2020

The Future of Work: Workplace Trends and What to Expect in 2021

As the year nears its end, many landlords, property owners, and tenants hope for a more stable year in the new normal in 2021. However, workplace strategists predict that next year may not be as different as businesses and companies continue to keep up with the changes brought by the pandemic. Here…

How COVID-19 made Filipinos Realize the Value of their Homes

The lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has been a game-changer in the residential real estate market in the Philippines. As the majority of the Filipinos stayed indoors for prolonged periods this year, more have realized the value of investing in their homes.For over eight months, the country …

Going Beyond Green: How the COVID-19 Pandemic Pushed Sustainability in Commercial Real Estate

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an opportunity for property owners and developers to improve their building efficiency and shift the focus to sustainability. More than just its environmental benefits, health and wellness are also emphasized in this transition as the threats of the virus can be p…

Back to the Office Strategies: Will ‘Hybrid Reality’ be Effective in the Philippines?

Many companies are now polishing their business re-entry plans and programs as they prepare their back to the office strategies. After seven months under the lockdown, the government is finally easing restrictions and allowing more business sectors to operate amid the pandemic. With the guidance of …

Post-lockdown Market Shift: Sustaining Economic Growth with Warehousing, Coworking, and Townhouses in the Philippines

The Philippine real estate sector has fared the world’s longest and strictest lockdown ‘generally well’ during the first six months of 2020, KMC Managing Director Michael McCullough and Senior Manager for Research and Consultancy Fredrick Rara reported in a webinar last October 8. Rara noted that…

Full Capacity for Enterprise: What does this mean for The Philippines?

After almost seven months under strict lockdown, the Philippines enters Phase 3 of the Duterte Administration’s recovery plan to address the pandemic, National Action Plan Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. announced. In a press briefing, he stated, "Phase 3 will be our transitio…

Working from Home in the Philippines: Why remote working is not a long-term business solution

One of the most drastic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is the 180-degree change in work setups and arrangements across the globe. Since the implementation of nationwide and localized lockdowns, companies have adapted the ‘new normal’ by allowing more flexible working options for their employees.…

Reviving PH Tourism: Staycations now allowed in local destinations under GCQ

The hospitality and leisure industry was one of the hardest-hit sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. The strict community quarantines and shutdowns of hotels, resorts, and leisure facilities have dented one of the top economic drivers in the country for over seven months under the lo…

Considering Hub and Spoke? Why it is the best time for your company to decentralize office

While the Hub and Spoke model isn’t necessarily new in the Philippine office setting, the pandemic has been a catalyst for companies to rethink their space and operational needs. Startups, SMEs, and multinational locators alike are re-evaluating their workspace requirements given the working setups …

Philippine Industrial Real Estate: Rising Demand for Warehouse, E-commerce Boost amid COVID-19

As the Philippine real estate industry continues to navigate through the post-pandemic setup, the outlook of the industry is geared towards the increased need for warehouses, distribution centers, and industrial lots that can support different business operations in the country and in a global scale…

Decentralizing the Philippine real estate set up: Shifting to townships and master planned communities

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented effects on a global scale. As a response, the government has imposed nationwide and localized lockdowns that further put a dent on the country’s economic performance. Due to strict quarantine protocols and guidelines, companies quickly shifted to a rem…

Tourism Bubbles and Digital Tools to Aid Philippine Tourism amid COVID-19

After 5 months of strict lockdowns and limited operations, the Philippines is now setting up the groundwork for the reopening of the country’s hospitality industry. The tourism sector is among the hardest-hit industries by the COVID-19 pandemic following travel restrictions from other countries an…

Surviving the New Normal: A realist perspective of the COVID-19 world

As businesses re-open and ease into the new normal, KMC Managing Director Michael McCullough shared his post-lockdown business insights and some pointers on how businesses and specific industries can better navigate the current situation: 1. Be realistic McCullough said that the crisis has affecte…

