THE best of Cebu is now in Negros Occidental, as the King Properties started to develop Casa Rufina, the first horizontal economic housing project outside of Cebu that is envisioned to be a haven for families, a hub for success, a space for growth and a sustainable community.
It is located at Dos Hermanas in Talisay City, which is very strategic to Bacolod-Silay Airport.
King Property’s president Jason King and cousin Kenneth Raymund King, who is also the firm’s managing director, led the groundbreaking rites of the 5.4-hectare property on March 17 to signal the start of its development.
They were joined by Talisay City officials, namely, Vice Mayor Samuel Siote and Councilors Rolin Meliton, Edmundo Celiz and William Malan, who represented Mayor Neil Lizares.
Jason said this is their first venture outside of Cebu City.
"We have seen a growing economy here. We want to help address the huge housing backlog of about five million houses, a record as of 2017. Homes are still short of supply in terms of socialized housing. What we have positioned is in the economic housing, so it is still a very affordable price range to most Filipinos," he said.
They have a unique business model wherein they will build ahead so that the homeowners can move in sooner once they comply the requirement, he said.
He added it will have an upscale feel, look and design but at a very affordable price.
“We are very happy that we are already here. We feel that this is our second home. The people here are warm and the local government of Talisay is also very supportive of this housing development,” he said.
He said they just want to be part of Talisay City, which is currently considered the prized location of various urban real estate developments.
"We want to build modern, cost-effective and sustainable residential and commercial communities across the Philippines. The homes we build will serve as havens of comfort where traditions are preserved, values are formed and dreams are realized. The corporate and commercial spaces we will establish echo the ideals of innovation and excellence of King Properties," Jason said.
It is their pledge to Talisaynons that they are here to create possibilities for a bright future given God's blessings and grace, he said.
“Casa Rufina will serve as a milestone for our family and King Properties and we are thankful to everyone who has welcomed us to one of the most charming, engaging and progressive cities that we have visited,” Raymund Kenneth said.
"We will build structures where dreams come true," he added.
King Properties is a homegrown developer from Cebu founded by their grandfather, the late Juanito King in 1979. He was a trailblazer who started a path that brought them to Negros.
"Our grandfather had an eye on the future. We have invested time and resources to design and build new and exciting concepts for Cebu markets and now in Negros," Jason said.
He added that they started in the residential development back in the 1990s and ventured into their first vertical project -- Avenir two years ago. It is a 22-storey mixed-use condominium development that is now a home to urban families and individuals as well as start-up business and business process outsourcing companies.