Owning a home has become every Filipino’s top goal in life.
Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to do so.
And so Malate Construction and Development Corporation (MCDC) has made it its commitment to deliver affordable but high-quality homes and lots that will last for generations to come.
“We are committed to building homes that parents can leave to their children and their grandchildren,” MCDC President and CEO Giovanni J. Olivares said.
He said that their developments increase in value over time because of their strategic locations and well-built homes that are durable and long-lasting.
MCDC homes are not just built to last, but are also a sight to behold.
Architect Melvin Patawaran, a member of the Heritage Conservation Society and famed for his restoration works on historical sites such as churches, has been designing MCDC’s projects.
These include Terrazza de Sto. Tomas in Sto. Tomas Batangas, which marries open spaces and old world Italian charm, giving residents comfortable and stylish homes that they can proudly call their own.
Olivares emphasized that they want to maintain the art of building homes so that homeowners can experience the beautiful designs found in expensive and gated communities. “We want our clients to say: ‘We have a beautiful home; and not just we have a home,” he said.
In 1986, Olivares who was then in his 30s put up his own construction and property development company that will cater to low-to-middle-income Filipinos.
Olivares used the name of the place where he was born and grew up, Malate, as a homage to the community that shaped his visions, aspirations and ideals in life.
His first venture was a two-hectare housing project in Paranaque. He put up townhouses in the lot, delivered the units, but lost money due to the escalating interest rates then.
But this did not discourage him. In fact, the experience even motivated him to do better in his next projects.
His next venture, building 1,500 homes in Canlubang, Laguna in partnership with the national government, was a success.
He believes in luck, but says what brings luck are prayers and good karma.
In fact, his foray into the home building industry was pure luck. At that time, he was working in the family’s pest control business – Olivares Termite and Pest Control. He joined the family business right after finishing his business degree at the De La Salle University in 1972.
During one of his site visits in a refugee camp in Bataan, a camp official suggested that he build the facilities inside the area. Olivares gave it a shot, and soon learned the ropes of the construction business.
Today, 30 years later, MCDC has built nearly 20,000 homes for Filipino families.
The company, which Olivares and later on with his children built and nurtured, has grown and expanded into one of the formidable players in the industry today. From a capital of P3 million, the MCDC group, which now includes business units Ecoverde and Ovialand, now has a P500 million capitalization.
Ecoverde focuses on houses worth P450 thousand to P1.7 million, while Ovialand caters to the P1.8 million to P3 million market segment.
MCDC is currently focusing its development outside of Metro Manila, particularly Laguna and Batangas, as well as Cagayan De Oro, in a deliberate effort to avoid the congestion in the metropolis and give its homeowners a lot of breathing spaces, while enjoying nature at the same time.
Aside from their durability, MCDC is also proud that its communities have ample spaces with amenities like parks, club houses, playgrounds, lots of open spaces, wide roads, and are close to nature. They are also accessible, built nearby or next to major highways.
“We don’t just build houses, we build homes. You can’t see us selling houses with less than 25 square meters. How can a family live in such a small space? We can’t imagine doing that, selling a very small house that the owner will be paying for 20 years,” Olivares said.
Aside from looking at other areas in Visayas and Mindanao for future projects, MCDC also plans to put up supermarkets in its communities in partnership with local supermarket chains.
Given its mantra of putting clients at the forefront of its business, MCDC has grown tremendously – proof that putting the interest of your customers first before anything else, makes a lot of business sense.
