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The Importance of Public Health in Communities

There is a renewed global recognition of the importance of health and wellness after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the world continues to learn lessons on the safety and protection of communities, the focus is now shifted on why public health in communities is a crucial point of discussion. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a healthy community is a prepared community. The best way of preparing for potential outbreaks in the future is by ensuring that the health of the overall community. Public or Community Health is a term used to describe the state of health and how easy or difficult it is to be healthy where people live, learn, work, and play. An effective way of preparing for future health risks is starting within communities, working on the way up to a larger scale.  

Experts say that even without the existence of health emergencies or threats, public health should be one of the main priorities of local authorities and national governments. This includes the continuous promotion of good nutrition, physical activity, and proper hygiene. 

In the report by the World Health Organization, a safe and healthy community can be ensured through effective policymaking and guidelines administration that is focused on stopping the infection. Healthcare workers are tasked to implement the standard precautions for basic infection control depending on the possible patient demographic such as children or the elderly. 

Additional protective measures may be deemed necessary such as lessening the exposure to and transmission of pathogens using PPEs and other engineering or environmental controls, especially in ventilation.  

In relation to effective policymaking for public health, recommendations are being made to make policies more inclusive and non-discriminatory for communities. Protective measures and solutions that are recognized as inclusive and durable must cover the improvement of living conditions including detention centers, and comprehensive workforce policy. 

RELATED: Optimizing Buildings for Disease Prevention   

In the “New Normal”, integrating these protective measures to how schools, workplace, and how other industries operate will be vital. Mandatory measures such as temperature checking and requiring health clearances will be done to ensure the wellness of the community in each location or sector. The CDC is also pushing for the strict compliance of regular disinfection of all environmental surfaces to help lower the risk and considering the possible presence of the elderly or the immunocompromised in the said community.  

RELATED: How LEED Certification can help prevent disease spread in the future 

Providing a workplace setting that uplifts and prioritizes the overall health and wellness of its employees creates a huge impact on public health. As active members of the community, employees who spend the majority of their day working in office setups should be in a work environment that ensures their safety and wellbeing, not only during a pandemic or once there is a threat to their health. 

Premium green buildings, such as JEG Tower @ One Acacia, invests in the well-being of their tenants by optimizing their building design and operations. Following industry standards, these commercial establishments put a premium on their health, while practicing sustainability and energy efficiency. 

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Ways to strengthen your immune system during a pandemic

Since the vaccine for COVID-19 is still on the works, the World Health Organization has advised the public that proper handwashing and hygiene practices, as well as social distancing, remains to be the best defense against the virus. Experts also agree that a strong immune system can keep you healthy and give you a sense of control in an uncertain time.  

Eat right and keep a balanced diet  

One of the most effective ways of keeping a healthy immune system is eating right. Begin by filling your plate with immune-boosting fruits and vegetables such as carrots, kale, oranges, strawberries, and broccoli. Eggs, milk, nuts, and mushrooms can also provide necessary vitamins and nutrients to keep your immunity up during a pandemic.  

Get active and exercise  

Physical activity can give your immune system a great boost in a myriad of ways. Researchers have shown that exercise improves immune systems. Exercising regularly improves your body’s natural production of antibodies that help in fighting viruses and infection.  

Relax and try meditation  

Living through a pandemic is a very stressful circumstance that it can negatively affect the immune system and take a toll on a person’s mental health. A recent study involving more than 1,600 people has suggested that meditation boosts their immune system. Meditation can be as simple as taking time in the morning or at night, relaxing, and breathing properly and emptying your mind.  

Stress and anxiety management  

Numerous studies have linked stress and the immune system. In fact, a study has proven that psychological stress increases susceptibility to illness. According to health experts, prolonged or chronic stress can negatively impact the immune system as it reduces the body’s natural ability to fight viruses and bacteria. Moreover, people under a lot of stress are more likely to develop poor coping strategies such as excessive alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, poor diet, or lack of sleep which also negatively impact the immune system. 

