In property development, green credentials can help sell a dream. Southlinks Estate now has five stars to back up the pitch—but turning a sustainable masterplan into a sustainable neighbourhood is the harder part.
The 33.6-hectare residential development in Las Piñas City has earned a BERDE 5-Star rating at the design stage, the highest under the Philippine Green Building Council’s (PhilGBC) assessment system. Developer Height Realty Inc. (HRI) is positioning the recognition as a first for a world-class sustainable development in Metro Manila.
The rating validates sustainability measures built into the estate’s design. Whether they stand up to real-world use, however, will depend on construction, operations and long-term maintenance.
Height Realty president and CEO Kevin Wong, PhilGBC Chairman Raymond Rufino and property consultant David Leechiu lead the Southlinks media forum
HRI targets completion of land development by end-2026, with residential lot turnover scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027. Two planned destinations, Southlinks Promenade and Golf Range by Southlinks, are also targeted to open next year.
“Five-Star means you are not just performing well by Philippine standards. You are performing at the highest levels of environmental performance, measured against global standards,” said Raymond Rufino, PhilGBC chairman, noting that the bar requires commitment and investment.
Southlinks comprises 336 residential lots, with 40 percent of the estate allocated to open space. Plans include a 490-meter linear park, pocket parks and underground utilities, alongside sports and recreational facilities.
That open space could be a selling point in crowded Metro Manila, where room to walk, exercise and gather is increasingly valuable. But green acreage looks best on a blueprint; its real worth lies in accessible, well-maintained parks.
Southlinks Promenade will feature a supermarket and five retail units across two single-storey buildings. About 81 percent of its 10,266-square-meter site is allocated to open space.
Golf Range by Southlinks will offer 20 driving bays equipped with TrackMan technology, a putting area, restaurant, bar and pro shop. The estate is also planned to include tennis and pickleball courts, basketball and badminton facilities, swimming pools, a running track, an indoor fitness centre and a wellness garden.
HRI’s Kevin Wong said sustainability and wellness have shaped the project from masterplanning onward. Yet amenities must do more than look good in brochures: retail needs customers, recreational facilities need users, and both require sustained upkeep.
Property consultant David Leechiu said price differences between Alabang and established Makati villages could present opportunities for buyers.
Southlinks is priced at P160,000 per square meter, although price gaps alone do not guarantee appreciation. Connectivity, infrastructure, demand and execution will ultimately shape value.
Wong summed up the challenge: “Design is validation of what we have created in our masterplan. Construction is our commitment to delivering it. Operations means sustaining what we have promised.”
That final step is the real test. Southlinks has earned five stars on paper. Its lasting distinction will depend on keeping the promise on the ground.
