ALVIERA is giving Porac its necessary lift.
Industry- and economy-wise, the continuing development of this 1,800-hectare mixed-use project by a partnership between Ayala Land and Leonio Land could very well serve as the anchor of a new wave of progress for this eastern town of Pampanga.
It’s not that we’re saying that Porac should leave its quarry business. Nope, not at all. The white sand has given the town and even the province of Pampanga a multi-billion peso revenue throughout the years. Under the time of Governor Lilia Pineda, some P3 billion was earned since July 2010.
But for a town to have only about a P300-million annual budget is a different story altogether. For a town that supplies majority of the sand requirement of huge construction projects but has its own major entry point – the Angeles-Porac Road - destroyed by sand and gravel trucks (and also have it perennially repaired to the consternation of investors, residents, stakeholders) requires some rethinking.
Industrialization may just be the way to go for Porac. Alviera could bring that in as it develops not only a medium to upscale residential enclave, but is also putting in not just one but two industrial estates.
Observers have welcomed the developments in Porac. They believe that the town can now usher in a new paradigm of progress where it can build a Central Business District around. This will test the mettle of the new leadership headed by Mayor Jing Capil whom we believe is studying all possibilities for progress.
In a press briefing Friday, Leo Grape, Alviera project associate manager and acting General Manager at Alviera Country Club, said that a total of P5.3 billion have been actually invested in the initial stages of development of the master-planned estate that features a diverse mix of residential dwellings, commercial districts, industrial parks, institutions and leisure facilities.
The industrial estate, in its initial phase, would employ 450 workers, Grape said.
Locators inside the Alviera Industrial Park (AIP) include food manufacturer Monde Nissin Corporation, Laguna Technopark Inc. and Mitsubishi Standard Factory Building locator, Badan Building Materials Corporation, a manufacturing company of engineered stones.
In the pipeline is Heavy Duty Manufacturing, Inc. which will be breaking ground for its warehousing facility within the year. While still filling up the estate, another 32 hectares of land is being primed for industrial projects and will be ready by next year. A transport terminal that will ferry workers to major points in the cities of Angeles, Mabalacat and San Fernando is also being built.
By July 31, the 5.6-hectare Alviera Country Club, envisioned to become a premium fitness and recreation center in the province and in the region, will open its doors to shareholders.
Alviera, which carries its three Ayala Land products Avida, Aveo and Ayala Land Primier, is fast selling where about 98 percent of the residential lots in Phase One have been sold while Phase Two takeaways are already at 60 percent.
Urban planners believe that with the progress and developments now also spilling from nearby Clark Freeport, Alviera will attract local and international markets and support local economic growth. The estate is positioned to complement and propel economic activities across the region as well as nurture contemporary lifestyles by integrating residential, business, tourism, and leisure pursuits.
Aside from the industrial park and club, land development on the estate continues. The Alviera East Commercial Center will be completed next year. Campuses for Miriam College Alviera and Holy Angel University are under planning and to commence construction in the next years for their target completion and operations in 2022 and 2023, respectively, as is the 23-hectare La Salle Botanical Garden. The botanical garden already has its nursery in place and will be operational by 2020.
Alviera is also paying it forward with its community-related projects by helping build Sapang Uwak Elementary school in its new location, school kits distribution in Sapang Uwak and Hacienda Dolores under its Alay Sa Edukasyon program, alongside its Brigada Eskwela and a Feeding Program in partnership with DepEd.
It also helps sell fresh produce of Barangay Sapang Uwak and provides mobile canteen of Dolorian’s Coop, providing meals to staff and workers.
New industry. New thrusts. New Porac.