Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. (AIC), the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, has delivered a series of safety and contingency improvements at Bohol-Panglao (BPIA) and Laguindingan (LIA) International Airports, aimed at enhancing passenger safety and overall resilience in the country’s sixth- and ninth-busiest airports, respectively.
“Our commitment goes beyond infrastructure — it is about making every flight safer, every journey more reliable, and every airport experience more world-class. These improvements at BPIA and LIA show our long-term vision: provincial gateways that meet global standards and strengthen Philippine competitiveness in tourism, travel, and trade,” said AIC President & Chief Executive Officer Cosette V. Canilao.
Key safety and emergency readiness measures were implemented at BPIA and LIA (which have been under AIC Airports’ operation since mid-2025), in collaboration with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and specific local government units.
These are:
- Upgrading of Fire Detection Alarm System at LIA to improve early hazard identification – ensuring faster response and evacuation when needed, and enabling a responsive and efficient fire monitoring network.
- Technical assessments of firefighting equipment at BPIA (pump engine driven starter, fire pump house, pumphouse booster pump) to ensure the integrity of these systems in crisis events – reducing risk of equipment failure during emergencies, and reinforcing overall airport preparedness
- Cleaning of Sewage Treatment Plant at BPIA to ensure safe and compliant disposal processes – ensuring a hygienic airport environment with lower risk of contamination
- Cleaning of Ventilation and Air Conditioning Units at BPIA to support overall air quality and passenger comfort – bringing cleaner air and more comfortable and more pleasant passenger areas
“We commend AIC Airports for their commitment to safety and resilience at Laguindingan and Bohol-Panglao International Airports. Beyond compliance, these mirror our strong partnership and thrust toward safer airports nationwide,” said DOTr Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez.
These upgrades with the theme “Safe Skies & Sustainable Future for All,” the theme of the recently-observed International Civil Aviation Day (December 7), and mark some of the earliest outcomes of DOTr and CAAP’s public-private partnership strategy to modernize provincial airports.
This initiative demonstrates how strong collaboration between the public and private sectors deliver better facilities and services faster, with direct benefits for travelers, airport staff, and host communities.
In addition – LIA team members participated in an Awareness and Data Assessment Workshop for CAAP Area (Region) 10 airports last December 4 to 5, conducted by CAAP Aeronautical Information Services at LIA. This was conducted to ensure accurate and updated aeronautical information at LIA, a very crucial feature to ensure safety in aircraft operation.
United under a single vision, AIC Airports is developing a growing network of world-class airports across the country, each serving a distinct role in national connectivity and expected to collectively account for around 16 million passengers by year-end, or over 20% of the country’s passenger traffic:
- Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) as the Connectivity Hub, envisioned to be the country’s main tourism transfer hub;
- BPIA as the Leisure Hub, gateway to the country’s UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Global Geopark tourism; and
- LIA as the Service Hub, driving business and logistics access to Mindanao.
AIC is currently undertaking the development and modernization of BPIA and LIA over the short- to medium-term beginning 2025, under a broader transformation under the multi-year concession agreements awarded by the government in 2024.
Starting 2025, AIC Airports, under the oversight of DOTr and CAAP, has begun introducing more modernization projects that will elevate the passenger experience and make Philippine airports globally competitive.
At BPIA and LIA, this includes the introduction of necessary infrastructure, such as terminal restructuring, expansion, and capacity augmentation to cater to growing passenger traffic. All these enhancements follow MCIA’s footprint, the latter being the Philippines’ most-awarded and critically-recognized world class airport.
