KMC Savills | Research and Insights Report for 2019

Promoting Health and Well-being in the Workplace: Simple exercises you can squeeze in within your workspace

Finding time to exercise can be a challenge, especially for those who work 8am to 5pm office jobs. This lack of activity doesn’t just affect your health; it can have a direct impact on your work performance and employee engagement. According to a research published on the Journal of Workplace Health…

Investing in residential real estate: Deciding factors when buying a condominium as an investment

Real estate is one of the most established, yet exciting industries to invest in the Philippines. With the growing need for commercial and residential spaces for professional or personal utility, many Filipinos aim to acquire properties as a long-term investment. With the development of master-pla…

JEG Tower @ One Acacia holds topping off ceremony

The construction of JEG Tower @ One Acacia, Cebu City’s newest premium green building, is right on schedule. Marking the completion of the structural construction phase of the building, the tower held its topping off ceremony last November 19, 2019, on the 22nd floor of the building. JEG Developme…

Computing the ideal office size for your business

Many businesses mark a milestone when they finally decide to lease an office space. While the flexibility of virtual office is favorable for many, some businesses still benefit from having an actual office space-not only for the company but also for its employees as well. An office can also cultivat…

Oakridge Business Park: Weaving a community where work and play coexist

As the idea of a workplace and business districts continues to evolve, more key business locations strive to integrate work and life balance for their employees. While Mandaue City may be a relatively new key location in Cebu for mixed-use developments, Oakridge Business Park has long been weaving a…

Infrastructure tops 2020 PH budget, Project priority list revised

Infrastructure remains to be the Duterte Administration’s top priority as it gets the biggest allocation from the approved 2020 budget. In the approved 2020 national budget, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allotted P972.5 billion to fund the continuous roll of the ‘Build Build Buil…

Manta Corporate Plaza to rise in Arca South - Grade A building, leasing soon

Manta Corporate Plaza offers additional office and commercial spaces for businesses that are looking to locate in Metro Manila’s next central business district and lifestyle hub, Arca South. It is developed by one of the key players of the industry, Manta Equities, Inc., which is also behind NAC Tow…

From 8-digit landline numbers to energy efficiency: 2019 Legislation that can affect your business

Last October 6, National Telecommunications Commission’s directive to shift to the eight-digit landline number format was fully implemented. This is seven months later than the original migration date set by NTC in response to petitions filed by companies and establishments to provide ample time to …

Oakridge IT Center 3: Now offering Office spaces based on the way you work

Cebu has always been the center of trade and business in the Visayan region. Over the years, the province has established itself as one of the key cities in the Philippines for businesses to expand into a nationwide scale. Thanks to its bustling tourism industry, continuous infrastructure developmen…

Nordic Awards Night 2019 finalists announced

NordCham Philippines, together with the Embassies of Denmark, Norway, Sweden in Manila, the Embassy of Finland in Kuala Lumpur, and the Philippines Norway Business Council are proud to present the sixth edition of the annual Nordic Awards Night at the Fairmont Makati Ballroom on October 23, 2019 at …

Oakridge inks partnership with KMC

Oakridge Realty Development Corp. (ORDC) has tapped KMC as one of its full-service real estate partners for their new office developments. Oakridge Director for Sales and Operations, Anne Liu, officially inked the partnership with KMC Executive Director for Investor Services, Melo Porciuncula, and …

Disrupting the Workplace: New Designs to Implement in 2020

The idea of a workplace has been changing as new design trends and modern technology allow more flexibility. From stuffy, boxed, and uniformed cubicle styled floors, office layouts and workplace designs are now varied from open floor plans to colorful hubs that aim to be trendy and more functional. …

US-China Trade Tension: Impacts on PH Business

The United States and China are currently locked in a trade conflict, putting the Philippines in between the economic tension. In August, President Donald Trump announced that he will impose higher taxes or tariffs on Chinese imports. In turn, China is doing the same to US products. Given the Phili…

Top commercial real estate terms first-time tenants need to know

Commercial real estate may be an intimidating and overwhelming sector, especially for those who will venture into it for the first time. When businesses decide that it’s finally time for them to lease an office space, it is important that they familiarize themselves with these commercial real estate…