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Optimizing Buildings for Disease Prevention

The connection between health and the environment becomes increasingly defined as the world learns more about the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this new coronavirus strain can be spread in three main ways:  

  • Person-to-person via direct contact;  
  • Person-to-person via airborne respiratory droplets produced when an infected person cough or sneezes;  
  • Surface-to-person via contact with surfaces or objects that hold the virus, followed by an individual touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.  

Buildings and public spaces play a huge role in disease prevention and control. From its design to operations, buildings contribute to the battle against the spread of viruses in workplaces and offices. 

Here are some modifications and optimizations buildings can adapt to prevent another pandemic in the future:  

Promote High-quality Indoor Air  

Buildings and commercial establishments should promote high-quality indoor air quality and follow a set of standards that focuses on the ventilation and air-conditioning system. This effectively provides clean air into the building and to the office spaces. Research suggests that filtration of recirculated air may be effective in reducing the transmission of airborne infectious diseases. Filters remove dust, vapors, bacteria, and fungi, and also effectively capture viral particles spread by droplet nuclei.  

RELATED: How Green Buildings improve indoor air quality, provide a healthier working environment  

Increased Ventilation  

Ventilating with outdoor air also plays a vital role in diluting airborne contaminants and decreasing disease transmission rates within establishments. According to studies, increasing the ventilation rate can effectively reduce the cross-infection of airborne transmitted diseases by removing or diluting pathogen-laden airborne droplet nuclei. It can dilute the contaminated air inside the space more rapidly and decrease the risk of cross-infection  

Maintained Optimal Humidity  

Evidence suggests that viruses survive better in low-humidity environments. One optimization buildings can implement after the pandemic is to increase humidity via heating and ventilation systems and maintain an optimal range to 40 to 60%. This can also be achieved by installing humidifiers inside the building premises.  

Improved cleaning and maintenance protocols  

Another aspect that buildings can focus on when optimizing for disease prevention is highlighting the importance of its property management teams. Workplace policies, guidelines, and protocols must also be restructured to adapt to the “new normal” as the world observe changes this pandemic brings. The modifications and strict enforcement of these procedures should be one of the most essential responsibilities of a building’s property management team during, and even after the crisis.  

A healthy building contributes to a healthy community, which, in the long run, play a central role in creating a healthy world. In addition to everyday precautions taken by individuals and employees, the real estate industry, building owners, and developers should be aware of these optimizations that can greatly contribute to virus outbreaks in the future. 

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How LEED Certification can help Prevent Disease Spread in the Future

The current pandemic has brought a 180-degree change in the way people live and work. Some of these changes may be temporary, but some might be permanent adjustments that will help in preventing another outbreak or at least improve the community’s preparation for one.   

Due to COVID-19, buildings will give more emphasis to the health and wellness of their tenants. While other offices will only start implementing such changes to adapt, commercial establishments that were already certified by programs such as LEED have long been uplifting the quality of the work environment and promoting the health and well-being of their tenants—amid a pandemic or not. 

Here are some ways LEED certification can help prevent diseases in the future:  

LEED-certified buildings, like JEG Tower, were designed, constructed, and operates to high standards that prioritize the health of its tenants. Green buildings regulate water quality, air quality, and antibacterial functions to promote their occupants’ health and reduce the risks of getting diseases and viruses.   

RELATED: How Green Buildings improve indoor air quality, provide healthier working environment  

The LEED certification also ensures these buildings have increased ventilation which also improves the health and wellbeing of the tenants and drastically improves their work performance.  

In addition to providing the basic functions, LEED-certified buildings also reduce the risk of infection and prevent cross-infection inside the workplace. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) requires establishments to include measures that will control the collusion of air and pollutants, exhaust backflow of bathrooms, Green buildings are designed to set up effective water seals to reduce the risk of virus transmission through drainage pipes. Under the LEED certification, buildings should optimize the space and plane layout to enhance the effectiveness of natural ventilation. They should also be able to regulate and control air conditioning systems by zones and have a well-designed site wind environment for the dissipation of viruses and harmful gases. 

Moreover, LEED ensures that the cleanliness of the environment is greatly prioritized. Strengthened cleaning policies are followed using sustainable and safe cleaning products. Proper waste management is also observed, which plays a big role in disease prevention.  

