The real estate market often reveals its direction through steady shifts in buyer behavior. In a recent episode of ANC’s The Boardroom, Colliers International Philippines’ research director Joey Roi Bondoc discussed trends that show how these shifts are shaping preferences across regions and project types. His insights offer a clear view of where demand is strengthening and why certain locations are emerging ahead of the curve.
Bondoc noted that Metro Manila’s condo sector is facing headwinds, with vacancies hovering near 25 percent. In the Bay Area, the figure climbs even higher at around 58 percent. Rental yields are under pressure. These numbers suggest that the traditional model of concentrating vertical developments in the capital is losing momentum.
Then he turned to the provinces. House‑and‑lot and lot‑only projects outside Metro Manila are seeing take‑up rates above 90 percent. Families are choosing communities that offer space, balance, and environments where residential and commercial life blend naturally. They are also choosing homes that reflect their values. This is precisely the market that we at Italpinas Development Corporation (IDC) have long been committed to serving.
Colliers also highlighted the growing strength of Central Luzon, estimating somewhere between $40 and $70 billion in potential inflows because of new investments coming in different sectors. It will be a structural shift that will reshape industrial corridors and create demand for housing, logistics, and mixed‑use communities. In Morong, Bataan, we are responding to this momentum through IDC Prime’s Baia Verde Residences, a 2.3‑hectare residential community designed to harmonize sustainable living with the province’s natural beauty and rising economic potential.
Bataan itself has always been a province of resilience and renewal. Once known mainly for its place in history, it is now emerging as a prime location for homeowners and investors. Its coastal towns, expanding tourism, and ongoing infrastructure projects are opening doors for eco‑friendly housing, vacation and retirement communities, and mixed‑use developments near industrial zones. Baia Verde was conceived precisely to meet these opportunities.
In Batangas, we’ve taken the same approach with Miramonti Green Residences, where we built a community designed to anticipate both residential demand and the industrial growth radiating outward. On top of that, we are also in the final design stage for the first branded hotel in the area (just beside Miramonti), named Belvedere (beautiful in English), It will be managed by Ascott through their brand Cittadine. Together, these projects reflect how we have been working with the future in mind, outside the traditional centers of Metro Manila. It is this long-term approach that has shaped our journey — and recently, it was recognized in a meaningful way.
It is in this context that I am proud to share a recent milestone. Italpinas has been recognized at the highly respected International Finance Awards with two distinctions: Fastest Growing Residential Green Developer and Most Innovative Mixed‑Use Green Project for Miramonti Green Residences. We never build with awards in mind; our focus has always been on creating communities that are sustainable, resilient, and future‑ready. So, when recognition like this comes, it feels less like a trophy and more like a signpost affirming that the path we chose years ago was the right one.
I wish to thank the prestigious International Finance Publications Ltd, the organizer of the awards, for this honor. Since 2013, the London‑based financial magazine has honored excellence in finance, banking, insurance, energy, logistics, and real estate. Their awards are judged on achievement, innovation, and impact. To be included in this circle is humbling, and it makes the recognition even more meaningful. At the same time, the broader market continues to show us where real demand is moving.
The numbers tell us something important: end‑users are driving demand now, not speculative investors. Families want homes that endure and places that reflect their values as well as give them room to grow. Developers must respond with projects that are resilient, responsible, beautifully designed, and rooted in community. As an Ital‑Pinoy architect, I take pride in this convergence of vision and reality. There is a saying in Pilipino: “Ang punong matibay ay hindi basta‑basta natitinag.” A strong tree does not easily fall. Sustainable communities are built to withstand cycles, crises, and change. The next Philippine property boom will not be about concrete alone. It will be about sustainable communities that breathe, endure, and inspire.
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