Towering exoskeleton structure soon to rise in Makati

The BDO Corporate Center in Makati is an engineering and architectural marvel, and a hallmark of sustainability.

BY CARLA MORTEL BARICAUA

Nov 18, 2024 05:31 PM

  

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BDO Corporate Center Makati, the towering exoskeleton building (Artist's perspective)

Scheduled to be completed in 2028, the BDO Corporate Center Makati will stand as a landmark skyscraper in the heart of the Makati Central Business District (MCBD). On November 15, 2024, BDO Chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson, and CEO Nestor V. Tan led the time-capsule ceremony, marking the start of the towering exoskeleton structure's construction. Key officers stored in the time capsule BDO Corporate Center floor plans, a copy of the 2023 BDO Annual Report, the latest issue of Wayfinder, BDO’s official newsletter, project document photos from 2019, and copies of newspapers from the country’s publications, including the Manila Bulletin. 

Lesley Villanueva, president, DATEM, Inc.; Lilit Tumbocon, partner, DATEM, Inc.; Liberito Espiritu, chairman and CEO, DATEM, Inc.; Nestor Tan, president and CEO, BDO Unibank; Teresita Sy, chairperson, BDO Unibank; Bubut Montejo, SVP of facilities, procurement, and logistics, BDO Unibank; and Jerome Guevara, chief of staff, Office of the President, BDO Unibank

Combining five separate plots into a unified business hub, the BDO Corporate Center Makati consists of two towers and an annex building. The third BDO main office complex joins the BDO Corporate Center Ortigas in Pasig City and the nearly completed structure of BDO Corporate Center Cebu in the Visayas, as the latest addition to the growing number of BDO main office buildings,

With its innovative exoskeleton structure, the BDO Corporate Center Makati towers will feature open, flexible spaces without the need for conventional pillars. Because of its lightweight structural system, the concrete content of the buildings will be dramatically reduced by over 65,000 tons, thus improving its performance with the country’s seismic environment. Embodied carbon and whole lifecycle carbon management have been integrated into the design. In addition, operational energy will be down by more than 40 percent, its radiant cooling systems will drastically reduce energy demands, and over 70 percent of potable water will be recycled and reused onsite, earning the structure the platinum certification from Green Mark on energy efficiency. Green Mark is a green building rating designed to evaluate a building’s environmental impact and performance. 

Bubut Montejo, SVP of facilities, procurement, and logistics, BDO Unibank stores documents in the time capsule.

The overall design includes 75 percent of its rooftops covered in greenery, an urban farm, an auditorium, and event areas.  

Inside the buildings, workspaces will encourage collaboration and interaction, with flexible office spaces, trading floors, and business hubs. The center also includes areas for client engagement to facilitate a more personalized approach – all of which contribute to making the business hub a positive and inclusive addition to the city. 

For Nestor Tan, president and CEO, BDO Unibank, the Makati office building complex is all about utility and comfort.

Tan, the new building complex is all about utility and comfort. “It incorporates spaces with minimal pillars, large open spaces, and full of natural light. It will be easy to navigate, and that adds to the productivity of whoever will use it. So more than the looks, which is the first thing that people notice, it’s actually the utility which we put a premium on, and that’s what we’re trying to build here. Because it would be the future home of BDO and other participants, and we hope that it will usher in the future of building technology.”

Designed by British architectural firm Foster + Partners, all the structural and environmental engineering, landscaping, and interiors support the vision of an environmentally sound structure that will be carried into the future. Construction is led by Datem, a Philippine firm known for its experience with green buildings. 

“The BDO corporate stands as a testament to our commitment to best design, best building practices, and sustainable development. This project marks one of Datem’s enduring legacies in its more than four decades of existence. Our talented project team is honored to have accepted this challenge to build this magnificent structure,” said Datem, Inc. Liberito V. Espiritu in his inspirational message.