Home to innovation, Open to possibilities: Felina Corporate Plaza offers more PEZA-accredited office spaces in Eastwood Cybercity

Local and multinational companies are now considering Quezon City as a viable location for their office space or headquarters in the Philippine capital. More than the mostly untapped labor pool and market that will be coming from the North of Metro Manila, it is also named as among the top Philippin…

Defining Sustainability: Casas+Architects discusses why it matters in design and construction

As the call for more initiatives to combat climate change has become more urgent, sustainable and ‘green’ real estate is seen to be one of the most effective efforts from the building and construction sector to take part in. Casas+Architects is one of the country’s pioneers in designing better bu…

What low inflation means for the PH

The inflation rate finally hits below the government’s predicted target. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the headline inflation rate is now at 1.7% -- a significant drop from July 2019’s 2.4%. The PSA associated the decline to the slower annual increase in the heavily-weighted food…

Walkability enhancing commercial viability of next wave cities

Because of the worsening condition of climate change, changing population demographics, and a drive towards expanding beyond city centers, there has been a shift in trends on how urban spaces are being planned and laid out towards efficiency. Next wave cities in the Philippines such as Clark and Il…

In the Vault: KMC Through the Years

Looking back to a Legendary Decade As KMC celebrates 10 legendary years in the Philippine real estate scene, trace the milestones that made the company what it is today. Fast forward to 2019, KMC is now one of the country’s fastest-growing corporate real estate and property consultancy firms build…

How LEED certification help in reducing Carbon footprint

Climate scientists have agreed that the worsening condition of climate change can be contributed to human activities. The building and construction sector alone accounts for nearly 40 percent of the total energy-related CO2 emissions and 36 percent of final energy use worldwide. As the growing popu…

ARB launches its latest office in Alabang and additional PH expansion plans

ARB Call Facilities, Inc., established in 2016, continues to expand its operations in the Philippines after seeing its potential as a business location. The leading BPO partnered with top full-service real estate firm, KMC, in acquiring their three floors at the Southpark Corporate Center in Alabang…

Felina Corporate Plaza signs co-landlord agreement with Colliers International, KMC

KMC Savills and Colliers International will manage the leasing transactions for Felina Corporate Plaza. These leading real estate consultancy firms in the country recently entered into a co-landlord agreement for one of the creative hubs located in Eastwood, Quezon City. KMC Executive Director fo…

Clark Beyond Business: Leisure and Travel

Tourism remains to be one of the country’s top economic drivers. In 2018, the government has marked an all-time high in tourist arrivals in the country. The Department of Tourism is looking forward to the possibility of hitting the government’s target of 8.2 million arrivals for 2019 as there has be…

Doing Business in the Philippines: Clark poses potential as major retail hub

Clark continues to be one of the next wave cities with respectable growth driven by increasing GDP, growing OFW remittances, more employment opportunities, and higher income. The demand for retail is rooted in the high consumer confidence of Filipinos. According to the latest Nielsen Consumer Confi…

Designing a more inclusive workplace for PWDs

The Philippines is pushing for a more inclusive workforce in the country. To amend the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities, Senator Bam Aquino filed a bill to require government and private offices to employ more PWDs in office. Under the current law, companies with more than 100 employees are…

Additional office space to bring more BPO, POGO companies in Clark

The outsourcing industry has a stronghold as one of the country's top economic drivers, accounting for roughly 9% of the GDP. While many BPO and POGO companies have chosen the capital as the location of their main headquarters, next wave cities beyond Metro Manila are starting to establish themselve…

New Home, Bright Future: Remitly opens main satellite office in Manila

New home. Bright future, Same promise delivered. Remitly - the global online remittance service - has opened its largest office outside of the United States. The new property, which is significantly larger than Remitly’s previous Manila office, is already home to around 500 employees, with signifi…

Influx of Japanese investment good for PH economy

Japan maintains its position as one of the Philippines’ strongest trade partner despite the strong government alliances being built with China. To date, Japanese investment is pegged at $1.24 billion, aiming to produce 16,000 jobs in multiple industries. Several Japanese firms pledged to invest in …