Philippines’ Build Build Build Program on track for healthcare and sustainability despite slowdown

President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration looks forward to completing majority of the major Build Build Build projects focusing on healthcare and sustainability. According to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar, big-ticket projects under the government’s flagship…

The long game in the ‘new normal’

As the National Capital Region moves into general community quarantine, there has been a lot of talk surrounding how the “new normal” will be like and its perceived duration. Let us be clear that nobody knows the full extent of the “new normal.” From a business point of view, it is anybody’s best gu…

Philippine Residential Real Estate Price Growth Sustained for Third Consecutive Quarter

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported that residential prices in the Philippines have increased for the third consecutive quarter. In its first-quarter report, the BSP announced that residential real estate prices have steadily climbed by 12.4 percent year-on-year. Records also show that th…

What does LEED mean in Philippine Commercial Real Estate?

As the world continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, a shift of priorities in the workplace has been observed as lockdown restrictions loosen in the Philippines. While many companies and employees gradually transition to a remote work setup, many traditional office spaces have stepped up to the c…

Reimagining the Office – Changes in the Traditional Workplace Setup

The pandemic has brought a lot of changes in the way people live and work. While some changes are just temporary modifications, some are permanent and will most likely to stick as the world adapts to the new normal. Due to these changes, the future of the workplace has been one of the most pressing…

Ensuring Public Health Indoors: Investing in Workplace Health and Environment

As the world continuously adapts to the changes brought by the pandemic, the focus is shifted to disease prevention and ensuring public health in common spaces. According to Erin Bromage, a professor of Biology at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, any environment that is enclosed with poor …

Quick Guide on How to Sublease Your Commercial Space

One of the subsequent impacts of the pandemic to real estate is the increase of offices that are vacated by tenants after months of government-imposed lockdowns. As majority of companies feel the effects of the economic slowdown, some may find themselves requiring a much smaller space as they reduce…

The Rise of Hub and Spoke Office in the Philippines

One of the policies developed by the government as an after effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is the implementation of the ‘Balik Probinsya, Balik-Pag-asa' (BP2) program. According to the current administration, this is to address Metro Manila’s ‘congested urban areas’ by encouragin…

Working from Home in the Philippines: Dealing with changes and anxiety

The COVID-19 pandemic did not only cause a global economic crisis, it also took a huge toll on the mental and emotional wellbeing of people who are dealing with the changes it brought. For many, the uncertainty surrounding coronavirus is the hardest thing to handle, which feeds their stress and anx…

Redefining Property and Facilities Management: Changes brought by COVID-19 in the Philippines

The COVID-19 pandemic did not only change the way real estate professionals do business in the Philippines, it also impacted how property and facilities managers respond to a different type of crisis. Property and facilities management teams are tasked to protect and secure tenants that occupy a com…

Arthaland partners with KMC for green estate, Sevina Park

Arthaland Corporation has once again partnered with KMC for its newest LEED neighborhood, Sevina Park. KMC will be the exclusive leasing agency for the top developer’s flagship mixed-use development just outside Metro Manila. Arthaland Senior Vice President for Sales and Leasing Operations, Oliver …

COVID-19 in the Philippines: How to Motivate and Engage your Sales Team

As organizations and businesses shift to a remote work set up because of the pandemic, salespeople may find adapting to drastic changes in their routine and strategy challenging. Managing a sales team needs attention, sound leadership, and open and constant communication. It is important to keep you…

Working from Home in the Philippines: Productivity and Ergonomics

Since the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in some parts of the country, majority of the business operations of companies have shifted to a work from home scheme. Many office workers may find the adjustment not very easy due to the lack of proper equipment, furniture, and th…

COVID-19 in the Philippines: How can brokers maximize their time?

The current economic status brought about by the COVID-19 may cause a slowdown with many businesses including the real estate sector. However, brokers can use this downtime to still make business, cultivate a relationship with their clients, and generate leads. Connect with your clients Mainta…

COVID-19 in the Philippines: How should landlords deal with the pandemic?

