AYALA Corp. has established Ayala Center for Excellence for local athletes and announced plans to launch its “Atletang Ayala” program by the first quarter this year.

In a statement on Wednesday, the company said it will be using its resources for the “next generation” of Filipino Athletes.

“We believe strongly that Filipinos deserve better access to world-class sports facilities across the country and will continue to work to find ways to support the next generation of Filipino athlete to achieve their full potential,” said Jan Bengzon, program director of Ayala Center for Excellence.

The company plans to redevelop Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub, which is located in Imus, Cavite, into a “world-class training center for national athletes.”

Meanwhile, the “Atletang Ayala” program is aims to support athletes who wish to qualify for the 2024 Olympics.

“The Ayala Group has long seen the impact that sports can have on many facets of its businesses,” Mr. Bengzon said.

“In fact a number of our senior executives have represented the country on national teams in different sports, including Ayala Land’s Chris Macasaet in men’s volleyball and AC Energy’s Jaime Urquijo in rugby,” he added. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte