PLDT mulls Google-like office

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) is currently considering moving its headquarters to a sprawling 2- to 5-hectare property where it could put up a new “campus type” location for its member companies.

Taking inspiration from complex-like offices in California, like “Googleplex” of search giant Google Inc., the PLDT group is currently finalizing project details, including costs and construction timetable, according to the telco president and CEO Napoleon Nazareno.

This option came up after the group decided not to push through with the acquisition of businessman Roberto Ongpin’s Alphaland Building along Ayala Avenue in Makati City.

READ: Alphaland in talks to sell Makati office building

The Googleplex-like proposal was among the options considered when the telco officials and its property group were assessing whether to rent or acquire new property to house the group’s revenue generating operations and save up to P90 million in rent.

READ: PLDT H1 profit grows 2% to P19.7-B

PLDT is currently headquartered at the company’s Ramon C. Cojuangco (RCB) Building and the Makati General Office (MGO) in Makati City but a migration plan is in the drawing board.

The new location may be financed by proceeds from its other properties.

READ: PLDT plans sale of idle properties

Among those considered for disposal are the 3-hectare property in Dansalan in Mandaluyong City, the old traffic office along España in Sampaloc in Manila, as well as a lot in Filinvest Corporate Center in Alabang in Muntinlupa City.

It may also sell the warehouse of defunct Pilipino Telephone Corp. (Piltel) in Sta. Rosa in Laguna, as well as the PLDT Garnet exchange building in Ortigas Center in Pasig City. – Rappler.com