Following the ‘People’ aspect of the triple bottom line of LEED, (People, Planet, Profit), certified buildings ensure that they are safe and healthy environment for their occupants.  

The vaccine against the new coronavirus is yet to be developed, which means the best protection one can have against it depends on the body’s immunity and the community’s cleanliness. 

RELATED: Promoting Health and Well-being in the Workplace  

Promoting physical activity among building tenants while creating a safe and welcoming environment is the top priority of LEED-certified green buildings. These goals help in ensuring that building occupants are healthy year-round, not just during a global pandemic.  

The current COVID-19 outbreak is reemphasizing the importance of prioritizing one’s health and proper hygiene. It also reminds how easily diseases can spread in the workplace. Office buildings can either help in its prevention or aid its spread and proliferation. Building certification programs such as LEED recognize the importance of certain aspects of building design and maintenance that play an important role in disease spread and prevention of outbreaks in the future. 

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How Green Buildings Improve Indoor Air Quality and Provide A Healthier Working Environment

The campaign for cleaner air has been ongoing for years as the world battles air pollution. As the global health crisis continues, studies have been linking the spread of the pandemic with the bad air quality According to research from Harvard University, dirty air makes any virus more lethal.  

Working with different sectors, the World Green Building Council (WGBC) has long been combatting global air pollution by developing and setting standards for buildings and infrastructures. According to the World Green Building Council, now more than ever, green buildings play a very significant role in preventing and controlling viruses within communities and work environments.

The WGBC believe that sustainable buildings and cities are a key part of the solution that ‘reduces both the health and environmental impacts’ of air pollution. The organization has set guidelines on how green buildings can ensure the best indoor air quality within the property’s premises. In fact, one of the categories and criteria for a LEED Certification is indoor air quality. 

“Indoor air quality is one of the important criteria of LEED. It focuses on designing the ventilation and air-conditioning system to provide clean air into the building,” Michael Glindro, LEED AP BD+C said. “One of the ways to improve indoor air quality is to install high-MERV filters to reduce indoor air pollutants. This criterion focuses on the People aspect of the triple bottom line of LEED; People, Planet, Profit.

jeg-tower-one-acacia-bring-work-to-life-this-2020

LEED-certified buildings, like JEG Tower, were designed, constructed, and operates to high standards for health and cleanliness, they reduce the risk of exposing its tenants to infection, effectively preventing the spread of the virus within the building.  

USGBC requires green buildings to control the collusion of air and pollutants as well as the exhaust backflow of kitchens and bathrooms. Green buildings are also designed to set up effective water seals to reduce the risk of virus transmission through drainage pipes, optimizes the building space and plane layout to enhance the effectiveness of natural ventilation. Green buildings can also regulate and control air conditioning systems by zones and have a well-designed site wind environment for the dissipation of viruses and harmful gases.  

RELATED: In Focus: Cebu to Launch its first Sustainable ‘Smart Building’ Soon 

As regulated by the WGBC, green buildings are designed to regulate the water and air quality, fitness and antibacterial function building materials to promote occupant’s health to reduce the risk of getting the disease and enhance the ability to resist viruses.   

JEG Tower in Cebu uplifts the health and wellness of its tenants. Committed to revolutionizing work and life balance, the building has designed office spaces to maximize the use of natural daylight, allow better airflow within the space, and organize initiatives to encourage healthier living for everyone. 

RELATED: JEG Tower @One Acacia: Bring Work to Life this 2020 

Aside from protecting its tenants from virus cross-infection and improving their health, better indoor air quality also upgrades the working environment for office buildings. 

“Improving indoor air quality has been shown to increase business productivity through being a factor in reducing absenteeism due to health issues,” Glindro said. “After all, we do spend a majority of our day in the office so taking steps into creating a healthy work environment will benefit the triple bottom line.” 

Premium green buildings emphasize the importance of uplifting the quality of life of its tenants by ensuring that the highest standards for health and safety are observed and followed.  

