PFF PHOTO
CARMONA, Cavite — The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) on Saturday broke ground on the site where a modern and larger headquarters is going to be built outside of Metro Manila.
PFF president Nonong Araneta led a groundbreaking ceremony held here where a five-story building will rise through funding from world governing body Fifa and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
To be constructed in 4,231 square meters of land, the new headquarters will replace PFF’s current but smaller two-floor office located in Pasig City.
Araneta said having a larger facility was made with the need for a more spacious workplace.
Philippine Football Federation officials led by its president Mariano Araneta, Jr. and general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes held the groundbreaking on the future site of the new PFF headquarters today 30 July 2022 in Carmona, Cavite. pic.twitter.com/SJO0t8XiIG
— Philippine Football Federation (@philfootball) July 30, 2022
“Our current headquarters in Pasig is not very conducive and the organization is growing and expanding so we needed a new place,” Araneta told reporters after the second half of the event at the nearby PFF National Training Centre.
The new building is expected to be finished by the latter part of 2023, with dormitories for players and coaches to be constructed immediately after.
Araneta said the PFF was granted $800,000 (P44.28 million) by the AFC to purchase the land located along Sugar Road, with design and construction costs amounting to $2 million (P110 million) coming from Fifa’s Forward Program.
“I am particularly happy to note that you have worked so closely with Fifa to reach the point you arrive at today,” said Fifa president Gianni Infantino in a video message aired during the ceremony.
“And this is exactly the aim of the Fifa Forward Program: to provide tailor-made support to all 211 Member Associations, with more investment, more impact and more oversight,” he added.
The groundbreaking came two weeks after the Philippines ruled the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Championship, beating Thailand, 3-0, before 8,257 fans at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
“It’s significant because we won the AFF Women’s Championship and now football is going to have its new headquarters. So these are all tied up together for our football development, to really promote football in the country,” Araneta said.