Real estate developer Filinvest has officially reeled off with its first-ever project in Dumaguete City with the groundbreaking late Monday of its Marina Town development project.
Tristan Lasmarias, senior vice president and cluster head of Filinvest Land Inc., disclosed that this is a dream come true for the company which had eyed investment in Dumaguete City for a long time and now this has come to fruition.
Lasmarias, in an interview with reporters, noted some key reasons why Filinvest had decided to finally bring its township development project to Dumaguete City.
These include Dumaguete City being named by Forbes Magazine in 2014 as one of the Top 5 retirement destinations in Asia and in the world, its pristine beaches, the affordable cost of living, the warmth of the people, and its being a University Town.
Also, Dumaguete is accessible to and from other areas like Cebu, Lasmarias added.
“The first component of the Marina Town project is Marian Spatial, under the brand of Futura and a three-condominium building development that we propose to build”, Lasmarias said.
The Marina Town project is located at a prime property of 1.9 hectares in barangay Piapi, having a beach front view, as well as a perfect sunset view on the other side.
Part of the Marina Town development will also include a hotel and a commercial mall, Lasmarias added.
The groundbreaking by sunset Monday was for the first Marina Spatial 10-story condominium building.
“Given the laid-back lifestyle of Dumaguete, and it being the City of Gentle People, this is the most suitable location to come up with something that is seaside, and which will give you a complete lifestyle hub”, the Filinvest executive pointed out.
“It’s so nice to live in a place where you can actually have instant access to all the commercial shops and all the retail requirements, and the mall is just at your doorstep,” he added.
Lasmarias explained that Filinvest would like to build a new lifestyle hub for Dumagueteños that will make the city and the people of Dumaguete proud of.
The Filinvest official disclosed that with the growing economy of Dumaguete, “they would like to believe that this would be the first of many investments of Filinvest here”.
Lasmarias led the groundbreaking of Marina Town with other Filinvest officials, Negros Oriental Vice Gov. Edward Mark Macias, Board Member Mariant Escaño-Villegas, City Administrator Ricardo Gonzales, and other officials.
Filinvest acquired the property from the family of Board Member Escaño-Villegas.
For his part, Vice Governor Macias lauded Filinvest for introducing a new lifestyle to Dumaguete.
This is a welcome development that will spur economic boom in the City, Macias said.
“I would say that this one of the positive indicators of our growing economy here,” he added.
Vice Governor Macias expressed optimism that with Filinvest coming here first, other developers will follow suit, as is the usual trend.
Lasmarias, meanwhile, said they are looking at being able to turn over the first condominium units in 24 months.
Filinvest Dumaguete branch manager Phil Calumpang had earlier disclosed that most of the units for the first condominium building are already sold. (Judy F. Partlow)