Beyond Business: What makes Alabang an ideal location for work and play

Alabang was not always known as the business district it is today. Far before it had its economic boom, this part of Muntinlupa City was a farmland and was more of an extension of the southern provinces of Luzon than part of Metro Manila. Today, it is one of the booming satellite cities at par with…

PH one of the least expensive Asian cities for expats, 24th best place to work in

The Philippines continues to be the top pick for expatriates looking or being assigned abroad. Out of all the Asian countries, it is one of the least expensive cities for employees working outside their home country. Manila ranked 109th out of the 210 cities in the most recent survey, rising 29 spo…

Gov’t to collect ceramic tiles tariff

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is pushing to collect a provisional safeguard duty of PHP3 per kilogram on imported ceramic floor and wall tiles. In support of the Department of Trade and Industry’s imposition of the safeguard duty on ceramic floor and wall tiles from abroad, the BOC has issued Customs …

TRAIN Law 2: How it affects your PEZA incentives

House Bill No. 8083 or the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-Quality Opportunities (TRABAHO) Bill has failed to be fully passed into law as the 17th Congress officially ended this month. While the Department of Finance has been actively campaigning for its passage, the Philippine Economic Zo…

NCR Eco Zone Ban: Guide to Facts and Major Impacts

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the halting of the application processing of economic zones in Metro Manila. Administrative Order No. 18 was issued last June 22 placing the whole National Capital Region under a moratorium for approved special economic zones. Due to its imminent implementation…

Comparing Asian Office Lease Rates: Asian offices most expensive in the world

Office markets across Asia are expected to operate within a stabilized pace of expansion as more and more multinational companies continue to see the potential of the region to be one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Technology companies and flexible space operators, including coworking and…

Manta Equities, Inc. signs KMC Savills, Inc. as Sole Leasing Agency for New Premier Office

Manta Equities, Inc. has formally partnered with leading real estate firm, KMC Savills, Inc. for the leasing requirements of their new premier office development, Manta Corporate Plaza. The Grade A office addition will be the first corporate office to rise in the newest central business and lifestyl…

Building a more livable Cebu: Top 5 green initiatives in Cebu City

As the condition of Climate Change continues to worsen, more and more institutions are driving programs and initiatives to help in combatting its effects and minimize harmful impacts on the environment. According to global reports, the world is already at its “tipping point” wherein various activiti…

Doing Business in the Philippines: POGO regulations every business should know

The Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators continue to bring growth to the country’s revenue. The POGO sector has registered a significant increase in 2018 after it recorded PHP 7.265 billion in revenues. This is double the amount the sector contributed in 2016 and 2017 combined. According to Phil…

6 soon-to-rise Manila Bay Reclamation sites in 2019

The Philippine Reclamation Authority is moving forward with its reclamation projects for the year. According to PRA data, there are 19 reclamation projects lined up for the National Capital Region currently in various stages of application, permitting and implementation. Most of the projects are par…

KMC kicks off its 10th year with big win as Best Employer for Innovation in Career Development

Opening its 10th year anniversary celebration, KMC once again proved that real, long lasting success lies in the professional growth and development of its talented team. Recently, the World HRD Congress recognized the Philippines leading real estate consultancy firm as one of the Best Employers in …

Top 5 reasons why Clark is the ideal location for the industrial sector

The Philippine industrial sector consists of three important business fronts: manufacturing, construction, and foreign trade and exports. These account for one-third of the country’s production, making it an important economic facet with 6.3% annum growth rate. Outside of Metro Manila, Central Lu…

Pillars of the industry, pillars of the family: Top KMC execs talk work-life integration

The pillars of the real estate industry have been frequently associated with straight lines and sharp edges. Over the years, the strongmen behind the evolution of the industry have taken a new and softer form made evident by the leaders of KMC, the leading real estate consultancy, and flexible offic…

Framing the Philippine Fintech Landscape: Liannet Trading receives CEZA license for virtual currency

