The Department of Transportation (DOTr) awarded Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. the contract to expand, operate and maintain the Bohol-Panglao International Airport.
DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista, in a letter dated Nov. 18, 2024, informed Cosette Canilao, president and chief executive of Aboitiz Infra that the board of directors of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) approved the awarding of the contract for the unsolicited proposal for the upgrade, expansions, operations and maintenance of Bohol-Panglao International Airport with a total project cost of P4.52 billion.
The project is expected to transform the Bohol-Panglao International Airport into a key regional hub, aligned with the National Tourism Development Plan and the government’s infrastructure flagship projects.
The expansion project aims to increase the maximum passenger throughput from two million to at least 2.5 million passengers per year at the project’s start and to at least 3.9 million by the end of the project.
The Aboitiz Group secured the original proponent status for the deal in 2018. It was one of the high-impact projects identified by the National Economic and Development Authority last year.
Aside from Bohol-Panglao, the Aboitiz Group won a P12.75-billion contract to upgrade, operate and maintain the Laguindingan International Airport this month.
The infrastructure flagship project aims to enhance connectivity to Northern Mindanao which includes the five provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon and Camiguin, along with the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.
The project seeks to define an aviation strategy for new airlines and connections including the development of international flights, expand airport capacity according to market demand, introduce sustainable concepts and enhance passenger experience through operational and environmental improvements.
Laguindingan International Airport aligns with AIC’s vision to develop transformative infrastructure ecosystems that strengthen the Philippines’ connectivity, leveraging the Aboitiz Group’s expertise in infrastructure and technology to drive sustainable growth.
“The progress we see today directly results from a government that focuses on what really matters. We believe the government’s role is to regulate and ensure the best solutions are in place to serve the public — and we in the private sector are here to do our part in helping achieve that both operationally and financially,” said Aboitiz Group president and chief executive Sabin Aboitiz.
Laguindingan International Airport, the country’s sixth-busiest airport and Mindanao’s second-busiest gateway after Davao City’s Francisco Bangoy International Airport, will be the latest addition to AIC’s growing airports portfolio and marks a significant milestone in AIC’s strategic expansion in the aviation sector.
AIC is known for operating the award-winning Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), which has set new benchmarks for airport operations in the Philippines and whose Terminal 2 recently received a prestigious 4-star rating from globally renowned aviation consultancy Skytrax.
Earlier this year, MCIA unveiled several key best practices, including the Silent Airport plan, seen to mitigate noise pollution and foster a serene atmosphere for travelers; the operation of Bridge-Mounted Equipment consisting of fixed-power units and pre-conditioned air units services that cut fuel costs and reduce carbon emissions; and Cebu Connect, MCIA’s airport transfer service designed to facilitate efficient and seamless inter-airport transfers, giving travelers a more convenient travel and enjoyable experience.