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Promoting Health and Well-being in the Workplace: Simple exercises you can squeeze in within your workspace

Finding time to exercise can be a challenge, especially for those who work 8am to 5pm office jobs. This lack of activity doesn’t just affect your health; it can have a direct impact on your work performance and employee engagement. According to a research published on the Journal of Workplace Health Management: 

  • 60% of employees said their time management skills, mental performance, and the ability to meet deadlines improved on days they exercised  
  • 27% of employees reported higher levels of “dealing calmly with stress” on days they have worked out; and  
  • 41% of the sampled employees reported higher rates of work motivation during the days they have squeezed in a workout  

While the lack of time and space is a common excuse, incorporating physical activity in the daily should be one of your top priorities in balancing work and life. Work out while you work! Here are some simple exercises you can try: 

Start with your commute 

With the worsening condition of traffic, it may be a good idea to combat it with new ways of traveling to the office—by walking or biking to work! If you live far and commuting can’t be out of the picture, get off a few blocks early or get down at an earlier stop. Set a target distance of how much you can walk. If you drive to work, park at the far end of the parking lot or in a nearby lot. 

Premium green buildings, such as JEG Tower @ One Acacia provides shower rooms for tenants and employees who will feel the need to freshen up and have a quick shower after walking or cycling to the building. 

Hit the stairs
Another easy yet effective work out? Take the stairs instead. Alight the elevators a few floors below your office then just climb your way up. Some find it easier to use the stairs at the end of the day to reach the lobby which works too. At the middle of the day, you can also use the stairs to walk up and down the rooftop for a 15-minute break. 

Get up and work 

Did you know that an average office worker spends almost 1,700 hours in a year in front of a computer screen? A study has found that this is about 75% of the time employees spend in a day. Get creative in finding ways you can get out of your chair every once in a while: Stand while talking on the phone, walk to a colleague’s desk for a face-to-face chat, or take the longer route to the bathroom. 

Join company-organized health programs 

Companies who promote a healthy lifestyle and work life balance organizes and facilitates various programs to encourage employees to be more aware of their health and well-being. This can vary from wellness talks, after or before work fitness sessions, green eating workshops, and the like.  

Give seated exercises a go 

Work out without even standing up and leaving your desk! Try these simple and easy exercises which you can do while sitting down and while working: 

  • Seated leg raises 

This exercise is so simple and low maintenance your co-workers won’t even have a clue. Sit upright in your office chair. Straighten your left leg so that it is parallel to the floor and hold it in place for 10 seconds. Repeat on the other leg. Do this routine for both legs for 15 repetitions. One you build up strength, try adding weight to your legs by looping your purse or briefcase on your legs while you do the raises. 

  • Hovering leg raises 

This is a more advanced—yet still easy routine while seated. Sit upright in your chair. But this time, raise both legs so that they are parallel to the floor. Slowly lower your legs until they are hovering an inch or two above the ground. Hold the position for as long as you can, and then release. 

  • The Football Fast Feet 

Sit in your desk chair with your feet flat on the ground. Rapidly tap your feet in place, as if running in place while sitting down. Do this without stopping for 30 seconds. Pause for 5 seconds. Then do it again for 30 seconds straight. Experts encourage to do this simple workout every half an hour or so to bring up your heart rate. 

Source: KMC Website

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JEG Tower @ One Acacia Holds Topping Off Ceremony

The construction of JEG Tower @ One Acacia, Cebu City’s newest premium green building, is right on schedule. Marking the completion of the structural construction phase of the building, the tower held its topping off ceremony last November 19, 2019, on the 22nd floor of the building. 

JEG Development Corporation (JDC) executives, representatives from Casas Architects, and family members gathered to lay the final brick on the podium and mark an important milestone. The 22-storey tower will don as a landmark to celebrate their family’s legacy and promote sustainability through green real estate in Cebu. Executives from KMC, its sole leasing agency, were also present in the event. 

“Topping off is important for any development since it signifies a major accomplishment in the overall completion of the project,” Marko Sarmiento, JDC’s Chief Operating Officer, said. “The superstructure is the most vital component in any building and to reach this point only means that we’re close to the finish line.” 

