For Engr. Fred O. de la Cruz, CEO of First Orient Development and Construction Corp. (FODCC), the road to success is not easy.
He recalled that success was not handed to him on a silver platter. Born to hardworking farmer-parents in Nueva Ecija, he began helping them with farm work at an early age.
“Life then was very difficult,” de la Cruz said in an interview, adding that he really worked hard and that his drive and passion helped him achieve success and fulfill his dream.
He said that, even during his younger years, he was already determined and, instead of languishing in despair, he used their poverty as a motivation to succeed in life.
After graduating with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in 1989, he immediately landed a job at the Philippine Rice Research Institute after finishing his tertiary studies.
Later, he was hired by Asiakonstruk as a consultant and surveyor, before being promoted as the firm’s project manager.
He then joined and became one of the partners at GMC, after which he established FODCC in 2002 with only P300,000 in capital investment. FODCC render services for private and government contracts in the field of civil, structural, electro-mechanical works in any industrial, commercial and institutional projects.
Success after hardship
Barely 15 years after it was founded, FODCC has already firmly established itself as one of the biggest and most respected construction and holding firms in the country.
De la Cruz has made it a mission to raise industry standards several notches higher by utilizing the latest technology in their projects, resulting in cost-efficient yet high-quality outputs. With his dedication and hard work, FODCC has managed to obtain the coveted “AAA” category along with the ISO 9001 certification in just a short period of time.
And through his efficient leadership, FODCC is now gearing toward becoming the country’s industry leader in the near future.
Subsidiary companies
Because of the huge success of FODCC in the construction business, de la Cruz was prompted to transform it into a holdings firm.
As a result, FODCC now has other subsidiary companies, among them FODCC Commercial Development for Leasing, FODCC Realty and FODCC Hotel & Leisure. He said his three children are also helping him with his business.
It has also branched out into the power business through the FODCC Energy Development, as well as in food and agriculture through FODCC Agriculture and Technofarms.
Never to rest on his laurels, de la Cruz also opted to venture in banking and finance through FODCC Banking for Rural Banks in Western Visayas, as well as in supplies business with FODCC Centralized Materials and Equipment Division.
Through those various companies, he put up the FODCC Foundation, which is his main arm in giving back to the communities the blessings that he has been
receiving as part of his corporate social responsibility.
On May 31 de la Cruz celebrated his James Bond-themed 50th birthday at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City, where he thanked all his loved ones, employees, fellow industry players, friends and supporters.
De la Cruz vowed that FODCC will continue its commitment to keep abreast with the latest trends in the construction industry and the use of new technology in executing works with the highest degree of quality.
With the awareness in the above field of works, he said they are assuring their clients with much favorable services surpassing standards of excellence.
He boasted that the solid track record and numerous citations from respectable clients, as reflected through its company KPI’s records, “demonstrates our capabilities and commitment to comply with the contractual obligations being so related to quality, cost and on-time delivery to the satisfaction of our valued customers.”
Besides being ISO certified, FODCC is also a member and affiliated to the following:
- Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board, a statutory licensing and regulatory body charged with licensing and regulating contractors in the country;
- Philippine Constructors Association Inc., a respected organization and a catalyst for the continuous
improvement of standards and practices to achieve a sustainable and globally competitive construction industry to benefit primarily the Philippines, the Filipino people, and the world; - Safety Organization of the Philippines, a nonprofit, non-governmental, national public service organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health. Members include businesses, schools, public agencies, private groups, labor organizations and individuals;
- Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, a third-party certification program and nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high- performance buildings; and
- Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System, the central portal of all public procurement activities that provides both government agencies and suppliers a more open, transparent and competitive environment.
De la Cruz said FODCC is a company that gives high regard to quality, saying: “It is our highest desire to maintain the highest degree of quality through our unfaltering pursuit to comply with the requirements and continually improve our management system, enhancing the competence of our workforce and contributing to the welfare of human life and the environment.”