LIMA Estate in Batangas is the Philippines’ largest privately-owned industrial-anchored estate, encompassing 1,000 hectares of master-planned industrial, commercial, and residential zones. Central to the estate is the 70-hectare Biz Hub, Batangas’ first central business district, which brings together office towers, retail outlets, dining establishments, a 4-star hotel, and recreational spaces to create a dynamic “live-work-play” environment for companies and residents.

LIMA Estate is now home to over 180 locators and supports more than 75,000 jobs, making it a critical hub for economic activity in the region. In this interview, Clifford Academia, Vice President for Operations at Aboitiz Economic Estates, shares the latest on LIMA Estate’s ongoing projects, Biz Hub’s contribution to business growth, and how the estate aims to drive sustainable and integrated development moving forward.

Bridges: With the continuous expansion of LIMA Estate’s commercial and industrial zones, what are some of the most critical operational improvements?

Academia: First is traffic management. Traffic in and around the estate is very important, so we have our own traffic management team that ensures smooth flow. They work closely with the local government for coordination.

On top of that, we’ve implemented road network improvements to make sure that as we expand, the infrastructure keeps up. For utilities, we have our own water and power systems, as well as a wastewater treatment facility, so we can maintain consistent service. We want to make sure the estate runs smoothly as it grows.

Are there any new facilities or amenities being built to enhance the experience for tenants, workers, and residents?

Yes, there are several. One big improvement is the expansion of Biz Hub at LIMA Estate, which offers more retail, dining, and recreational spaces. We are also developing more open spaces for walking and biking.

Part of the program for the industrial estate is engagement with the companies, where we host sports fests for employees. These facilities help us do those things. Recently, we’ve added a pickleball court. With Biz Hub now, there’s really more space.

Can you tell us more about the community programs you’re running?

One of our highlights is Car-Free Sunday. Every Sunday, we open a defined path inside the industrial park where the public can walk, jog, or bike. It’s a 10-kilometer loop.

It’s great because now it really tells the community: This piece of development is not only what you see — there are so many other uses you can come here for. People can jog, run, bring their bikes, or just enjoy a relaxed walk.

What’s interesting is that after years of promoting it, people are now truly embracing it. Visitors come from across Batangas, Laguna, and even farther for events like fun runs.

You touched a little more on recreation. Do you want to mention anything about the residential part — like how many people are living in the area and the villages?

We have a lot of residential developments around the estate. One of the most successful is The Villages at LIMA Estate, which has grown nicely over the past few years.

It’s a 50-hectare development with three villages, totaling about 2,500 housing units. They cater to different segments — middle-income, middle-high, and high-income markets. The high-income area offers lots only for flexibility. Being adjacent to the estate means you can really achieve that live-work-play arrangement.

We’ve already started turning over homes and are integrating residents into the community. For example, EV routes now go all the way to The Villages for seamless access, and residents enjoy perks at the mall.

Are there other amenities coming soon?

Yes. We’re adding a golf driving range, targeted to open by the end of the year. We’re fortunate to be near courses like Malarayat and Summit Point, but our expats often want to practice outside weekends. The clamor has been there ever since, and now we have the perfect opportunity to put one in.

Can you explain more about the economic impact and the different areas within the estate?

LIMA Estate is the mother estate. Within it, there are two main components: the Industrial Hub and the Biz Hub, which is the central business district (CBD).

Within the Biz Hub, you have several commercial components — The Outlets, LIMA Exchange for essentials, Holiday Inn and Suites, LIMA Tower One, the Aboitiz Pitch, and soon the golf driving range. Biz Hub is really your CBD — it’s like BGC, where you have your high street, offices, hotels, and recreational areas.

I noticed there are a lot of students. Are there schools within or near the estate?

Outside LIMA, there are about 27 universities, plus many elementary and high schools. Inside the mall, we have Edustria, a senior high school established through a joint venture between Far Eastern University and the Technological Institute of the Philippines.

They focus on preparing graduates to work within the industrial estate, and many of their on-the-job training programs have successfully led to employment here. We’re also working to bring in more educational institutions and have a dedicated training center for partnerships with schools across the province. Also, the Batangas State University – LIMA Campus will open its doors next year, welcoming its first batch of students.

What about healthcare?

There’s a full-service hospital right across from the estate, so access to medical care is really convenient for everyone here — employees, residents, even visitors. It’s one of those things that makes you realize how complete the place already is. With schools, shops, offices, and now healthcare, it’s really starting to feel like a full city.

What’s the vision moving forward and some of your strategic priorities?

The vision is to expand our footprint and partner with the government to attract high-value, high-technology manufacturing companies. Export manufacturing remains our main focus, but we’re also developing the CBD to bring more high-value jobs from the IT-BPM industry.

We believe the way to really help the country is to bring development and economic activity to the countryside.

We also want to ensure sustainability through circular economy practices, proper waste management, and energy transitions. Finally, we aim to adopt relevant technology to make the community more livable and efficient.

Check out more about how LIMA is shaping up on Aboitiz Economic Estates’ Facebook page, or visit the www.aboitizeconomicestates.com for updates and developments.