JEG Tower @ One Acacia is more than just an additional gem to the Cebu City skyline. Designed by Casas Architects, it follows a sophisticated design without compromising its sustainable features. It will utilize and operationalize using less water, energy, and emit fewer greenhouse gases.  

JDC’s first high rise commercial venture is one of Cebu’s pioneers in raising the bar in the quality of premium commercial spaces in the region which will not only benefit its tenants’ operational costs but also uplift the working conditions of their employees. It utilizes top of the line technology such as Daikin VRV air conditioning systems and Mitsubishi DOAS elevators that organize their lifts to be the most time saving for office users.  

Through JEG Tower, JDC promotes the walkability of the business district by providing communal showers in the parking area. This unique amenity will not only encourage tenants to get a workout in but also contribute lesser carbon emissions to the environment. 

“What we are also excited about is the rooftop garden, which we are sure our future tenants will appreciate as well,” Ayla Gomez, JDC’s Brand Manager shares. “It is a great area for events and is a perfect green space that we need for a quick afternoon respite overlooking the sea and the mountains to fuel and inspire the rest of the workday,” she added.

These energy-saving measures also mean a good investment for the tenants, in terms of saving money on reduced utility bills. It also promotes improved productivity of their workforce, which study after study has been shown to be increased in green buildings. JEG Tower is also one of the few LEED-certified buildings in the metropolis and is currently pre-certified LEED Silver. 

JEG Tower @ One Acacia Holds Topping Off Ceremony

“As the building is getting closer to turn over, locals can look forward to now having the option to choose better work environments for their companies and most especially for the people that work for them,” Gomez said. “The city will have a grade A building that fosters community and the work-life balance that every Cebuano deserves.” 

Leading to its launch and turnover in 2020, JDC is looking to achieve Gold certification.  

“Now that the superstructure is completed, all hands are on deck in finishing the building,” Sarmiento said. “The installation of our elevators, as well as the completion of our facade, are two of the more crucial activities that we have to pay close attention to next. We also intend to energize the building by January of 2020.” 

Once completed, JEG Tower @ One Acacia will also serve as JDC’s headquarters and home base.  

“JEG Development Company has placed a lot of resources to build the best workspace in the city, Stefan Garcia, JDC’s estate and business development manager said. “JEG Tower is one of a new crop of office developments in Cebu that are raising the standards of buildings in our city.” 

Source: KMC Website

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How much office space does your business need?

One of the first things you must decide on when leasing an office is how much space your business needs to occupy in order to successfully operationalize. Unfortunately, there is no single formula business owners can use to compute the exact floor area they need to lease.

Consider the following factors instead:

Number and Types of Employees
The size of your future office should depend on the number and types of employees your company has. Consider the space they need in order to function productively and efficiently.

Office Layout
From stuffy and uniformed cubicle styled office layouts, workplace designs are now varied from open floor plans to colorful hubs that aim to be trendy and more functional. Open or traditional, which one are you going for?

Future of your business
In a few years, your business may have outgrown the space you’re planning on leasing. However, you need to have some forethought and decide where will your company be in the near future.

Beyond Offices

Your considerations for the size of your office should not end in allotting space for desks and computers. You should also think about shared spaces like meeting rooms, conference areas, and other venue where your employees can take a break and socialize. Studies show that providing your employees with ample space to take a break from work and away from their workstations improve their overall productivity and work ethics.

Company Culture

Lastly, you should account your identity as a company when deciding on how much space should your office occupy. Your company culture may manifest in the way you and your employees do and finish work, how you organize and communicate, and at the same time influence the dynamics that will take place in your office floor.

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Defining Sustainability: Casas+Architects discusses why it matters in design and construction

As the call for more initiatives to combat climate change has become more urgent, sustainable and ‘green’ real estate is seen to be one of the most effective efforts from the building and construction sector to take part in.  

Casas+Architects is one of the country’s pioneers in designing better buildings. Committed to integrating the architectural design with their natural environment, the firm utilizes the company values of imagination, creativity, and skill from the creation of concept down to the most minute construction of sustainable structures in the Philippines. 