As the Philippines continues to ride with the global paradigm shift from competition to collaboration between banks and firms, the Financial Technology (Fintech) industry in the country is emerging as one of the booming economic drivers today. According to the ASEAN FinTech Census 2018, companie…

JEG Tower @ One Acacia: Bring Work To Life this 2020

Work-life balance never looked this green! JEG Tower @ One Acacia is right on schedule. The building nears its top off in the 3rd quarter of 2019 and ready for turnover 1st quarter of 2020. Located at Arch. Reyes Ave. cor. Acacia Street, Cebu City, JEG Tower is set to be an icon among office build…

Philippine Senate Election 2019: Key stands on major economic issues

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has recently proclaimed the new batch of senators for the 18th Congress. In under two weeks since election day, all votes have been transmitted and finalized despite delays and questions of transparency. The Magic 12 is led by reelected Senator Cynthia Villar a…

The Philippines’ Slowing GDP: A Cause for Concern?

GDP Reaches Lowest Growth Rate in 4 Years Philippine economic growth declined to 5.6% in 1Q 2019, the slowest economic growth recorded for the Philippines in four years according to the Philippine Statistic Authority. As a result, the World Bank expects the Philippine economy to grow at the marg…

Defining Innovation in Real Estate

“The people of Cebu deserve so much more.” This is the message that JEG Development Corp. (JDC)’s Chief Operating Officer, Marko Sarmiento wants to communicate when he and his family conceptualized JEG Tower @ One Acacia, Cebu’s first green building to join the growing number of Metro Cebu’s skylin…

Beyond Metro: Clark, Iloilo, and Cebu as top locations for BPO

As the Business Processing Outsourcing industry continues to hold a steady stance as one of the country's top economic drivers, BPO companies have started locating and operationalizing outside Metro Manila. While many of the country's BPO companies have chosen the Philippine capital region as the …

How TRAIN 2 will affect businesses in the Philippines

The Philippines has been known to be one of the countries that have the highest taxes in the Southeast Asian Region. Recently, the government has been aggressively reforming the taxation system in the country especially after the successful passage of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (T…

Bridging the estate gap: The Upper Class to bring premium offices in Quezon City

Quezon City is now an emerging location for businesses and companies who want to capture the labor pool and market that will be coming from the North of Metro Manila. In fact, the city is named as among the top Philippine destinations for new businesses. QC is also set to be the fastest growing p…

Best Locations for Start Up Businesses in the Philippines

Leasing an office space is probably one of the milestones for any start up business. Many studies and researches have been linking the productivity of employees as well as the cultivation of a company culture rooting from the existence of traditional office spaces. While it should be one of the top …

Siargao is the next tourism gem for PH

Philippine tourism gets an extra boost as Siargao goes increasingly popular for local and international travelers. Deemed as "Asia's Best Island" by Condé Nast (CN) Traveler, the popular teardrop-shaped island in Surigao del Norte was recognized as top location out of the best 30 islands in the worl…

Why the Mega Manila Subway is good for PH capital

Efficient mass transport is proving to be more vital to a country's social mobility and economy. As the government makes a major investment in infrastructure through the Build, Build, Build program, better transport systems such as the Mega Manila Subway pose greater impacts to the Philippine econom…

MICE industry is expected to boost PH Tourism in 2019

The Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Entertainment sector continues to show great potential in boosting Philippine Tourism this year. MICE locations usually offer high-quality venues and first-class hotels and facilities fitting for international gatherings and special events. These locations a…

The importance of an office for your business

Since the emergence of co-working spaces and companies that are more open to remote employees and virtual meetings, there have been many discussions and debate whether companies still need an office space in order to function and operationalize. While the flexibility of a virtual office is favorable…

DOT: PH records all time high in tourist arrivals

The Department of Tourism has recorded an all-time high for tourist arrivals in the Philippines in 2018. According to their year-end report, a total of 7,127,188 tourists have visited the Philippines last year, a figure that is 7.65 percent higher than 2017's 6.62 million arrivals. This is also a r…

