MANILA, Philippines - The Andrew Tan-led Megaworld Corp. has tapped Datem Inc. as its general contractor for four high-end projects in Metro Manila—part of the developer’s efforts to continuously improve the quality of its real estate offerings. The team-up was made official in a contract signing ceremony held on Nov. 14. In the agreement, Datem would head the construction of upscale residential address Two Central in the Makati central business district, the Belmont luxury hotel in Newport City, Pasay City, and two developments in McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, namely a BPO office project called Eight Campus Place and a lifestyle mall located along the country’s first-ever man-made grand canal.
“These projects are luxury offerings that cater to sophisticated customers,” said Megaworld senior vice president for operations Philipps Cando. “We joined hands with Datem because we are confident that they can help us deliver products of the highest quality.”
Datem, established in 1984, made a name for itself not only for prioritizing innovation but also for having the most number of projects completed ahead of schedule.
“Datem quality is a culture that we have developed extensively over the years,” said Datem president Levy Espiritu. “We offer excellent quality at a better cost. We turn over projects ahead of schedule. Our company’s results speak for themselves.”
In terms of taking on potential projects, Datem has a no-compromise approach.
“We always check whether we have the best resources at hand,” said Datem Vice President for Operations Arnold de Asis. “If we don’t have the right team available for a particular project, we make ourselves conscious of it. It’s better to decline a project than do sub-standard work.”
Datem has looked forward to a partnership with Megaworld for over a decade. “We’ve wanted to work with Megaworld since the early ’90s,” said Datem executive vice president Morris Agoncillo. “After construction on Eastwood City had begun, we thought that it wou-ld be a fulfilling experience to work with a developer that prioritized quality on a level that we do.
As luck would have it, years later, the right opportunity would come at the right time.”
Two Central is set along Valero Street in Salcedo Village, considered one of the most coveted locations on the financial side of the Makati CBD. Meanwhile, Belmont in Megaworld’s 25-hectare Newport City township gives investors the opportunity to own la uxury hotel property in the area. It also offers guests first-rate accommodations close to Resorts World Manila, the country’s first-ever integrated tourism estate, and Terminal 3 of the international airport.
Eight Campus Place in Megaworld’s 50-hectare McKinley Hill township development is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-compliant project, a green rating system developed and used by the US Green Building Council. The three-cluster office project makes use of eco-friendly materials and offers natural ventilation and intelligent lighting.
The mall along McKinley Hill’s Grand Canal, one of the many retail offerings in the township inspired by the Italian city of Venice, will cater to residents and employees based in the area, as well as their guests.
“Customer satisfaction is what keeps Megaworld continuously striving for higher standards of quality,” concluded Cando. “Whether our clients choose to live, work or play in our developments, we aim to give them the very best experiences.”