THERE are plenty of reasons why homegrown developer, Santos Land Development Corporation (SLDC), should celebrate its success in the industry for 47 years.
Through the years, the firm stood the challenges of time, proving that a local, homegrown business can rise above the tight competition in the market.
“We had our fair share of challenges and triumphs and we are glad to reach another milestone with our 47th anniversary in the business,” SLDC President Antonio Nicolas Domingo said.
Domingo shared that leading the company where it is now is never easy. In the previous years, he said they encountered a major setback when they initially were not able to handle the high demand of their projects.
“When we had the Celerina project, we never expected it would sell fast, we were only thinking of P300 million at that time, but it doubled. So, we were not able to handle it as expected, so we have to slow down, which affected our sales,” Domingo said.
But presently, the company is way past that phase. It has recovered and is exceeding the target set by the management.
“We are a lot better compared to the other years. I did not expect to achieve our target earlier than what we expected,” Domingo said.
For this year, SLDC has already met their annual target of P400 million in sales as early as August. The company’s sales team is positive to reach P500 million by the end of the year.
“We hope to maintain this momentum so we can be within our goal of five to 10 percent growth yearly for the next 10 years,” Domingo said.
New business ventures
The homegrown developer is not only limiting itself to what they are now. They are starting to venture on new business endeavors while strengthening its bid as a quality housing provider to Dabawenyos.
Domingo said that they are now entering the realm of agribusiness, hospitality, and construction, among others.
For Agribusiness, SLDC is operating a 13-hectare farm in Panabo City - Syntek Farms. The layer poultry farm is currently producing 210,000 eggs every month.
He said they intend to increase the farm’s capacity to 300,000 eggs. The company sells bulk of its production to Davao City while the remaining supply goes to Butuan, Cotabato, and other parts in the island.
Domingo added that plans of entering feed milling and piggery businesses are underway.
SLDC is also reviving its construction business.
“Long time ago we have Davao Environs, this now-defunct company deals with government projects, but we remain to be a contractor. Now we are going back to this kind of business because of our condominium and hotel projects in Bajada - Ivory Residences Condominium and Obsidian Suites Hotel,” he said.
Domingo added that they have a team of competent engineers and architects who is managing the construction business.
“In the future, all of the projects of the buildings we are constructing will be done by us through our soon-to-be-launched construction firm,” he said.
Domingo said that with the new direction the company is taking, he is more than confident to achieve its goals because of the company’s hardworking employees and the pool of young executives who can help move the business forward.