/ 5mins away)
Velez General Hospital (1.5km/ 5mins away)
Perpetual Succour Hospital (2km/ 6min away)
The Future of Mixed-Use Projects
Mixed-use development is the future of condominium projects as it promotes work-life balance by incorporating work and leisure all in one place. With Double M Towers, a shift is indeed coming in Cebu’s tourism industry as resort-themed condos, seaside living, condotel and mixed-used development now slowly becoming a trend.
The property promises convenient and modern residential units, engaging workspaces, and an unforgettable dining and shopping experience all tucked in one place.
In a recent research note, property consultancy firm Santos Knight Frank reported the residential market in Metro Cebu had sustained its momentum with an average monthly take-up of 12 units per month during the first half of 2019.
PROJECT DETAILS:
No. of Towers: 2 towers
1 Tower (57 floors) for Residential Condominium
1 Tower (25 floors) for City Hotel
Location: B. Rodriguez St., Cebu City, Philippines
Developer: M. Montesclaros Development Corp.
1206 Residential units
225 Hotel Rooms
500 Parking Slots
Target Turn Over Date: 2024
OTHER INFORMATION:
Exact location: B. Rodriguez St., Cebu City, Philippines