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BDO net balloons to P57B

A view of BDO Unibank Inc.'s main office building in Makati City. File Photo

By The Manila Times

February 28, 2023 

THE country's largest bank saw its net income surge to P57.1 billion last year, up 34.7 percent from P42.8 billion in 2021, following robust growth across its core businesses.

The earnings were "broad-based and diversified," the Sy-led bank said in a statement, adding that it remained optimistic about its growth prospects despite current headwinds.

"We continue being alert to the challenges posed by supply constraints, higher inflation, tighter external liquidity, rates/FX (foreign exchange) volatility and geopolitical strains," it said.

"While macroeconomic challenges remain... BDO believes that its established business franchise and strong balance sheet will allow the bank to surmount near-term risks and capitalize on structural growth opportunities to attain long-term sustainable growth," it also said.

Return on equity improved to 13 percent for the year — 15.3 percent in the fourth quarter alone — from 10.5 percent in 2021 and 12.8 percent in 2019 before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gross customer loans were said to have gone up by 9 percent year on year, which BDO described as "broad-based" and due to the economy's reopening. Deposits climbed by 14 percent and net interest income grew by 14 percent to P149.2 billion.

Non-interest income, meanwhile, rose by 17 percent to P71.5 billion on the back of strong fee income, foreign exchange and fixed-income client-flow businesses.

Asset quality also improved, the bank said, with the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio declining to 1.95 percent and NPL coverage strengthening to 167 percent.

Total capital expanded to P461.5 billion with the capital adequacy and common equity tier 1 ratios both above regulatory minimum levels at 14.5 percent and 13.4 percent, respectively. Book value per share rose by 9 percent to P86.20 year on year.

Also on Monday, BDO announced on Monday that its board of directors had approved an increase in the bank's quarterly cash dividends on common shares to P0.75 per beginning this year and payable on March 31, 2023.

"This will be the new dividend policy of BDO going forward," the bank said in a separate statement.

"This higher dividend payout compares favorably with the P0.30 per share quarterly dividend in the past, as the bank recognizes the importance of providing a stable and sustainable dividend stream consistent with its commitment to shareholders, and its financial performance," it added.

The bank's shares rose by 10 centavos, or 0.08 percent, on Monday to P124.10 apiece amid a 1.29-percent plunge for the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index.

BDO income up 12% to P23.9B

 

NEW FUNDS A view of BDO Unibank Inc.’s main office building in Makati City. According to the lender, it has raised P52.7 billion in new funds through fixed-rate Asean Sustainability Bonds. PHOTO BY ENRIQUE AGCAOILI

BDO Unibank Inc. (BDO) posted a 12-percent increase in its net income for the first half of 2022 to P23.9 billion on the back of strong results across its core businesses.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Monday, BDO said its customer loan portfolio grew by 9 percent, bolstered by an 11-percent increase in its current account savings accounts (CASA) deposits, which now comprise 85 percent of total deposits.

The company said noninterest income was up to P34.3 billion, lifted by the increased volume of transactions, translating into an increase in fees and insurance premiums.

Pre-provision operating profit also increased up to P39.2 billion, reflecting the strength of core income sources amid a tempered increase in operating expenditures.

Asset quality sustained its improvement as the nonperforming loan ratio went down further to 2.39 percent, as against 2.72 percent a quarter ago and 3.12 percent year on year.

BDO continues to roll out new digital capabilities and self-service technologies across branches to make banking services more accessible, easier to use and operationally efficient. These branch innovations include paperless straight through processing capability, covering 80 percent of branch transactions and card-less automated teller machine transactions using biometrics, facial recognition and QR codes.

BDO is now also offering its mobile wallet, BDO Pay, to non-BDO account holders. BDO Pay does not require any initial deposit nor maintaining balance, and currently allows fund transfers to other bank accounts without transaction fees.

BDO's established business franchise, healthy capital position and sustainable earnings performance reinforce the bank's resilience against prevailing macroeconomic headwinds and puts it in a good position to capitalize on the country's opportunities for sustained long-term growth.