Property giant Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) is pouring in P10.3 billion to develop its largest mixed-use development in Mindanao called Ascenda.
Ascenda is a 204-hectare master planned and nature-inspired project located in Davao’s Toril District, which will be developed in partnership with Mindanao-based Anflocor.
It will serve as ALI’s 54th estate in its portfolio and is expected to help fuel Davao City’s growth further.
‘Davao is truly a city on the rise, with its economic growth outpacing the national average. Major infrastructure projects – the Samal-Davao Bridge, the Coastal Road and the Davao Bypass Road – are unlocking new connectivity and opportunities,’ ALI president and CEO Meann Dy said.
‘Ascenda is well positioned to benefit from Davao’s momentum, providing Davaoeños new space to grow and an environment attuned to their modern, upgraded lifestyles,’ she said.
Dy said that Davao has been in Ayala’s radar since the 1970s, with ALI being the first major property developer to invest in Davao City with the launch of Insular Village in 1976.
ALI followed it up with the development of Abreeza in 2007 and then Azuela Cove in 2017.
‘Now the time has come for us to go full blast here in Davao with our largest estate development ever in the Vismin region,’ Dy said.
ALI said that Ascenda marks a series of firsts for the company in the region, being the first Ayala horizontal estate in Mindanao.
It will also offer the only Ayala Land Premier residential village, Virendo, in Davao.
Further, the estate is seen as the first major development that will benefit from the new Davao by-pass road, complementing the newly completed Coastal Road and Maharlika Highway system.
By bringing its best mixed-use components in Ascenda, ALI said the estate is poised to become one of Davao City’s prime destinations and top value drivers by creating a new vibrant residential enclave, town center and commercial district.
Ascenda’s master plan includes two main components – a 65-hectare Town Center as its commercial and cultural anchor and a 139-hectare residential district featuring its top premiere residential brands.
The Town Center will feature the Eco Park designed by internationally acclaimed design firm Henning Larsen.
ALI said that Ascenda’s version of Bishan Park would provide a space for community bonding and recreation as well as serve as a platform for preserving Toril’s ecosystem.
Other Town Center components, meanwhile, include prime commercial lots, greenways and shopping streets with unique lifestyle concepts where residents and guests can access local and global retail brands and various restaurants, cafés and shops. The town center will also host a community church.
‘We refer to Ascenda as ‘Davao’s Nature-Inspired Southern Gateway’ because it draws from Ayala Land’s experience in masterplanning large-scale suburban estates that place nature at the top of their value proposition,’ Dy said.
Dy expects Ascenda’s value as a residential enclave and commercial hub to greatly appreciate in the coming years, much like Ayala Alabang and Nuvali in Luzon.
‘Beyond its premier residential offerings, Ascenda also features prime commercial lots that present exceptional opportunities for investors,’ she said.