ALI sets next phase of El Nido estate development
Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) is stepping up investments in its Lio Estate in El Nido, Palawan, as the property giant seeks to capture growing demand for long-stay visits, second homes and lifestyle-oriented living in island destinations.
In a statement, the company said the next phase of investments in the 320-hectare (ha) mixed-use development would focus on infrastructure and community enhancements aimed at improving connectivity and expanding appeal to tourists, residents, entrepreneurs and creative enterprises.
Among the planned developments are a transport terminal and events pavilion designed to improve mobility and support year-round activities within the estate.
ALI is also building a visitor’s center that will serve as a hub for the estate’s sustainability and development initiatives.
Other projects include a 3.7-kilometer waterfront boardwalk connecting key areas within the estate, an expanded network of pedestrian pathways linking Lio Airport to commercial and beachfront destinations and the repositioning of the Lio Jetty into a leisure and community destination overlooking El Nido Bay.
“The next phase of Lio is about strengthening how the estate functions as a connected, lived-in destination,” said Cris Zuluaga, group head of ALI Leisure Estates. “These investments reinforce the relationship between nature, community and enterprise within a single integrated framework.”
ALI said the expansion reflects changing demand patterns in global leisure and lifestyle markets, where destinations are increasingly serving both short-term visitors and long-term residents.
Lio was originally designed as an integrated estate, with more than half of its land area dedicated to open spaces and ecological systems, such as mangroves, wetlands, forests and biodiversity corridors.
Over the years, the development has attracted a growing community of residents, entrepreneurs, hospitality operators and creatives.
According to Paloma Urquijo Zobel de Ayala, creative director of ALI and owner of Kalye Artisano and Bahay Artisano at Lio, the estate appeals to people seeking deeper connections with the places where they live, work and create.
At the center of Lio’s next growth phase is Sitio Aplaya, a 16.3-ha mixed-use district intended to expand residential, retail, hospitality and lifestyle offerings within a walkable environment.
Located near the beach and the commercial and cultural district, Sitio Aplaya is being positioned as a new hub for living, enterprise and investment opportunities.
ALI said Lio forms part of its broader strategy of investing in integrated estates that combine tourism, lifestyle and community-building while preserving ecological systems.
