Ayala Land expands Cebu footprint with new mixed-use estates

Insider Spotlight

• Ayala Land is accelerating development across three new Cebu estates: Seagrove, Gatewalk Central, and South Coast City
• The projects target tourism, commercial, and entertainment growth corridors across Metro Cebu
• Ayala Malls at Gatewalk is scheduled to open by the fourth quarter of 2026
• South Coast City’s SM Arena and SMX Convention Center are expected to open within the year
  
  

Ayala Land Inc. is ramping up development across three major mixed-use estates in Cebu as it doubles down on the province’s growing tourism, commercial, and urban economy.

The property giant said it is accelerating activity in Seagrove, Gatewalk Central, and South Coast City, expanding beyond its established Cebu Business Park and Cebu I.T. Park developments. The projects are positioned across key growth corridors in Cebu City, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu.

The expansion comes as Cebu continues to attract investments in tourism, business process outsourcing, retail, and infrastructure, strengthening its role as one of the country’s fastest-growing regional economies.

The big picture

“We are expanding our footprint strategically across Cebu City, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu. This is our Next Wave of growth centers—grounded in the proven blueprint of Cebu Business Park and Cebu I.T. Park, and enhanced through years of experience in developing successful mixed-use communities all over the country,” Jay Teodoro, head of VisMin Estates for Ayala Land Estates, said in a press statement on May 13, 2026.

Teodoro said each estate is designed around a specific economic driver while offering commercial investment opportunities through limited property lot releases.

In Lapu-Lapu City, Seagrove is positioned as Ayala Land’s first leisure estate in Cebu, located within Mactan Island’s tourism corridor near hotels, resorts, and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

The estate will feature a coastal town center and boardwalk integrated with sustainability and biodiversity initiatives, including mangrove frontage preservation.

Why it matters

Gatewalk in Mandaue City is being developed as a pedestrian-oriented commercial and lifestyle district modeled after Bonifacio Global City’s integrated urban design.

An Ayala Mall is slated to open by the fourth quarter of 2026, while an office tower is targeted for completion in 2027. The estate will also include greenways and a transport terminal aimed at improving connectivity and walkability.

Meanwhile, South Coast City—a joint venture between Ayala Land and SM Prime Holdings—is emerging as a large-scale entertainment and business district along Cebu City’s South Road Properties corridor.

The development will house the SM Arena, SMX Convention Center, hotels, offices, retail spaces, and a central park, with major components expected to open within the year.

“Each estate has a clear identity. Each powers a different economic engine, and each gives investors real choice,” Teodoro said. --Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma