MANILA - Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) is definitely bullish on the infrastructure projects planned by government, having key developments in areas that will directly benefit from transportation projects. But it is still playing it safe in case those projects are delayed.

The Altaraza development in Bulacan, for example, was launched to take advantage of the Metro Rail Transit-7 (MRT-7). That was delayed by one whole administration, more than six years. But Ayala Land has pushed on with its development, and now, with the MRT-7 finally starting, ALI is also scaling up.

ALI president and chief executive Bobby Dy said, "MRT-7 will be a tremendous boost: over 100 hectares in the area, we launched our commercial lots, Qualimed will open their property, not withstanding with potential delay in MRT-7 we continue to develop."

With the Tutuban property, Ayala Land has partnered with Prime Orion, and they also look forward to the intersection of 3 railways, including the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) extension and two other rail systems.

Dy said the potential is fantastic, but they are hedging against possible future delays.

Dy said it is a large parcel, and it will be a major transport hub.

With regard to the reclamation project, Dy is adamant they will pursue any new space that materializes within Mega Manila, including the Laguna Lakeshore project.

"If it is packaged the right way, we will definitely look at it again," said Dy.

Ayala Land is part of the mammoth consortium Trident, including SM, Aboitiz and and Megaworld, which declined to bid for the project, the most expensive public-private partnership (PPP) under President Aquino. The bidding ultimately failed. San Miguel also expressed interest, but also did not submit a bid. San Miguel president Ramon Ang described it as a real estate project, despite government selling it as a tollway dike.

Dy, meanwhile, said the focus of ALI this year will be on the Philippines, having invested a lot abroad last year, including the raising of its stake in Malaysia's MCT to 33 percent.

Dy said they will continue to evaluate their investments abroad, including Myanmar, and they are open to boosting investment. But he said there are no immediate plans at the moment.