Sustainability is at the very heart of Montclair Destination Estate, Robinsons Land’s largest development yet in terms of geographic area.
A mere 5-minute car ride from the bustling Clark Freeport Zone, the expansive 216-hectare property in Porac, Pampanga, is being sustainably developed to host commercial areas, residential communities, office buildings, a logistics and industrial hub, hotels and entertainment establishments, and green open spaces.
The roads, ramps, bridges, and a dedicated interchange connecting Montclair to SCTEX will soon be operational, making the development highly accessible. With this, Montclair is poised to become a progressive green destination estate in Central Luzon.
Porac Rediscovered
Nearly three decades after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, Porac’s gray-tinged landscape is now making way for the “green and blue corridors” that will link Montclair’s green and open spaces, creating a series of parks, residential clubhouses, and tree-lined avenues for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Lush foliage will surround Montclair’s neighborhoods, from its residential areas, leisure hubs, and business districts. In addition, a central water feature will enliven the development’s commercial area.
Montclair Destination Estate will be an oasis in Porac, Pampanga, offering residents and visitors green open spaces, a multitude of parks and recreation centers, and a dynamic business and commercial area.
The regeneration of Porac into a space where families can comfortably live and thrive has always been the vision for Montclair.
“Environmental sustainability is at the core of Montclair’s urban planning principles for land development. The integration of green infrastructure such as tree planting is considered early in the design and planning process. Our intent is to create a cooler, more bio-diverse, and ultimately more resilient urban community in Montclair,” says Mybelle V. Aragon-GoBio, Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Robinsons Land's Industrial and Integrated Developments Division.
A Tree Sanctuary Rises
Montclair is designed to be a modern, sustainable, and green sanctuary in Central Luzon.
Studies have shown that cities, including microcities, are significantly warmer than the rural areas that surround them. In a paper recently published in the journal Nature Communications, it was shown that trees can reduce land surface area temperatures in cities by up to 12°C.
One large tree can also provide a day’s supply of oxygen for up to four people, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Since trees capture carbon dioxide in the air and absorb it into its leaves, branches, and roots, they play a pivotal role in fighting climate change. The European Environment Agency estimates a fully grown tree will absorb as much as 22 kg of carbon dioxide per year, helping to reduce the impacts of climate change.
Apart from improving air quality, biodiversity, and addressing potential flooding issues, trees provide numerous health and wellness benefits to the community. “Cities designed around trees have a major impact on the community’s mental health and well-being, and that affects how that community will thrive,” says GoBio.
Acting firmly on this belief, Robinsons Land spearheaded a tree-planting activity in Montclair on July 30, 2022. As part of the company’s sustainability program and in support of the One Million Trees project of JG Summit Olefins Corporation (a sister company of Robinsons Land in the Gokongwei Group), around 100 RLC employees helped plant six tree species – banaba, balayong (Palawan cherry), fire tree, narra, palomaria, and talisay – around the development.
Along with the tree-planting activity, 1,200 tree saplings were donated to the municipality of Porac. A tree nursery will house the seedlings until the trees are ready to be planted around Montclair. As the destination estate is designed to be pedestrian- and bike-friendly, heavy canopy trees will be strategically planted where pedestrians converge.
Engr. Joceline Buan, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office Chief of Porac, Pampanga, and Mybelle V. Aragon-GoBio, Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Robinsons Land Integrated Developments, at the turnover of 1,200 tree seedlings to the Municipality of Porac on July 30, 2022.
With Robinsons Land’s noteworthy efforts to promote sustainability, life will flourish once again in Porac, with Montclair being at the center of it all.
For more information on Robinsons Land's Industrial and Integrated Developments Division, visit robinsonsland.com/industrial-and-integrated-developments-division
