If there is one company that is greatly concerned about developing and building properties around the environment, that is the Philippine property giant, Megaworld Corporation. As they build townships in Bacolod City, one thing is evident–they are definitely developing sustainable townships and working with the environment by growing more plants and trees. Read more.
- Read: President Marcos Leads the Inauguration of Megaworld’s The Upper East Township Marker in Bacolod
Greener Bacolod with More Plants and Trees
While we are happy with the developments all around Bacolod City because these signal progress, we know for a fact that one thing gets sacrificed–the environment.
Megaworld understands the need for businesses to work with the environment for all their investments to become sustainable until the next generation. It is not just about building a real estate empire but establishing communities where residents can thrive in nature vis-a-vis modern and world-class amenities.
In its 34-hectare The Upper East township, the company has retained many of the decades-old trees and planted more to replace the unhealthy ones. There are also many pocket gardens with tropical plants around the townships, which has made it is very refreshing even to just drive by.
A Tree in Honor of First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos
To underscore its emphasis on sustainable developments, Megaworld held a historic tree-planting event in the honor of First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos. The Upper East township was the site of the old Bacolod-Murcia Milling Company (BMMC) that the first lady’s father used to manage. At the event, a Bitaog tree was planted in her honor inside the township.
Endemic to the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia, the Bitaog tree (scientific name: Calophyllum Inophyllum) is revered for its strength, beauty, and fragrant flowers. It usually acts as a natural barrier along coastal areas because of its ability to withstand typhoons and other calamities.
“We are privileged to dedicate this Bitaog tree in honor of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. We are delighted to have this tree become a part of our developmental efforts here in The Upper East. Dedicating this tree to the First Lady is very symbolic for us as it will soon witness the rise of Bacolod’s modern central business district, just like how the century-old trees currently inside the township witnessed the history of BMMC together with Mr. Araneta himself,” says Kevin L. Tan, chief strategy officer, Megaworld.
Preserving Native Trees
Inside The Upper East, Megaworld is preserving about 100 native trees as part of its thrust to highlight sustainability and care for the environment in its township developments across the Philippines. The First Lady’s bitaog tree is now growing in front of two century-old acacia trees on the rotunda along Upper East Avenue.
Plans are also in place to make The Upper East into a “smart development,” where residents and guests of the township can enjoy free WiFi in select locations or explore the entire development either by riding e-vehicles or traveling from one point to another on foot with smart crosswalks.
Bacolod City X Megaworld Corporation
Megaworld Corporation has a special relationship with Bacolod City. In the past, Alliance Global Chairman, Dr. Andrew L. Tan, was declared Honorary Mayor and Adopted Son of Bacolod City.
On the occasion of the 2022 Masskara Festival and the inauguration of The Upper East township, his son Kevin has also been declared an adopted son of Bacolod.
The Upper East inauguration was graced by no less than President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr.
