The growth of the infotech-business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry has led to an increase in demand for office spaces. Narrowing the demand and supply gap drove SM Prime Holdings, Inc. in the development of Five E-com Center, the recently completed office building under SM Prime’s six-building hub at the Mall of Asia Complex.
 
“The Philippines provides a competitive and desirable landscape for companies,” says Senior Vice President of SM Prime Holdings Inc. Dave Rafael. “We have the skilled manpower and an ideal environment that these industries need; as such, many foreign investors are taking notice.”
 

SM Prime Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of listed conglomerate SM Investments Corp. (SMIC), recently launched Five E-Com, the third building in its master-planned business district. The building caters to the need for office space of technology-based industries and is included in the business and lifestyle township of Mall of Asia Complex. Present during the grand launch are (from L-R) Jojo Gajitos, Vice President and Country Director, Xerox; Patrick Lim, FSL and Associates; David Rafael, Senior Vice President, SM Prime Commercial Properties Group; Henry Sy Jr., Chairman, SM Prime Holdings, Inc.; David Zaballero, President, Arquitectonica
 
Five E-Com Center is already 95% occupied with high-profile tenants such as Telstra, Teletech, Vestas, Tupperware, Klaveness and Xerox.
 
The country’s economy has been seeing a steady winning streak with significant contributions from key growth drivers, one of which is the continuously growing IT-BPO industry. This sector is forecasted to earn US$25 billion in revenues and employ 1.3 million and 3.2 million Filipinos directly and indirectly by 2016, accounting for about 8 percent of the Philippines’ GDP.
 
The IT-BPO sector’s export revenue more than doubled between 2008 and 2014 and has now reached an estimated $13.3 billion. The steady rise in the demand for outsourced services from gaming and animation, healthcare information management, and global in-house center segments is expected to lend buoyancy to the Philippine economy.
 
Designed by Miami-based architectural firm Arquitectonica, FiveE-Com also represents SM Prime’s primary goal of environmental sustainability with its green features.
 
Additionally, the building provides a complete working environment that includes lifestyle opportunities for employees. It houses Prism Plaza, a podium area that combines a landscaped deck, pond, and retail spaces. “We want to create a self-sustaining community for office workers so we designed Five E-Com in a way that it also provides for the daily needs of employees for food, supplies, and relaxation spots of workers,” Rafael explains.
 
Five E-Com Center is the third building in the planned e-commerce complex by SM Prime. Previously opened centers are the One E-Com in 2008 and Two E-Com Center in 2012. It is a 15-level building with a gross floor area of 126,907 square meters and a leasable area of approximately 88,000 square meters.
 
SM Prime Holdings Inc. is the property subsidiary of listed conglomerate SM Investments Corp. The E-Com centers are included in the township of the Mall of Asia Complex.