While many townships continue to reduce open areas to make way for new buildings, Quadruple A developer DMCI Homes is taking a different route.
The company is expanding green and open spaces within Acacia Estates in Taguig to give residents more room to breathe, move, and unwind.
DMCI Homes plans to increase the township’s total open space to 66 hectares, based on a redevelopment plan recently presented by Landscape Architect Alexis Valiente, assistant vice-president of the Concepts and Landscape Management Department to members of the media.
“This raises the per-capita open space allocation to as much as 14 square meters per resident as part of our ongoing redevelopment of Acacia Estates,” Arch. Valiente said.
Arch. Valiente said this means residents will have greater access to parks, walkways, and outdoor areas, even as the township continues to grow.
At present, Acacia Estates has about 24 hectares of open space. With an additional 42 hectares set to be developed in the coming years, the total will reach 66 hectares.
Currently, residents already enjoy an average of 12 square meters of open space per person, with some areas providing at least 10 square meters. This already exceeds the 9 square meters per person minimum recommended by the World Health Organization.
The open space expansion forms part of a broader township enhancement program that includes a comprehensive upscaling of Town Center at Acacia Estates and improved everyday conveniences within the community.
Under the plan, the Town Center will be transformed into a vibrant community hub featuring a two-storey commercial strip, a supermarket, and al fresco dining areas. These will be complemented by a central plaza, promenade, activity stage, and the new 6.8 hectares of landscaped open space collectively known as Acacia Park Central.
Acacia Park Central will introduce additional parks and nature-inspired leisure spaces, an expanded plant nursery to support greening initiatives, upgraded open fields and activity zones, as well as an Eco-Center and Rain Garden. A new multipurpose venue is likewise being developed to serve as a hub for community gatherings, celebrations, and other shared activities.
The development of Acacia Park Central will be carried out in phases. Phase 1 which includes the Acacia Community Pavilion and parking areas is targeted for completion in 2027. The Acacia Active Grove and Acacia Botanica, meanwhile, will be developed in subsequent phases.
Open Spaces as Social Infrastructure
Beyond numbers, design experts emphasize that open spaces play a deeper role in shaping everyday life.
Dr. Cathe Nadal, assistant professor at the University of the Philippines College of Architecture and a landscape architect (PALA, IFLA-APR), said that for landscape architects, open spaces go beyond greenery and environmental function.
“As landscape architects, one of the few things we always keep in mind is that open spaces are not just about plants or nature-based solutions,” Ms. Nadal said. “They also serve as our social infrastructure.”
She explained that experience is always the top priority in designing these spaces. Their true value, she said, becomes evident when people actively use them.
“When you see people going outside and spending time in these open spaces, that’s when you realize that real estate development is not just about building properties,” Ms. Nadal said. “Developments like Acacia Estates show that real estate developers are slow creators of places, spaces that our communities increasingly need in the Philippines.”
Market analysts note that this focus aligns with buyer preferences.
According to Joey Roi Bondoc, research director at Colliers Philippines, access to green and open spaces consistently ranks high in property investment considerations.
“At Colliers, we would always hold surveys among our respondents in our guest property briefings and what’s interesting is that they all said that green sustainability and open space are very important and are in fact crucial whenever they make property investment decisions,” Mr. Bondoc said.
Protecting Spaces Residents Value
A defining characteristic of Acacia Estates is how its open spaces are managed and preserved. Unlike highly commercialized districts, the township was designed with residents as its primary users.
Commercial establishments within Acacia estates are calibrated to serve the community rather than draw high volumes of visitors, helping prevent congestion.
DMCI Homes President Alfredo Austria said maintaining this balance is a conscious choice.
“Here in Acacia Estates, the open spaces are designed for residents,” Mr. Austria said. “These open spaces don’t become crowded. You see, in Metro Manila, if you have a nice open space and it’s open to everybody because of so many commercial areas around, very soon it will become crowded and it will not be as relaxing anymore.”
DMCI Homes is the country’s first Quadruple A real estate developer, with projects in Mega Manila, Baguio City, Tuba in Benguet, San Juan in Batangas, Boracay, Cebu City, and Davao City. Each of its properties is built with world-standard craftsmanship borne from D.M. Consunji, Inc.’s over 70 years of expertise in the construction and development industry.
To learn more about DMCI Homes’ pre-selling and ready for occupancy projects, units for lease, and special promos, call (632) 5324-8888. You can also visit leasing.dmcihomes.com to know more about opportunities in leasing and rent-to-own programs of DMCI Homes. News and other updates are also posted on the company’s official website and social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by publishing their stories on the BusinessWorld Web site. For more information, send an email to [email protected].
Join us on Viber at https://bit.ly/3hv6bLA to get more updates and subscribe to BusinessWorld’s titles and get exclusive content through www.bworld-x.com.
Leave a comment