Since the start of the Build, Build, Build program, the Philippines has gone through a massive surge in infrastructure. In 2021 alone, the spending for the program reached P.1.02 trillion, which has been instrumental to the country’s economic recovery. In the past five years, 29,264 kilometers of roads and 5,950 bridges have been built. Learning about the mega infrastructures around the Philippines is important especially for landowners and investors when thinking of the next hot property location.
Malolos Clark Railway
The project, set to complete in 2025, is a 53.1-km railway line connecting Malolos to Clark’s economic zone including Clark International Airport (CIA). The project is developed by the Department of Transportation (DOTr). Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The project is expected to reduce traffic congestion. Once operating, it will create 14,000 jobs and reduce travel time between Clark and Manila. This will reduce carbon emissions for more than 60,000 tonnes per year.
SLEX Toll Road 4
South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Toll Road 4 (TR4), is a 66.74-km extended toll road that connects Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Lucena City, Quezon. San Miguel Corporation, its developer, has announced that they plan to open its first 20-km by 2022, which spans from Makban in Bay, Laguna to Tiaong, Quezon. This extended expressway is set to reduce the travel time from Sto. Tomas to Lucena from 4 hours to 45 minutes.
Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX)
A major infrastructure project set to connect Cebu City to Cordova Town in Mactan, CCLEX. It will not only decongest traffic in the areas but also increase economic activities in Cebu and in the Visayas region. Opened in 2021, CCLEX spans 8.5 kilometers, with a design speed of 80 kPH, serving at least 50,000 vehicles on a daily basis. Its project developer is Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific tollways Corporation (MPTC).
MRT-7
MRT-7 is a 22- kilometer railway that will link North Avenue, Quezon City and San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. Upon completion, it is said to accommodate 300,000 passengers in its first year. The travel time will be reduced between two areas from 2-3 hours to 35 minutes. The P63-billion project was done in partnership with San Miguel Corporation.
Bulacan Airport
The largest infrastructure project of the Philippines is San Miguel Corporation’s P735-billion airport city. It is set to eventually replace the aging Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Set to rise in a 2,500-hectare property, the Bulacan airport is expected to cater to at least 100 million passengers yearly, which is triple the size of NAIA. The Bulacan airport is set to become a green city of the future upon its completion.
Subway system in Metro Manila and Makati
Two upcoming subway projects are set to grace Mega Manila namely the Metro Manila Subway set to be operational by Q3 of 2027, and the Makati Intra-City Subway set to be operational by Q1 of 2026.
The Metro Manila Subway project was one of the largest projects under the “build, build, build” program, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) costing P357-billion. It spans 36-km from Valenzuela up to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 with 17 stations, and can carry up to 370,000 passengers daily.
The Makati Intra-City Subway is an 11-km rapid underground transit line that connects different establishments across the Makati CBD. Developed by Philippine Infradev Holdings Inc. The project is set to increase the city’s economic productivity by P24.4 billion annually.
For investors and landowners, these mega infrastructure projects can impact the economic activity in their vicinity, and thereby increase the price of real estate. Understanding changes in the market is integral in knowing whether to buy, sell, or hold properties. When looking for expert advice, Santos Knight Frank is a renowned real estate services agency specializing in valuation, consultancy, and appraisal among others. Learn more by visiting https://santosknightfrank.com/.
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