Landlords and building owners are expected to adjust their operations and systems in place after the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in the whole island of Luzon and some parts of the Philippines. As a precautionary measure against the spread of the COVID-19 virus, majority of th…

Working from Home in the Philippines: The Importance of Routine and Daily Planning

One of the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic is the shift of working patterns around the globe. As the World Health Organization announced that the coronavirus reached a pandemic status, remote work and working from home will likely become the new normal for the meantime. Shifting to a …

How Virtual Reality aids Real Estate amid the COVID-19 crisis

The new novel-coronavirus or COVID-19 has changed the world as we know it. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, social distancing guidelines have been limiting the business operations of companies, including real estate brokerage firms. Many countries and communities have also imposed a lockdown as a…

Philippines’ Hospitality Sector to boost under Build Build Build’s banner year

The Philippines’ hospitality sector is expected to exponentially expand in 2020 as the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) approved P5 billion budget dedicated to tourism infrastructure. In a statement, TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Pocholo Joselito D. Paragas said that th…

Why Mandaue City is the Next Key Location in Visayas

Cebu has been established as one of the fastest-growing metropolis and city centers outside Metro Manila. In fact, it is considered the Visayan capital as many multinational and local companies prefer to expand their operations and headquarter in Cebu. Due to its economic status, Cebu has been one o…

What missed GDP targets mean for the Philippines

The Philippines did not make its target Gross Domestic Product (GDP) range for 2019. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country settled for a 5.9% growth rate—just below the target range of 6 to 6.5%. Despite being recorded as the slowest growth in 8 years, Socioeconomic Planni…

Location and Investor Matching: How does it work?

Location is one of the most important factors to consider when investing. Often, real estate consultants would even advise that the top three things to think about when buying a property would be “location, location, location.” However, a good location may be very subjective. Decisions may greatly …

PH Real Estate Markets to Watch Out for in 2020

The Philippine real estate market closed strongly in 2019. As projected at the beginning of the previous year, all sectors under the industry continued its growth within Metro Manila and throughout the major cities in the Philippines. In 2020, this momentum is expected to sustain. Office Market …

Emerging Retail Trends that will shape Real Estate in 2020

The retail industry continuously evolves as technology advances and consumer demographics change. According to studies, Generation Z, the generation succeeding Millennials, will dominate the consumer cohort in 2020. Forbes reports that this year, this generation will represent 40% of the buying publ…

REIT Law: What the new IRR means for business in the Philippines

The Department of Finance (DOF) and the Securities Exchange Commission recently coordinated the rules and regulations for the Philippines’ Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Law. This covers the updated guidelines on public listings of REIT firms and eased the previously stringent taxation and mini…

Breathing Life into Real Estate: How Menarco's WELL Certification stood out during times of calamity

Over the years, more commercial buildings have been giving importance to their tenants’ health and wellness. Companies now redefine the measures of a good workplace and are moving to continuously enhance their office space to promote their employees’ overall health and comfort. Staying true to the…

Why Arca South? Explore Metro Manila’s newest emerging business district and lifestyle destination

Weaving a planned community of commercial, residential, and mixed-use properties, Arca South emerges as one of the most viable alternatives to Bonifacio Global City and Makati as an upcoming business district and lifestyle destination in the South of Metro Manila. This 74-hectare property hosts …

Building a ‘Biophilic’ Office: What is Biophilia and how can it benefit your business

As more companies and businesses recognize the importance of providing a workspace that would improve the health and wellness of their employees, ‘Biophilia’, or the term describing a love of life and living things, has been one of the emerging trends in interior design for offices in the world. The…

The Importance of Balancing Work and Play

Over the years, the importance of balancing work and life has been a global movement. Private companies and government offices have been encouraged to provide a workplace that uplifts and prioritizes their employees’ health and wellbeing. Employers have been allotting resources to ensure that the …

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