(GGDC chair Dennis A. Uy seals agreement with a handshake with Suyen Corp. chairman-CEO Ben Chan with GGDC vice-chairman-president Wilfredo A. Placino and Suyen vice president for business development Bryan Lim. Contributed Photo)
CLARK FREEPORT — The group behind the popular Bench brand is expanding its footprint in the real estate business with an investment in Clark Global City (CGC).
Suyen Corp., the group behind Bench, and Global Gateway Development Corp. (GGDC) of the Udenna Group, developer of 177-hectare CGC here, signed a memorandum of agreement on January 30 for the sublease of 2,886 square meters at the latter’s leasehold in this freeport.
“We thank Suyen for choosing to invest in Clark Global City and for sharing our vision for a central business district that will create more opportunities for Filipinos beyond the country’s major cities that have become highly congested,” GGDC chairman Dennis A. Uy said.
Suyen plans to build an office tower for lease in CGC, which has been attracting the biggest demand for office spaces outside of Metro Manila.
Leechiu Property Consultants has cited Udenna’s master- planned development as the main driver of office demand in this freeport, the second- largest office market in the Philippines amid the government’s push to transform the former US military base into a modern and disaster-resilient metropolis.
“We’re bullish on the Philippine economy and seeing how it’s slowly but surely extending to key cities outside of Metro Manila,” Suyen chairman and CEO Ben Chan said.
“Our government has been working hard to promote Clark and to make it much more accessible. There’s a lot that’s been done to develop Clark and even more that can be done to help it reach its full potential, so it’s not hard to see it becoming the next big metropolis it’s poised to be,” Chan added.
CGC is among the four major investment districts in this freeport, a former US Air Force military base being transformed into the country’s next big metropolis as part of efforts to decongest Metro Manila and make the economy’s growth inclusive.
The development is positioned to become the central business district here given its strategic location in a freeport zone; proximity to major infrastructure developments such as the expansion of the Clark International Airport, NLEX-SLEX Connector Road, Subic-Clark Cargo Railway and PNR North Railway; and access to young and highly skilled talents.
With a buildable area of more than 109 hectares, it will host top-grade office buildings, up-market retail outlets, contemporary academic centers, sports centers, an urban park, an iconic tower, in integrated resort and casino, and modern support services and amenities.
“Its sophisticated design addresses common issues such as pollution, traffic, and disaster preparedness, making Clark Global City, in not so many words, an ideal place to put down roots,” Chan said.
“There is also, of course, trust in Dennis Uy and the Udenna Group. There are brilliant minds and capable hands working behind this development, so we are confident that it will be a success,” he added.
Clark Global City was previously envisioned as an aviation- focused logistics park exclusively developed by GGDC. When it took over in 2017, Udenna welcomed local partners to develop it into a central business district. The group has since signed a sublease agreement with SM Prime Holdings, Inc. and a memorandum of agreement with Century Properties Group, Inc. for a joint venture.
“We see the significant role of Clark Global City in helping sustain and even accelerate our economy’s growth,” Uy said.
“Through Clark Global City, we hope to attract more businesses and investors to expand in the Philippines and thereby create more and better employment opportunities for our countrymen. With our partners, we look forward to realizing our vision as soon as possible,” he added.
