Philippines Expat Forum

glove01
Joined 2017
Posts: 1

6 years ago

Manila Accommodation Options and Safety

6 years ago

Hello,

I'm new to this forum and have a few queries I'm hoping other Expats might be able to answer.

I'm an Australian and contemplating a move to Manila with my partner (no kids) to take up an Expat opportunity near the Ortigas Centre.

(1) Accommodation
As part of the Expat package, we'll have up to PHP 120k to spend of accommodation per month. I'm thinking that it's unlikely that we'll buy a car there, so I'll have to rely on public transport or taxi or say Uber/Grab to get to work. Out of these options, I've read that travelling by Uber/Grab would be the safest option, is there consensus here? Also I'm a bit paranoid about public transport being a soft target for extremists.

Things important to me when considering accommodation are:

* Safety and 24hr security
* Modern accommodation and facilities
* A short commute to work
* Nearby access to a supermarket / shopping centre / cafes
* Nearby access to gym / sporting facilities, such as indoor/outdoor tennis
* Nearby greenspace to walk or hangout in
* Access to a swimming pool
* Safe neighbourhood for walking e.g. I can walk safely from my home/condo to the local shops, restaurants without needing to catch an Uber / taxi
* Close to a University, as my partner might consider studying

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

(2) Gated Community versus Condo Living
Am I correct in thinking that gated communities only contain houses and low-rise apartments OR are there gated communities that also contain high-rise condos? Any pros and cons that might not be obvious for both options?

(3) Safety
I've read loads of articles about crime and safety in Manila and rightly or wrongly it is my No.1 concern about coming to live in Manila. The Aust government website http://smartraveller.gov.au/Countries/asia/south-east/Pages/philippines.aspx has some general advice, which mainly relates to issues in the south of the country, where I will not be travelling.
Violent Crime - my understanding is that it can be avoided by sticking to the safe areas, being street smart and avoiding the dodgy areas of Manila?
Terrorism - if you listen to the current news stories here in Aust, ISIS related terrorism is going to be on the rise in Manila due to the increased fighting in the south and when fighters return from Syria. Is this a fair comment, are Manila expats concerned or is this just scare mongering?

Thanks a lot in advance for your assistance, sorry if I've gone over some old ground covered by previous posts.

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Help others in Philippines by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Philippines.