-
Aboitiz InfraCapital is aiming to develop the Laguindingan International Airport as a major gateway in Mindanao as part of its continuing commitment to the growth of the Philippine’s southern island
-
AIC Airports head Christine Villanueva emphasized the role of regional airports in driving economic growth and connectivity
-
AIC’s Laguindingan Airport Corporation is currently modernizing the aviation facility under a 30-year concession contract awarded in October 2024
-
The company’s airport portfolio – which includes the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and the Bohol-Panglao International Airport – now handles over 20% of the country’s passenger traffic
Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) is aiming to develop the Laguindingan International Airport (LIA) as a major gateway in Mindanao as part of its continuing commitment to the growth of the Philippine’s southern island.
“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.
AIC, through its Laguindingan Airport Corporation, operates LIA under a 30-year concession awarded in October 2024. The company formally took over the facility in April 2025, marking the start of development and modernization works, which will include terminal expansion to accommodate international routes and rising passenger volumes.
LIA, located in Misamis Oriental in northern Mindanao, is the country’s sixth-busiest airport and Mindanao’s second-busiest after the Davao International Airport in southern Mindanao. It currently serves 337 weekly domestic flights to key destinations including Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao.
Villanueva noted that 2025 marks a pivotal year for AIC Airports, which now operates Laguindingan, Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), and Bohol-Panglao International Airport, collectively accounting for over 20% of the country’s passenger traffic.
She said AIC envisions LIA becoming 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., developed and 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 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.
