IF you think that the biggest worry of parents over school expenses of their children is now over since the new academic year has just officially opened nationwide, well, it’s not really over yet.
Apart from settling tuition fees and purchase of school uniforms and learning materials, they still have to allocate for their kids’ daily meals and commute, as well as the cost of living space if they happen to study away from home.
And where else do they turn to, of course, in particular locales near the schools where accommodation facilities abound, such as dormitories, houses for rents and condominiums—another potential good sources of recurring income for real-estate developers and landlords.
Lamudi Philippines has identified key sites in Metro Manila, Baguio, Cebu, Dumaguete and Davao, where parents can entrust their children to stay in without ruining their budgets.
Pablo Ocampo Street (formerly Vito Cruz Street), Manila
THIS is one of the academic centers of the country’s capital, where some of the A-lister academic institutions are located, such as De La Salle University, College of Saint Benilde and Saint Scholastica’s College.
Also found within its vicinity are the Philippine Women’s University and Arellano University. As for its landmark, it is close to the Vito Cruz Station of Light Rail Transit 1. In reference to Makati, it is near Ayala Avenue and Circuit Makati. Pablo Ocampo Street is where condos, hospitals and upcoming township developments are located.
While most of the schools belong to a premium category, there are still a number of relatively affordable condos here, with monthly rental fees ranging from P5,000 to P20,000 for one-bedroom units. These are developments, like the Grand Towers, Pacific Regency, the Kingswood Condominiums and Cityland Vito Cruz, to name a few.
Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City
IF you’re kids are enrolled in the University of the Philippines Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, Miriam College and the Multiple Intelligence International School, the Katipunan area in Quezon City is a place to be for their accommodation. It has a number of areas with residential spaces for rent, particularly condos catered to students. Due to their location, however, lease rates are a bit expensive.
A one-bedroom condo units’ monthly rate, for instance, can range from P13,000 to P20,000. These are in projects like Berkeley Residences and Blue Residences, which are a stone’s throw from the said schools.
Baguio City
THE City of Pine is not only known for its cold weather, but also as the educational center of Northern Luzon, given the many colleges and universities found here.
These are the University of the Philippines Baguio, Saint Louis University, University of the Cordilleras, Philippine Military Academy and the University of Baguio, among others.
Many consider moving up here to study because of its chilling climate and less congestion and traffic—all conducive for their learning.
At present, one-bedroom houses for rent here are offered at a cost as low as P6,000 per month.
Ideally, they sit around the areas of the Burnham Park and Legarda, which are just a jeepney ride away from the business district and the most of the schools situated around it.
Cebu City
THE Queen City of the South is comparable to Metro Manila being a highly urbanized area, with plenty of urban conveniences, including a central business district, tertiary hospitals and an international airport, to name a few.
Cebu is also home to a campus of the University of the Philippines Visayas, together with 37 other institutions for higher education, cementing its stature as one of the region’s most ideal places to reside and study.
Cebu has a number of residential spaces for rent, particularly in condominium developments in most urbanized and densely peopled areas, such as Bloq Residences, Avida Tower, 1016 Residences and Park Point Residences, to name a few.
A studio unit between 18 square meters and 25 sq m of floor area, which is enough to house an additional student or two, is priced a rate of P10,000 a month.
Davao City
THE city where President-elect Rodrigo R. Duterte hails from and has ruled prior to now his national leadership, Davao is education hub of Mindanao. At present, there are a total of 33 colleges and universities operating here, including the University of the Philippines Mindanao, Ateneo de Davao University and the University of Southeastern Philippines
Davao City offers a wide array of residential spaces, but the neighborhoods that are farther out provide more cheap prices, and the distance is not too much of a concern as the city’s infrastructure and transportation system are well organized. According to the current listings on Lamudi, the most affordable places to lease an apartment, Catalunan Grande area is the go-to, with rates as low as P10,000 per month for a two-bedroom, 70-sq-m property. It is near the University of Southeastern Philippines and UP Mindanao.
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