3rd NU6: Serendipity Walk

Business Opportunities along General Santos Ave., corner A. Bonifacio Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City

On my way home from the Office and as I walk along General Santos Avenue corner A. Bonifacio Avenue in Bicutan, Taguig City, where DOST Compound is located, there were a lot of business opportunities that came to my mind. Actually, it has caught my attention a long time ago but the possibility of putting up businesses on that vacant space would depend on the DOST Secretary's decision since the it is a government property.

About 5 years ago, DOST has already donated 1000 sq meter area for the provision of a rotunda and road widening since there was so much traffic going to A. Bonifacio St. because there are a lot jeepeneys to and from FTI, Pasay, The Fort, Sucat and Alabang that pass through the area. You can also find jeepney stations bound to Pasay and bound to Alabang in the corner along the side walk of Gen. Santos Ave. Across it is parking for tricycles going to Lower Bicutan and Upper Bicutan (around 200 tricylcles going back and forth).

Of all the streets I've passed through, this street is the busiest street that I came across during the day and even at night. I came into a conclusion that the Bicutan area in Taguig is one of the most densely populated areas in Metro Manila.

Gen. Santos Ave. is also used now as short cut going to C6 for vehicles going to Pasig Cainta and Taytay, Rizal. The map below will give a satellite view of the area.

With the above facts and observations I listed down the business opportunities that I think would have a potential to become successful.

- Fastfood chains such as Jollibee, Mc Donalds, Mang Inasal

There is no eating area near it except in SM Bicutan which is around 500m away via overpass which is always full and prone for pick pockets thus people prefer to ride the jeepney where they have to pay P8.50 and wait until it is full.

- Restaurants

There is a canteen and a carinderia type eating place inside the compound but with more hundreds of employees and thousands of guests every day, what is left is only snack food at around 12.30 pm.

People would always tend to look for other food different from those seen in the canteen or a different ambiance so they would prefer to eat out once in a while. But going to SM city would be a hassle since you have to ride a jeepney or walk the 500m overpass before going there. So a nice eating place just outside the gate would be favored more.

-          Carinderia

The  tricycle drivers and jeepney drivers would enjoy lutong bahay more than fastfood and may only afford the price of food in the carinderia.

-          Kiosks for Siomai snacks or burger or turon

People on the go especially in the morning and evening where there is a long queue for people going to Alabang and Pasay would want to grab a snack from kiosks while waiting for the jeepney.

-          Grocery store

If you cross the street and walk 100 meters you would find a wet market. But going there is a hassle especially for office workers or for people who would not want to walk that 100m back to the jeepney or tricycle station. Or those not wanting to walk 500 m to SM just to buy a few grocery needs especially for office workers.  Making your prices just comparable with SM hypermarket or a few centavos lower will attract more customers.

-          Gasoline station (Petron, Caltex or Shell)

A gasoline station would be a sure hit since there are a lot of vehicles taking that route. A gasoline station at the corner lot would be available for jeepneys and tricycle alike

-          RTW

Since clothes is one of the basic needs of people, ready to wear clothes will be profitable in a good location

-          Fruit Shake/ Juice Stand – especially on a very hot day where drivers and passengers feel hot and thirsty.

Other businesses that will also click are the following:

-          Bigasan

-          Fruit/Vegetable Stand

-          Bookstore/School Supplies Store

-          Bakery/Pastries/Cake Store

-          Convenience Store

The only problem with putting up a business in the area is the permit to use the vacant lot which is owned by DOST. But if DOST is allowed to create income from business, the agency could also think of putting up the following businesses or establishments in the future:

-          Gasoline station for bioethanol (E80) or biodiesel for 4-stroke and 2-stroke engines.

The tricycles running in Bicutan are all using a 2-stroke engine which emits too much smoke thus polluting the environment, selling cheap biodiesel for 2-stroke engines would be a good way to help the environment.  Also, the regular gasoline stations only sells E10, but new cars are already designed so that it can use E80. Since ethanol is much cheaper than regular gasoline, E80 would sell cheaper and is more environment friendly.

-          Charging station for e-trikes.

The Taguig LGU has recently launched the use of e-trikes (electronic tricycles). If a policy will be made that all tricycles in Bicutan will be changed into e-trikes, there would be a need for charging stations or battery switch stations (since charging would take hours).

-          An area where to promote DOST technologies

The DOST have generated technologies but there's a need to market these technologies or showcase the technologies, the corner lot would be a good location to do this.

-          Pilot Plant for Bioreactor ( biocomposter– of biodegradable waste)/ Plastic/styro desifier

One of the major problems of the wet market near DOST is the garbage disposal. Even vendors at night throw garbage in the middle of the road at night. A good way to promote the bioreactor and plastic/styro densifier of DOST is to put up a pilot plant of these technologies in the corner area in order to process the waste not only of DOST but also the nearby wet market. They just have to make sure that it is properly operated and maintained so that it will not emit any foul odor. The compost that would be produced from the bioreactor can be used in the Biodiversity projects of the compound or can be sold to landscapers. Products from the plastic/styro densifier can be converted into useful products like catwalks tiles, planters, waste baskets, table tops, chairs, etc.

-          A showroom for all DOST-assisted products

Since DOST have already helped a lot of MSMEs by providing technology interventions, the DOST can also help them in marketing by providing a showroom or selling area for the assisted products where a lot of people can see and buy.

These are just wild ideas which could become successful in the future because the area is strategically located and have a big potential as business location.

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