CEBU City–Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. (AIC), the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, is calling for a unified effort among government, the private sector, academia and civil society to address the growing water supply and demand challenges in Cebu, an increasingly vital economic hub.
AIC vice president and head of water Eduardo Aboitiz stressed during a recent Cebu Water Summit that solving the region’s water challenges “cannot be done overnight” and requires a “multi-pronged approach” with medium- and long-term solutions.
The company cited public-private partnerships (PPPs) as an effective model for developing the large-scale, sustainable infrastructure needed to enhance water availability and reliability.
AIC Water said PPPs combine private sector innovation and investment with government accountability and oversight. AIC Water expressed its willingness to explore potential partnerships with local governments across Cebu.
“We Cebuanos, in the government, academe, and private sector, have one clear choice: work together to secure our water future. Because when we do, we have a greater chance of succeeding,” Aboitiz said.
AIC Water pointed to its successful partnership with the Davao City Water District (DCWD), Apo Agua, as a model that could be replicated in Cebu. Since beginning commercial operations in February 2024, Apo Agua now supplies 70 percent of DCWD’s water requirements, providing 24/7 water availability for 96 percent of customers.
AIC Water’s presence in Cebu includes end-to-end water and wastewater services at the MEZ2 Estate in Lapu-Lapu City and the West Cebu Estate in Balamban, with a combined production capacity of seven point seven MLD.
In June 2025, AIC Water began operating a five MLD desalination facility in Lapu-Lapu City. This plant converts brackish water into potable water, serving locators in the MEZ2 Estate and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
The 2025 Cebu Water Summit, themed “Taking the Challenge, Firming Actions NOW!,” was hosted by the Philippine Institute for Chemical Engineers – Cebu Chapter and the University of San Carlos – Water Resource Center Foundation, Inc.
Aboitiz affirmed the importance of solving these issues for the region’s economy, saying that addressing Cebu’s water challenges is vital to secure the region’s full economic potential.
“Cebu holds a special place for the Aboitiz Group as we trace our roots here. We are keen to pursue potential investments in Cebu, and be a progressive partner in enabling water security for Cebuanos,” Aboitiz said.
AIC Water’s full portfolio stands at 320 MLD, and it also holds a strategic stake in Balibago Waterworks, the country’s fourth largest water concessionaire.
