AYALA Land Inc. is pouring more investments to enhance its 320-hectare Lio Estate in El Nido, Palawan in a bid to capture rising demand for long-stay travel, second homes and lifestyle-oriented living.
In a statement on Monday, the company said the additional investments would focus on infrastructure and community facilities designed to improve connectivity, mobility and public spaces while supporting a growing mix of visitors, residents, entrepreneurs and hospitality operators.
Enhancements will include a transport terminal and events pavilion, a visitor’s center, a 3.7-kilometer waterfront boardwalk, expanded pedestrian pathways linking Lio Airport to commercial and beachfront areas and the redevelopment of the Lio jetty into a leisure and community destination.
“The next phase of Lio is about strengthening how the estate functions as a connected, lived-in destination,” said Cris Zuluaga, group head of Ayala Land Leisure Estates.
“These investments reinforce the relationship between nature, community and enterprise within a single integrated framework,” he added.
No financial details were disclosed regarding the planned investments.
Ayala Land said the expansion reflected changing demand across leisure markets, where destinations are increasingly serving not only short-term tourists but also long-stay visitors, remote workers, second-home buyers and businesses seeking integrated communities.
At the center of the estate’s next phase is Sitio Aplaya, a 16.3-hectare mixed-use district designed to combine residential, retail, hospitality and lifestyle components.
Within walking distance of Lio Beach and the estate’s commercial and cultural center, Sitio Aplaya is being positioned as new hub for long-term participation, entrepreneurship and investment in El Nido as one of the country’s premier island destinations.
More than half of Lio Estate’s 320-hectare land area has been set aside for open spaces and ecological systems, including mangroves, wetlands, forests and biodiversity corridors.
Paloma Urquijo Zobel de Ayala, creative director of Ayala Land and owner of Kalye Artisano and Bahay Artisano within Lio Estate, said the development continues to attract people seeking a deeper connection with local communities and culture.
“Lio attracts people who want to engage more deeply with the places they are part of — whether through business, creativity or community life,” she said.
Ayala Land said the continued investment in Lio formed part of a broader strategy of developing integrated estates that combine tourism, residential communities and commercial opportunities while preserving the natural environment.
Ayala Land shares on Monday slipped P0.20, or 1.31 percent, to close at P15.10 each.