Bustling new destination

More than seven years after selling the family’s tobacco business to Japan Tobacco Inc. (JTI), the Wongchuking family has diversified into other businesses, either as a family or individually.

As for Caesar Wongchuking who used to head Mighty Corp., he has found his new calling and source of pride in his group of new businesses under the holding company Czark Mak Corp. (CZM) which is behind the highly successful commercial and industrial township in Guiguinto, Bulacan.

With the non-compete clause in the contract with JTI about to end, I asked Caesar if he will again venture into the tobacco business. He said that the family does not want it anymore.

After his father died, Caesar shepherded the tobacco business into becoming the second largest cigarette company in the country. And now, together with his own son Angelo, he is helping transform Guiguinto into a premiere destination not only for families who want to go on staycation but also for businessmen looking for a place to stay or a venue for their events.

Acrocity, covering an area of over 20 hectares, is Bulacan’s newest township and lifestyle/business hub. Located inside Acrocity is T12 Polo Land Industrial Estates, a 15-hectare industrial and commercial complex. It has 56 warehouses with an average size of 1,000 square meters.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has identified Bulacan province as the next growth area not only due to its adequate workforce and proximity to the National Capital Region but also because of the several big-ticket infrastructure projects being undertaken by the private sector and the government, including San Miguel Corp.’s new international airport, the North-South Commuter Rail which may start partial operations in 2026, MRT Line 7 also of the SMC group, to name a few.

The Bulacan international airport will be able to accommodate initially 70 million passengers when it opens in 2028 and eventually, 150 million passengers. Imagine the volume of people, new businesses, and economic activity that it will bring to the province.

Meanwhile, MRT 7 is targeted to operate partially from EDSA to Fairview by December of next year and the entire line, by 2026.

Acrocity has recently opened NDW Wellness Plaza, named in honor of Caesar’s mother Nelia, which will have a diagnostic center, a modern and sleek looking dialysis clinic, a bank, spa, barber shop, salon as well as three huge function rooms.

Then there is Acrocity’s centerpiece project, Acro Residences consisting of 80 rooms, six of which will be spacious suites, 36 deluxe queen rooms, 21 twin rooms, 15 quad rooms for groups, and two rooms for persons with disabilities. All the rooms will be available by May of next year.

Aside from a swimming pool and other amenities, Acro Residences prides itself with its immensely popular coffee shop/restaurant called Café De Margaux, which offers Filipino-French fusion dishes.

Acrocity has also partnered with the TRR Group to offer not only Café de Margaux located at the ground floor of Acro Residences but also two other highly successful restaurants – Mt. Fuji, a Japanese restaurant, which now has a branch inside Manila Polo Club and soon in Libis, Quezon City, and Mighty King Restaurant which offers authentic Chinese cuisine. I heard that Mt. Fuji’s branch inside Polo Club has become the favorite habitue not only of business tycoons but also of senators and their families.

To address the needs of those looking for a venue for weddings and other events, Acrocity now offers Ang Hardin, an open area that can accommodate up to 180 persons.

In a recent interview, Caesar and Angelo revealed plans to start construction next year of an initial three villas with their own private huge swimming pools. Eventually, there will be 12 of these villas which will have either two or three bedrooms located in a secure and private location inside Acrocity with its own clubhouse and function rooms as well as other amenities.

There are also plans to build a midrise condominium although nothing is cast in stone yet, they said.

With the new Bulacan airport about to commence operations and several roads that the San Miguel Group is constructing leading in and out of the airport, expect Acrocity and Acro Residences especially to be busier than ever.

Airport fee hike concerns

The recently announced increase in fees at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has understandably raised concerns, prompting some to ask the Department of Transportation (DOTR) to review this move.

They say that while the increases may be necessary for infrastructure improvements, the broader economic implications could be far-reaching. At a time when the country is grappling with inflationary pressures, these fee increases could add to rising costs across air travel, tourism, and logistics, affecting both businesses and consumers alike, they said.

Approved by the DOTR and the Manila International Airport Authority even before it took over, the new private sector-led NAIA management, unfortunately and unfairly, is being blamed for these increases. Recently announced were increases in parking fees, landing and take-off fees which are already being implemented, and terminal fees by next year.

In a country like the Philippines, where air travel is often a necessity due to its archipelagic geography, these rising costs could reduce demand for flights both internationally and domestically, they said.

Those asking the DOTR to review the fee hike are saying that since airline companies are expected to pass on any additional cost to their customers, higher ticket prices may lead to fewer travelers, impacting tourism and inter-island commerce, especially for regions heavily dependent on air connectivity.

They also noted that since NAIA is a critical hub for air cargo, any increase in operational fees will affect businesses that rely on air freight, with goods being transported by air, such as imported products and perishable items, becoming more expensive. Businesses facing rising logistics costs will likely increase prices, contributing to cost-push inflation, they added.

They likewise expressed concern that if air travel becomes more expensive, a decline in tourist arrivals would hit the hospitality, food service, and entertainment industries hard, as hotels, restaurants, and tour operators experience reduced demand.

These calling for a review of the new rates added that for remote regions where road or sea travel is impractical, air travel is often the only viable option and an increase in airport fees can place an additional strain on businesses.

They emphasized that the potential for increased inflation cannot be ignored.

Unfortunately, it’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation for the government. Let’s see how the DOTR responds to all these concerns.

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