LIMA Estate plays host to football training bubble

With its numerous open spaces, recreation areas, and strict implementation of COVID-19 safety protocols, LIMA Estate has become a safe haven for the Philippine Football Federation and its member clubs. 

LIMA Estate, a 794-hectare industrial-anchored township located in Lipa-Malvar Batangas, is known for being the largest and best-selling privately owned industrial estate in the Philippines, but it also has its own Central Business District (CBD), which includes world class sporting facilities.

The Aboitiz Pitch is one of the largest artificial turfs in Luzon and can be utilized to play multiple sports including football. The sporting facility is integrated into The Outlets at Lipa, a lifestyle mall with 167 shops and restaurants, just a short walk from LIMA Park Hotel, a 138-room 4-star hotel. These unique features make LIMA’s CBD the ideal location for teams to train ahead of local and international competition.

As a result, a number of Philippine Football Federation member clubs have been training at LIMA, as well as the U23 Men’s National Football team in preparation for the Asian Football Confederation Under-23 Cup 2022 Qualifiers in Singapore on October 25 – 31, 2021.

To ensure safety, the players, coaching staff, and team officials undergo RT-PCR testing before entry to the bubble and routine testing during training. They are all required to wear face masks and shields at all times, except while in sessions. A health and safety officer is also present to monitor the health of all the people in the bubble.

To further secure the teams’ health, the training areas and hotel are closed to spectators, guests, media, and non-essential individuals.

During the pandemic, LIMA hosted Kaya Football Club Iloilo, while prior to the pandemic, LIMA had hosted a number of games for the Philippine Football League (PFL) and the Youth Football League (YFL).

“We are honored to be hosting the Philippine Football Federation and its member clubs in LIMA and at the Aboitiz Pitch. It ensures that our athletes can continue their training and development programs in a safe and conducive environment.”

– Rob del Rosario, Luzon Operations Head of Aboitiz InfraCapital’s Commercial Business Unit

“We continue to work hard to ensure safety within the Estate, so they can focus on training and winning matches,” he added.

LIMA Central Business District (CBD) is LIMA Estate’s 30-hectare commercial area and the first CBD to rise in the province of Batangas. It currently houses various commercial components such as The Outlets at Lipa, LIMA Exchange, LIMA Park Hotel, and LIMA Transport Hub.

In July, LIMA Land, Inc. announced that it was set to build a seven-tower office park at the heart of LIMA’s CBD. This is to capitalize on the anticipated boom of business process outsourcing (BPO) companies outside the National Capital region.

The first tower,  LIMA Tower One, is expected to break ground in the second quarter of 2022. 

LIMA Land has also put four hectares of commercial lot inventory up for grabs earlier this year. Lot sizes range from 1,800 up to 5,000 square meters, ideal for BPO companies, offices, dormitories, condominiums, schools, hospitals, hotels, civic centers, and other commercial uses. These types of establishments will complement existing commercial components in the zone and the planned office complex, giving investors and developers a unique  opportunity to take part in the growth of LIMA. 

As of September 2021, 54% of the total commercial lots within the CBD have been sold and investors may start construction by the first quarter of 2022.

LIMA Estate is highly accessible with direct access to freeways, South Luzon Expressway and STAR tollways. It is an hour and a half away from Makati CBD and Ninoy Aquino International Airport and 40 minutes from Alabang.