Designing Better Buildings 

“Beyond our commitment to distinction, our goal is to work for a positive impact on individual lives, the environment, and communities through sustainable design,” Architect Meloy Casas, founder and president of Casas+Architects said. “The goal of every sustainable building is to reduce the carbon footprint during its construction and lessen its negative impacts to the environment throughout its lifecycle,” he added. 

Being one of the multi-awarded architectural firms in the country, their thrust towards promoting sustainability with their projects is what defines their work and differentiates them from the rest. Since 2008, they helped in forming the Manila skyline, completing notable structures such as the Grand Hyatt/Metrobank Center, Pacific Plaza, Icon Residences, and Maybank Performing Arts Center, among others. 

Cebu’s Frontrunners of Sustainable Real Estate 

Today, they are expanding their operations to the Visayas with the design of one of its newest premium ‘green’ buildings, JEG Tower @ One Acacia. Architect Meloy has translated JEG Development Corporation (JDC)’s vision of making Cebu City more livable. 

“After a serious bidding process with other well-known architectural firms, the board selected Casas, not only because of his expertise but also because it was felt that he best knew how to turn JDC’s long-term dreams into a reality,” Stefan Garcia, the company’s Estate and Business Development Manager said. 

Driven to push forward this initiative to become the new standard, JDC specifically partnered with Casas+Architects to design this 22-floor tower towards sustainability, using environment-friendly materials and would operationalize as energy-efficient as possible. It is also one of the first buildings in the Cebu business park to be LEED pre-certified. 

“Architect Meloy was very active in the initial design stages of the building and has continued to be very present throughout the whole process,” Garcia added.

“The building design is the most important factor in achieving points for LEED certification,” Michael Glindro, Senior Manager for Landlord Representation of KMC said. “It is critical to have all stakeholders and design team members to plan and coordinate the design properly to build a truly green and sustainable building,” he added. 

KMC handles all the sale and leasing transactions for JEG Tower @ One Acacia, which is set to be completed early next year. 

Why Go ‘Green’? 

‘Green’ buildings are more costly to build and operate, however, this is Casas+Architects and JDC’s investment to a better future for the environment.  

“We’re doing this not with the cost in mind,” Marko Sarmiento, JDC’s COO stated. “The ‘green’ movement in the real estate industry has so much potential, and I think the Cebuanos can benefit from it,” he said. 

From the design perspective, Architect Casas said that going ‘green’ benefits both landlords and tenants in the long run. 

“’Green’ operations and management can reduce operating costs, enhance building marketability, increase workers’ productivity and reduce potential liability resulting from indoor air quality problems,” he enumerated. “On the other hand, the indoor environmental quality of ‘green’ buildings can have a significant effect on the health and well-being of its occupiers.” 

“If we are building something, we are doing it the best way possible,” Ayla Gomez, JDC’s brand manager added. 

“Early on in the design phase, he encouraged us to dream big and not to think too much of the financial impact,” Sarmiento shared. “Some of the early designs were contrasting with what we eventually decided on, which made the process fun and engaging.” 

The Identifiers of Success 

Designing and building a ‘green’ building in the Philippines, especially in Cebu, comes with a challenge, however, Architect Casas saw this as an opportunity to excel even more.  

“The building orientation and location was a great challenge since its located on a prominent corner lot and bounded by two busy streets,” he said, citing one of the many technical difficulties in bringing his design to life.  

“The design would make the most of the unusual shape of the corner lot on Archbishop Reyes which is sure to become an icon of the Cebu skyline,” Garcia said. 

Architect Meloy Casas made a name for himself in the industry as a man with boundless passion and dedication for his craft. His eye for architecture and his ability to see beyond the essence of his design is what makes him one of the most trusted names in the industry. 

“JDC always desires to work with people at the forefront of the industry, matching the visionary ideals we hold to make Cebu a better place in which to live,” Garcia stated. “With Casas+Architects’ high-skilled workforce and use of technology, married well with our vision, and it hard for us to imagine what it would be like with a less expert firm.” 

“Considering the stature and reputation as one of the country’s leading Architects, working with Architect Casas has been as much a learning experience as it has been a great pleasure,” Sarmiento said. “Despite his many projects, he took the time to personally guide us through the process of selecting the design that was right for us,” he added. 

