Megaworld’s Visayas expansion helps reshape regional economy
- Major townships across 4 provinces drive BPO growth, tourism infrastructure, and urban development
With its multi-sector growth and rising tourism, the Visayas region in the Philippines is undergoing a transformation in its economic landscape. Contributing significantly to this shift is Megaworld Corporation, which is supporting the region’s progress through integrated urban townships that serve as catalysts for economic growth, tourism, and community development. With townships across Iloilo, Cebu, and Bacolod, the company has positioned itself as a transformative force in the region’s evolving economic landscape, earning the title of Best Developer in Visayas at the Philippines Property Awards.
Pioneering Lapu-Lapu’s first CBD
In Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, the 30-hectare Mactan Newtown represents a groundbreaking development—the first-ever central business district in the city, strategically positioned along the coastline just 15 minutes from Mactan-Cebu International Airport. This pioneering township not only elevates business opportunities but also enhances tourism on Mactan Island by integrating residential, office, and hospitality components with direct beachfront access. The township operates its own beach facility with an infinity pool, watersports operations, and dining venues. Two Megaworld Hotels & Resorts properties—Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown and Belmont Hotel Mactan—serve the area, with Belmont scheduled to rebrand as Mercure Mactan Cebu under international hotel management.
Mactan Newtown has positioned itself as a venue for recurring events that draw both local and tourist traffic. The Cebu Mangoes Festival runs annually during summer, while the Cebu Lechon Festival coincides with the Ironman 70.3 Lapu-Lapu weekend. The latter event features more than a dozen dining establishments at Mactan Alfresco, with live preparation demonstrations.
This year, the township added two restaurants from multi-Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay’s portfolio: Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips and Gordon Ramsay Street Burger. Menu adaptations include the Lechon Burger, incorporating charcoal-spit-roasted pulled pork.
of the biggest events of the upcoming ASEAN Summit next year.
Convention infrastructure expansion
Two major facilities are scheduled to open in the township. The Mactan Expo, a two-level beachside convention center, will feature a hall accommodating up to 2,500 guests in theater-style configuration, expanding Cebu’s capacity for large-scale conferences and events.
The Mactan World Museum will focus on Philippine-Spanish cultural exchange, with space for nearly 300 people in its main hall, five exhibit galleries, and monuments of Lapu-Lapu, King Philip II of Spain, and Ferdinand Magellan.
Bacolod: A modern CBD at the heart of government
In Bacolod City, Megaworld is developing a modern central business district right where the seat of government is located. The 34-hectare The Upper East occupies the former site of the Bacolod-Murcia Milling Company BMMC, a historic sugar central, bringing commerce, convenience, and connectivity to the heart of the city through adaptive reuse.
The transformation of this industrial property into a mixed-use township now hosts high-profile retail tenants including what has been called “the most beautiful McDonald’s in the Philippines” and the country’s largest Landers Superstore to date.
The Upper East House, the township’s sales and information center, draws architectural inspiration from the White Mansion that previously occupied the BMMC site. The development now includes residential towers and two office buildings with initial tenants.
Hospitality entry for Negros Island
The 12-story Kingsford hotel will mark Megaworld Hotels & Resorts’ first property on Negros Island. The facility will offer approximately 300 rooms, from standard accommodations to a Presidential Suite exceeding 100 square meters.
Amenities include an Executive Lounge, a pillarless Grand Ballroom for up to 400 guests, and outdoor event space for 200 people.
As part of their residential developments, Megaworld has established the 26-story Kensington Sky Garden, the tallest residential property in their Visayas portfolio, with 643 units incorporating smart home technology. Scheduled for 2029 completion, the twin towers will feature illuminated crowns and sky lounges on upper floors.
Across five residential properties in The Upper East—Kensington Sky Garden, One Regis, Two Regis, One Manhattan, and Herald Parksuites—Megaworld has launched 1,787 condominium units.
Iloilo: Premier BPO hub and cultural center
Iloilo City’s emergence as a premier business destination has been closely tied to the development of the 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park, which has become the city’s largest concentration of office space for the business process outsourcing sector. The township currently operates approximately 13 office buildings with around 150,000 square meters of leasable space. These facilities house more than 12 multinational companies employing approximately 15,000 BPO workers.
According to Colliers International, Iloilo Business Park accounts for roughly 50% of the total office supply in Iloilo City, making it a critical driver of the city’s employment growth and urban expansion.
Government recognition as cultural hub
Beyond its economic role, the township has gained official recognition for cultural contributions. The Iloilo City Government, under Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu, designated Iloilo Business Park as the city’s official Center of Arts and Culture. The township houses three museums—the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art, the Brandy Museum, and the Science XPdition—and serves as the venue for major cultural events including the Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo Arts Festival, and Iloilo Bike Festival.
Two hotels in the township, Richmonde Hotel Iloilo and Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo, have incorporated programming that supports Iloilo’s UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy designation by reimagining local heritage dishes. A third hotel, Belmont Hotel Iloilo, is scheduled to open soon.
Island tourism development
On Boracay Island, the 150-hectare Boracay Newcoast by GERI combines exclusive beach access with hospitality and commercial infrastructure. The development includes Megaworld-operated hotels, a boutique hotel and Shophouse district, and dining options including Wolfgang Steakhouse’s only Boracay location.
A 1,200-seat convention center provides meeting space on an island where such facilities have been limited. Residential villages offer sea and mountain views, targeting both investment and lifestyle buyers in one of the country’s most established tourism destinations.
With townships spanning Iloilo, Cebu, Bacolod, and Boracay, Megaworld’s Visayas portfolio represents a multi-billion peso investment in regional infrastructure. The developments collectively add office space, hotel inventory, convention capacity, and residential units to markets that have seen sustained population and economic growth.
The company’s live-work-play township model—combining residential, commercial, office, and hospitality components—has become a template for urban development in secondary cities across the Philippines, with the Visayas serving as a key testing ground for expansion beyond the National Capital Region.
