MANILA, Philippines — Hijo Resources Corp. (HRC) is targeting to attract more investors into its 132-hectare smart city in Davao del Norte, which is expected to bring in over $10 billion revenues into the Mindanao region over the next 10 years as it features agricultural, industrial, residential and commercial components, among others.
The company recently launched its 132-hectare Hijo Central, a mixed-used project with commercial and residential components, located in Barangay Madaum, Tagum City in Davao del Norte.
The project sits within HRC’s 1,054-hectare property which was once the country’s biggest plantation of Cavendish bananas that first found their way to foreign markets sometime in the late 1960s.
“We are establishing a smart city, a hub for foodtech, biotech, and agritech. Smart cities are not just about technology. It is about building an ecosystem of smart people, smart place and smart planet,” said HRC vice chair and chief executive officer Rosanna Tuason-Fores.
Tuason-Fores said Hijo Central is envisioned to be a tourism hub, agriculture base, residential address, commercial area, industrial district, leisure and nature park all rolled into one.
She said the project would also include a digital agricultural marketplace – a disruptive platform that connects farmers to global customers.
HRC has partnered with The Kitchen Israel and Dr. Nini to establish a food innovation hub where entrepreneurial ideas are exchanged, labs are available to test these ideas, and academe and private support for commercialization to maximize value in the growing food market.
Tuason-Fores said they continue to attract more investors into the smart city, noting that she recently went to Singapore to explore the possibility of connecting with prospective investors who are into boutique hotels, which are also suitable in Hijo Central.
Hijo Central will feature components such as the Hijo Industrial Estates, Hijo Port, the Plantation Villas, Los Rayos, Banana Beach, Weddings Recreation and Events Center, Plantation House, Trinity Project and the banana plantation areas.
HRC president and COO Ramon Segismundo emphasized that the accessibility of the location is a factor that could lure in investors into the smart city, as the coastal road linking Tagum City to Davao City and even Digos City shall reportedly also pass in the area. The coastal road cuts travel time between Davao City and Tagum City by 20 minutes, which brings it down to only 40 minutes travel time.
In addition, it is also ideal for residential, tourism, agriculture and even industrial purposes, should plans push through for the possible relocation of the Davao International Airport in the northern part of Southern Mindanao.
Segismundo also gave the assurance that the necessary groundwork pertaining to water, power, telecommunications and sustainability needs are properly addressed as the Hijo Central projects takes its full shape.
HRC said it is teaming up with topnotch providers like Meralco and JE Hydro & Bio Energy Corp. for the establishment of a water system in the area that would be environmentally sustainable and could also possibly be used by other consumers outside of the township.
It added that PLDT and Smart will also handle the communication requirements within Hijo Central city.
While the smart city targets to create economic activity, Tuason-Fores said Hijo Central would also be a sustainable development that is walkable and livable as it is socially responsive – environmentally sustainable and economically viable.
“We will preserve and promote the local cultural heritage and art, offering a unique place for everyone to live in and at the same time locate their businesses in,” Tuason-Forres said.
HRC emphasized that 49 percent of the 132-hectare smart city will be allotted for lush green space and strictly not sold to maintain the area’s natural landscape. It added that bike lanes and even paths will also be established around the Smart City to allow residents to walk around the community.
The 132- hectare project traverses the rivers of Hijo, Liboganon and Madaum which are vital for the sustainability of the project and in terms of connectability, it also has three hectares for multi-modal transport terminal and the boulevard itself has four lanes.
HRC said it also partnered with Urban Design Planning International (UPDI) for the masterplan of a big-ticket project such as the Hijo Central.
“As to what we are going to do during the first phase, nothing is final yet. We still have to discuss,” UPDI managing director and CEO Sujata Govada said.
Moreover, Tuason-Fores said she envisions Hijo Central to be a place that delivers sustainable social change.
“That progress and development is not synonymous with disruption or destruction whether it be the community or environment. We take care of our common home,” Tuason-Fores said.
