MANILA, Philippines — Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., the country’s biggest homebuilder, is investing at least P5 billion in its Sta. Elena masterplanned city for projects that will include its first foray into office building development.

According to Vista Land CEO and president Benjamarie N. Serrano, a total of 13 hectares will be devoted for the construction of neighborhood centers, commercial developments, business process outsourcing and office spaces.

Serrano added that these will be built over the next three years and is part of Vista Land’s P45 billion capital expenditure program for 2011 to 2013 announced earlier.

Other components such as healthcare, education and leisure facilities will also be integrated into the Sta. Elena City, said Serrano.

The BPO and commercial projects are part of a masterplan to transform Sta. Elena into a self-contained city and will add to Vista Land’s portfolio of assets that will generate P1 billion in lease income.

The Business Processing Association of the Philippines, Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have identified Sta. Rosa as among the 10 “next wave cities” in terms of their potential as information technology-business process outsourcing hubs.

“About 20 years back, we already anticipated that some of our extensive land bank, both owned and under joint-venture arrangement, would be used not just solely for residential but also for integrated property projects,” said Serrano.

She noted that residents and locators require quality homes in safe communities, but just as importantly, they need a full array of facilities, resources and services right where they live and work, in a strategic location with access to other urban centers.

“To meet these needs, the Sta. Elena City will not be only a mixed-use cluster of developments but a self-contained city, for all intents and purposes,” said Serrano.

Recognizing the strong potential of Sta. Rosa, other developers have only recently come out with their own masterplanned projects in Sta. Rosa comprising both residential and office developments.

The Quiros family together with Vista Land envisioned a development in the South that successfully combines old-world charm with world-class developments that co-exist with its natural environment. That vision has now come to full fruition with Sta. Elena City.

Located in Sta. Rosa, the fast rising new residential area and financial district of the South, Sta. Elena is a sprawling 300-hectare skillfully master planned development with meticulously designed themed subdivisions inspired by the world’s most charming destinations.

Almost 190 hectares of the property has been fully developed with already thriving high-end and upper mid-range projects of Vista Land’s Brittany and Crown Asia brands.