-
Developing world-class regional airports is key to unlocking Mindanao’s potential, according to Aboitiz InfraCapital
-
At two recent events in Davao, the company emphasized Mindanao’s critical role in driving inclusive growth through connectivity and public-private collaboration
-
AIC is aiming to develop Laguindingan International Airport as a major gateway in Mindanao
-
The airport is currently being modernized under a 30-year concession contract awarded to AIC in October 2024
Developing world-class regional airports is key to unlocking Mindanao’s potential, according to Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC).
At two recent events in Davao, AIC emphasized Mindanao’s critical role in driving inclusive growth through connectivity and public-private collaboration.
“Connectivity builds economies. From trade routes to transport hubs, when we move better, we grow faster. Airports are not just travel terminals – they are engines of economic activity,” AIC Airports head of Strategy and Communications Christine Villanueva said during the recent Davao Investment Conference (Davao ICON) 2025.
Villanueva noted that 2025 marks a pivotal year for AIC Airports, which now operates Laguindingan International Airport (LIA) in Misamis Oriental in northern Mindanao, and Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) and Bohol-Panglao International Airport, both in the Visayas. Collectively, the three airports account for over 20% of the country’s passenger traffic.
Starting from April 2025, AIC has been modernizing LIA, following the awarding of a 30-year concession agreement in October 2024. The development covers terminal expansion to accommodate international routes and rising passenger volumes.
LIA is the country’s sixth-busiest airport and Mindanao’s second-busiest after Davao International Airport in southern Mindanao. LIA serves 337 weekly domestic flights to key destinations including Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao.
Villanueva said AIC envisions LIA as a regional gateway similar to MCIA, supporting commerce, tourism, and innovation in Mindanao.
In another event, AIC first vice president for Investments Frocks Roque stressed the importance of performance-driven public-private partnerships (PPP).
“The delivery of quality service must be the primary motivation for the development and operation of PPPs,” Roque said at the Mindanao PPP Facilitation Initiative. “Strong public-private collaboration is essential to create an enabling environment for these partnerships to thrive,” he added.
Aboitiz InfraCapital, through its subsidiary Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc., operates the P15-billion Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP) through a PPP with distributor Davao City Water District.
The DCBWSP was recognized as the Best PPP in the Philippines in 2024 by the UK-based International Finance Awards.
AIC said its growing footprint in Mindanao reflects strong confidence in the island’s economic potential. Beyond airports and water projects, the company said it continues to explore opportunities in other critical infrastructure sectors to make Mindanao more connected and competitive.
AIC, the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, also has ventures in economic estates and digital infrastructure. Its other key business units include TARI Estate in Tarlac; LIMA Estate and LIMA Water Corporation in Batangas; MEZ2 (Mactan Economic Zone 2) Estate and West Cebu Estate in Cebu; and Unity Digital Infrastructure, Inc.
