Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI), the property arm of the Gotianun Group, is optimistic about the prospects of its office leasing and residential businesses this year despite challenges faced in 2024. CEO Tristan Las Marias said FLI’s office leasing segment is benefiting from its focus on government tenants given the slowdown in demand due to the exit of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs). Notably, the company has stabilized its office space occupancy rates even with the addition of new buildings, a sign of growth in a competitive market.
FLI efforts to tap into government leases have been fruitful, with contracts signed last year: one for a building in Makati leased to the Department of Trade and Industry, and another in Pasay to the National Bureau of Investigation. With government agencies increasingly in need of new office spaces, Las Marias expressed confidence in securing additional contracts this year.
Meanwhile, the company’s residential business remains resilient, with a portfolio that is less impacted by the oversupply in the middle-income condo market, thanks to a strong presence outside Metro Manila. Approximately 50 percent of FLI’s residential developments are located in Visayas and Mindanao. The ongoing decline in interest rates, combined with a weaker peso, is expected to boost demand for homes, especially from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who make up 30 percent of residential sales.
For 2025, FLI plans to expand its footprint with new residential projects in cities like General Santos, Naga, Dagupan, and Bacolod, while continuing to leverage its strategic positioning in Alabang’s Filinvest City, which is emerging as a regional hub. With a focus on Grade A office spaces and strong government and private-sector demand, FLI is positioning itself for sustained growth in both the office and residential markets this year.