Breaking Barriers: Top KMC professionals redefine PH real estate success

For generations, pink has been the color commonly associated with femininity. As time progressed, the women's movement took over the confining stereotype and has been retold under a different narrative-one of great contribution and quality work in various fields. Selected KMC professionals redef…

KMC Savills Cebu Office Briefing 4Q 2018

KMC Savills is pleased to present the latest Office Briefing for 4Q 2018. The report provides current data on rental rates, vacancies, and supply pipeline in Cebu's central business districts and submarkets for the previous quarter. Key Highlights: The improvement in Cebu's office vacancy rate w…

Manila tops world’s market for luxury homes in 2018

Manila overtakes first class cities such as Paris, Boston, and San Francisco as the world's best market for luxury homes in 2018. According to the Prime International Research Index (PIRI), the country's capital claimed the top spot due to an 11 percent increase in prices the previous year. The Wea…

Mega Manila Subway to bring more accessibility to NCR offices

The construction of the long-awaited Metro Manila or Mega Manila Subway is now underway. The Department of Transportation recently broke ground on the Philippines' first underground railway last February 27, 2019. The first phase of the joint Japanese-Filipino project of Shimizu Corp., Fujita Corp.,…

Insular Life Building revisited: What made it the gem of the Makati skyline

There is a reason why Insular Life remains one of the leading insurance companies in the Philippines even after a century of service: its ability to evolve with the changing times. As the iconic Insular Life Building along Ayala Avenue re-opened for leasing after a two-year renovation period, the c…

Quick win renovations that can be completed to add value to your property

Owning a property can be a smart investment. But with quick changing pace of the real estate market, its value may go up and down regularly. To make sure that you make the most out of residential property, you should aim to utilize its potential by making a minimal investment while aiming maximize…

Megaworld leads office developments in 2018

Megaworld supplies the majority of office developments in 2018. The company strengthened its position as it effectively controlled office space leasing nationwide. The developer is forecasted to expand its portfolio by 1.5 million square meters of gross leasable area by 2020. 2018 Metro Manila Offi…

Gov’t to impose safeguard duty on cement

The Department of Trade and Industry is aiming to make the cement industry more competitive. As a form of tax regulation, they have imposed a "provisional safeguard duty" on imported cement to avoid placing local cement producers at a disadvantage when competing with international manufacturers. …

KMC Savills Metro Manila Office Briefing 4Q 2018

KMC Savills is pleased to present the latest Office Briefing for 4Q 2018. The report provides current data on rental rates, vacancies, and supply pipeline in Metro Manila's central business districts and submarkets for the previous quarter. Key Highlights: Metro Manila saw 746,900 sq m of new Gr…

PH GDP growth increases in Q4 2018

The Philippine Statistics Authority recently announced that the country's GDP grew 6.1% in 4Q 2018 bringing 2018 full year growth to 6.2%, missing the government's downward-revised 6.5 to 6.9% target and slower than the 6.7% growth recorded in 2017. Improvement was seen in the industry sector as it…

Securing your rental home in 10 easy steps

Feel secure even in the comforts of your rental home. Make moving into a new place a peaceful and hassle-free experience by applying easy fixes to protect your home. Picking the correct residential location might play a big role in ensuring that a property is always guarded but it's better to b…

Robinsons Gamma hosts new coworking spaces in Ortigas

Robinsons Land moves to meet the growing demand for new office space for rent in Ortigas Central Business District. Robinsons Cyberscape Gamma is the newest addition in its office building portfolio and now carries the brand-new coworking expansion of KMC Solutions. Ortigas' New Breed of Workspa…

Ortigas introduces new offices for lease

The Ortigas central business district has been modernizing with the introduction of new office Grade A office buildings. As one of the larger business districts in Metro Manila, it is one of the top business and retail hubs in the country containing the largest shopping malls, government agencies, a…

KMC Savills: Office market expects boom in vacancies by end of 2018

The Metro Manila office market has seen an increase in vacancies after the completion of 182,900 sq m of additional office space. In KMC Savills' 3Q/2018 Office Briefing, the vacancy rate is pegged at 3.7% of the total stock and is expected to balloon to 5.0% by yearend. Metro Manila expects a tota…

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