If you grew up in the province, when we were all young the dream has always been to live in Manila – the center of everything. But little did we know that even at the south of Manila, a lot has been going and on and is just waiting for you to move in.
There are a multitude of reasons why choosing to live in the south is a great option. For now, I’ll just give you 10 reasons why living in the south is one of, if not the best option for you.
1. Less people
If this reason wasn’t obvious from the get-go, then here it is. Anything south of Metro Manila has a lower population density and also more land area. This means you won’t have to squeeze yourself to get to places as much, and you won’t have to deal with so many cramped spaces.
Now with the Covid-19 situation, anyone will appreciate a less congested place to live in and move in to.
2. Less traffic
We can’t guarantee 100% smooth sailing but compared to the metro, the south has more expressways. Drivers and commuters can choose among the Southern Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX), the Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), the soon-to-open Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) or the old scenic routes of the national highways.
Whichever choice you make, you’ll easily get to where you want to go.
3. Booming economy
Work is now crawling towards the provinces. The south has now become a haven for businesses. The age-old tale of having to leave for Manila to strike it big is slowly being forgotten.
Investments have piled up and have sparked economic development in the south, especially in places like the Laguna technoparks, Batangas and Cavite economic zones, and of course Filinvest City in Alabang.
4. Education
Big-name schools have reached the south as well. The daily back-and-forth commute from the province to Manila and back can just be a distant memory now as some of the most prestigious educational institutions have now established themselves in the south.
We have the De La Salle University at Canlubang, Lipa, and Dasmariñas, Ateneo in Sta. Rosa, Far Eastern University in Alabang, and of course the University of the Philippines at Los Baños that is also planning to have a campus in Alabang.
5. Environmental mindset
Various cities and municipalities in the south like Los Baños and Muntinlupa have long banned the use of plastics and Styrofoam. These cities and municipalities have set the standard for other neighboring places to be mindful of the environment.
6. Cleaner air
Compared to the dark skies and blackened air of Metro Manila, the air in the south is cleaner and fresher since there are less cars, more trees and open areas, and less people in general.
7. Traveling
The south is already a tourist destination in and of itself with tons of places to go to in Laguna, Batangas, and Cavite. It also boasts easier access to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport via SLEX. Traveling to a local or even international destination is a lot more enjoyable when going there is already a joy and hassle-free.
8. Beaches
Need I say more?
Living in the south allows easier access to some of the best beaches in the country in Batangas and Cavite. When you’re that close to a beach, you don’t even have to schedule when you want to go. In just little over an hour, you can be to a beach already, sipping on a fresh coconut and getting tanned on the sand.
9. Cost-effective Property
The houses in the south are much more spacious compared to its Metro Manila counterparts. Cramped residential areas are a rarity in the south as most houses here are house and lots, not the two-room apartments we’ve gotten used to in the capital.
While being bigger in space, a property in the south will also be kinder to your pocket. A home with a backyard and garden in Manila will cost you only a fraction when you buy the same house in the south.
10. Property Value
While it is true right now that the value of properties in the south is less expensive than properties in the capital, it won’t be for so long.
The increasing amount of people and families wanting to live in the south, especially in areas near Metro Manila like Alabang, will gradually increase the value of property there.
Buying a property with a rapidly appreciating value is a good investment, especially now that demand is sure to increase.