Philippines billionaire Manny Villar has promised to resume focusing on development of his ambitious 3,500-hectare mixed-use estate, Villar City, in the south of Metro Manila in the wake of the country’s elections.
In comments to the Philippine Star, Villar said he had temporarily diverted his attention to helping his daughter Camille during her successful campaign to win a senate seat, adding, “Now, back to Villar City. Development continues.”
Villar City is described as an “expansive megalopolis” connecting 15 towns and cities across Metro Manila and Cavite. It will once fully built out comprise a central business district, tech valley, university town, hospital, golf courses and various leisure and recreational facilities, including two casinos.
As previously reported by Inside Asian Gaming, the casino projects alone are expected to cost around US$1 billion with the first to be built on the 18,000 square-meter shopping complex Vista Mall Global South. The casino had been envisioned to target international high-rollers as well as local players although a partnership with Dowinn Group has since collapsed following the junket’s recent financial woes.
Villar stated recently that the Vista Mall Global South casino – located close to hotels, commercial centers and housing developments – was nearing completion.
“The structure is finished. It’s a mall that I converted. We own the land, we own the structure,” he said in March.
Asked who would run the casinos without the aid of Dowinn Group, Villar added, “We need to have [experienced people], we’re getting a General Manager.”
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