Rafaelito Barino (sixth from left) and his wife, Fe, (fifth from left) Duros Land Properties Inc. president and vice president respectively, lead the launching of The Woodlands Resort Communities and groundbreaking of One Tectona Tower in Yati, Liloan.
CDN PHOTO/JEFF RUFFOLO
Cebu’s real estate development goes up to the northern town of Liloan as homegrown real estate developer Duros Land Properties Inc. (DLPI) announces its commitment to pour in five billion pesos for a 10-hectare residential development that includes an 18-hole golf course.
Within The Woodlands Resort Communities will rise five condominium towers designed to cater to the needs of Japanese retirees and offer timeshare arrangements to business and leisure travelers.
A total of 193 single family homes or villas will also be built within the property. Residents will have access to the Liloan Golf and Leisure Estate, which is personally designed by DLPI president and chief executive officer Rafaelito Barino.
Rafaelito and wife Fe, who is DLPI vice president, along with their Japanese business partner Kazunari Nakamura of NKFG Consultancy Inc., led the launching of The Woodlands Resort Communities and the groundbreaking of One Tectona Tower, the first high-rise condominium in northern Cebu.
“By 2025, it is expected that there are more than 30 million Japanese citizens who will be retiring or facing their senior years. Cebu offers the best place for the retirees with the year-round warm weather, friendly local community and local cuisine,” said Nakamura.
While the billion-peso development caters to the Japanese market, DLPI vice president Fe Barino emphasized that the local community of Liloan will not be left behind in terms of economic development.
Barino said more than 300 construction positions will be needed as the construction of One Tectona Tower commences. More full-time jobs will be available for local residents as construction for the rest of the development continues.
The resort community is located in Yati, Liloan where Fe Barino’s family hails from. This is why, she said, the company thinks of the welfare of the community.
“Although nearly all of our clientele will be from Japan, we are making every possible effort to reach out to the local Liloan community and have them benefit from this incredibly beautiful destination. Liloan is a peaceful community and both I and my extended family have lived here for generations,” she said.
Lydwena Eco, The Woodlands project director, said there will be high demand for full time caregivers and hospitality management professionals such as chefs, waiters, housekeeping personnel and drivers to cater to the needs of the retirees.
“Our clients from Japan are retired and they are looking for an enriching and full life experience here in the Philippines. Because of their social status, they could literally live anywhere. But we can offer something nowhere in Japan can because we all live in a land without winter and winter can be, at times, brutal for seniors there,” said Eco.
Phase 1 of The Woodlands is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.