Be Group builds first seaside condo in posh neighborhood

CEBU, Philippines —  Real estate developer Be Group of Companies builds its first resort homes condominium tower called “Balai: By Be Residences” at Punta Engaño, Mactan Island.

Located in a 1,700  square meter property within the area also known as “billionaires’ row” in Punta Engaño, the home-ground of branded resorts like Shangri-La Mactan, Movenpick, Dusit Thani, Be Resort, and Sheraton, among others, Balai by Be Residences aims to provide residential address to middle-income in a posh neighborhood.

Be Group president and chief executive officer (CEO) Grand Benedicto said the company will build a total of 452 resort condominium units, designed to depict Cebuano culture, with high regard of environmental and health protocol sensitivities.

Originally planned as housing development for its employees at Be Resort situated within the area, Benedicto said the company decided to share the desirable residential project to the market.

Although the location is home of branded resorts and Cebuano business royalties’ rest houses, Benedicto said the company has also seen the need of nearby decent housing for employees working within the area.

The 19-storey Balai by Be Residences commits to an affordable pricing cap of as low as a little over P2 million for a studio unit.

Set to have its ground breaking in the next few months, and start construction towards the end of 2021, unit owners may start their posh seaside living by 2024.

The Balai by Be Residences is the third residential development array of the company and the first to be started since the start of the pandemic.

Benedicto affirmed industry’s positive market assessment even in the middle of pandemic, saying the company registered highest sales performance in its residential condominium portfolio last year especially in the month of May.  

“With or without the pandemic, residential market is there. It hasn’t mellowed down. In fact [the market] is going up,” Benedicto said.

Conceptualized during the pre-pandemic times, which got its permit for pre-selling in January 2020, the project now is 60 percent sold, he revealed.

Amenities include; The “Dayon” (welcome), a kiddie and lap pool, sunken lounge, wet deck, indoor and outdoor shower rooms; “Tapok,” gather), an activity or performance stage, lounge area, semi-covered community space, and a non-active multi-purpose ideal as a meet up space or mall events; “Obra” (work),—work spaces, semi-covered community space, and non-active multi-purpose area for home work and outdoor study; and “Duwa” (play), a semi-covered playground, creative nooks, multi-function halls, area for events and outdoor activities.