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In Focus: Cebu To Launch Its First Sustainable ‘Smart Building’ Soon – Here Are The Deets!

Cebu, an ever-bustling city, is undeniably one of the country’s biggest centers for tourism, culture, and commerce. Known for its varying industries, each of its businesses play a big part in keeping the city’s pulse alive. But one company in particular is hoping to lead Cebu into a new generation. JEG Development Corporation, originally a holding company started in 1994 by the late Jose E. Garcia, has since evolved into a real estate development company in 2004, when the family’s younger generation took over in his passing in 2003. Now, at its helm is its Chief Operating Officer, Marko Sarmiento, a budding entrepreneur and grandson of Jose E. Garcia, who is looking, not only to grow the business to new heights, but to also lead Cebu into a more progressive future.

“My background was actually in the furniture industry, which is a big industry here in Cebu, and I was doing that for 10 years. My father’s side of the business is furniture, and mother’s side is real estate. When real estate was picking up, it was something that my family wanted to develop further. I had other family members in JEG Development that were working there, but they shifted to our main industry, which is power generation and distribution. So real estate was just plugging along, and no one was really taking the lead. That’s when I came in in 2010,” Marko tells ABS-CBN Lifestyle. “We had a few small projects when we started, but we always had this plan to develop an office building. And it was around 2017 when we decided we were going to pursue the building, and that became our first ‘big project— the JEG Tower.”

The JEG Tower is the first high-rise project of the company, set to launch late this year. Having been described as ‘the ultimate fusion of business and leisure,’ the development will mainly function as a commercial building with retail spaces in the lower floors, and office spaces on the upper levels. But what makes this building special, are its environmental and innovative components. It will be one of the few LEED certified buildings in Cebu, and will boast sustainable and practical features such as efficient energy consumption, lower water consumption, and a ‘green roof’ that collects rainwater for re-use, just to name a few. This will be a first of its kind in the city, and is something that the company hopes to be the catalyst for a more sustainable trend in Cebu.

“We realize that we came into the industry late. When we developed this building, the reason we decided to go LEED, green, and grade A, was because we had to differentiate ourselves from everybody else. But rather than just building one successful project, a lot of it had to do with making Cebu being a livable city. It’s a focus that the family has, the board has, and we feel that a LEED building puts us in the right step forward,” Marko says. “‘Smart buildings’ are something we’d want to push for.”

Coming from relatively smaller projects such as The Gallery, a strip mall in the city, and Tomodachi Residences, a premium residential townhouse development, their new commercial high-rise acts as a promising launch pad to a more progressive direction for the company. With Marko, and the rest of the team hopeful for brighter things to come, their focus stems from a more meaningful vision for their growing company.

“We want to be seen as the guys who really took time to think of developing projects not only for the bottom line, but to develop the community, and for the rest of the country to look at Cebuanos as more than just your typical developer. That we actually think of the environment, the community, and livability,” Marko stresses.

Beyond the company, Marko envisions JEG Development’s projects to contribute to the broader strokes of Cebu’s development and to help showcase the ingenuity of the Cebuanos, as well as how they can be up to par with the developments in Metro Manila, and what can also be seen from around the world.

“We want to give Cebu something to be proud of, because of something we’ve actually developed in Cebu that could hopefully be a microcosm of what else we’d be doing in the future. A township is something that we’d one day like to develop, where we’d have parks, maybe in a smaller scale, but a little community where we could have nice commercial buildings and walkable spaces. In other countries, you can see that it’s nice to walk in the city, and unfortunately, Cebu isn’t as walkable, and it’s something we’d love to somewhat create,” he muses.

“We’re all Cebuanos, we take pride in being Cebuano, and we want people to look at Cebu as a place that’s not only a nice place to visit for its beaches, but also for having premium office spaces and residential developments, with good quality of life.”

Source: https://lifestyle.abs-cbn.com/articles/7890/in-focus-cebu-to-launch-its-first-sustainable-smart-building-soonhere-are-the-deets