By Ric Sapnu
(The Philippine Star) | Updated June 30, 2013 - 12:00am
MANILA,
Philippines - Subic Bay Freeport could be the next Guam, Ronald Wang said in a
statement read by Dr. Johnson Yang, chairman of the Subic-based Grand Pillar
International Development, Inc.,
Wang,
chairman of property developer Century 21 Subic Bay and also chairman and chief
executive officer of Century 21 Taiwan, Century 21 Asia Pacific, and Fantai
Real Estate Management Co., expressed high hopes for Subic as the next best
thing in the real estate business.
“Subic is the
next Guam in terms of economic growth,” Wang said.
Wang was the
guest speaker in the groundbreaking ceremony for Grand Pillar’s Mi Casa
Terrace, a P170 million three-storey commercial and office building project to
be constructed in the Freeport Zone.
Wang said
that when he was invited by Dr. Yang to Subic several years ago, he felt the
passion in Subic and the opportunity that awaited in terms of leisure and
commercial development.
“This is the
reason why when I attended the 10th Asian Real Estate Association of America
Global Summit held in Hawaii in May (2013), I was inspired and had the
confidence to present to all the delegates and participants of the summit that
Subic could be the next Guam,” he said.
Guam is a
tiny island in the Western Pacific, which attracts more than one million
tourists annually from Asia and America because of its more than 20 luxury
hotels, duty free shops, indoor aquarium, entertainment venues, and several
golf courses in what is dubbed as the Pleasure Island District.Subic is said to
have the potential to replicate Guam’s real estate boom because of its natural
attractions that include mountain forests and the Subic Bay.
Subic Bay
Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman and administrator Roberto V. Garcia,
meanwhile, said that the proposed three-storey commercial building is another
manifestation of the increasing demand for spaces intended for tourism-related
businesses.
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