CARMONA, Cavite — The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is set to have its new headquarters by next year here at Barangay Milagrosa.
PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta Jr. led the groundbreaking ceremony Saturday morning, July 30, as the federation marks yet another milestone following the first and historic title of the Filipinas, the Philippine women’s national football team, in the 2022 AFF Women’s Championship early this month at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Araneta said having a new headquarters is “symbolic to where we are and where we want to be as a federation.”
“We are delighted to finally break ground the new PFF headquarters,” said Araneta during a short program at the PFF National Training Center inside the San Lazaro Leisure and Business Park. “This was once a dream for us in the PFF and now we’re slowly but surely seeing it come to life.
“A project of this big and significant didn’t happen overnight. It took years of meticulous planning and collaboration with our partners, FIFA and the AFC, to get where we are today,” added the PFF chief.
The new facility, supported by the AFC President’s Infrastructure Initiative Program and the FIFA Forward Program, will rise some 40 kilometers away from the capital Manila as well as the current headquarters in Pasig City.
Araneta, who was a former national team member himself, disclosed to some reporters that the AFC had provided $800,000 (approximately P44 million) to secure the 4,231-square meters of land while the five-storey building itself will be funded by the FIFA.
Araneta said the facility, which will provide more working space and modern amenities for both PFF employees and athletes, is projected to be finished by at least one year.
Once done, construction of dormitories will follow suit for the national football teams as the new headquarters is just nearby the PFF National Training Center.
Also present in the groundbreaking ceremony were Carmona Mayor Dahlia Loyola, Philippine Sports Commission OIC and Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy, PFF Secretary-General Edwin Gastanes and FIFA Regional Director of Asia and Oceania Sanjeevan Balasingam while FIFA President Gianni Infantino and AFC General-Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John gave their speech via media messages.