Helming this impressive company is Chief Executive Officer Januario Jesus Gregorio B Atencio III, the Manila-born man who describes himself as a homebuilder. He has been quoted as saying that mass housing is not about houses; it’s about people, about adding value to society and as a result, transforming people lives.
This deeper sense of mission is a source of pride for 8990’s employees, all 330 of them, captained by Atencio, who speaks frankly about managing change and challenges.
The 54-year-old CEO admits that competition is tough in the Metro Manila area and in the surrounding provinces, but 8990’s strengths include their speed of construction (using manufacturing technology), their affordable housing coupled with accessible in-house financing and the first-class amenities (such as wakeboard facilities and clubhouses) which are part and package of their affordable housing projects.
These decisions have clearly paid off in business terms, for the company’s milestones are impressive: in 2007, the company breached the one billion sales mark, while in 2013 and again in 2016, they were recognised as the leading and largest mass housing developer in the Philippines.