Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 9) — Travelers can expect a greener Mactan-Cebu International Airport as the Aboitiz group — which earlier jumped on the net-zero carbon emission bandwagon — takes over the country’s second busiest gateway, a company official said on Friday.
A brownfield investment, the Mactan airport became a jewel for the Cebu-based Aboitizes who joined a consortium over a decade ago that made a bid for the same airport when the Aquino administration put it on auction in search for a new operator.
A week ago, the Aboitiz group bought out the operator who won the airport contract in 2014: the tandem of Megawide and India’s GMR Group.
“It’s always been in the plan and strategy of the group through Aboitiz InfraCapital. And Mactan, we can consider it like a brownfield like what you said,” Aboitiz InfraCapital President and CEO Cosette Canilao told CNN Philippines.
It takes a while before investors reap a windfall from brownfield investments like airports where the capital outlay runs by the billions.
While the deal with the old operator was valued at ₱15 billion, Aboitiz InfraCapital is not expected to infuse as much cash too soon.
The company’s capital expenditure or CAPEX plan for Mactan will be anchored on passenger traffic.
Mactan airport has been attracting about 12 million travelers a year, making it the Philippines’ second largest gateway after the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). It can accommodate up to 20 million travelers annually.
“Once we hit a certain level of traffic, then we will have to expand and that’s when the huge CAPEX will come in,” Canilao said.
Powered by green energy?
World-class Mactan airport earned global praises in 2019 when it was named best airport in the World Architecture Festival for its locally sourced materials.
But the Aboitiz group is bringing in more efficiencies.
“Sustainability has always been a core value within the group. Through our renewables, maybe that’s one angle we’re looking at [for the Mactan airport],” Canilao said.
The Aboitiz Group was among local companies that committed to cutting carbon emissions, with clean energy giant Aboitiz Equity Ventures aiming for a portfolio mix of 50-50 renewable and thermal power by 2030.
It has tapped the Japanese to help it do away with coal plants down the road.
“Also of course, we have water in our portfolio. We’re pushing for sustainable use of water,” she added.
The conglomerate also tapped data science.
“We do have Aboitiz Data Innovation… studying the passenger movement, what are the preferences of travelers, how do we make sure that their experience from checking in all the way to waiting for their flights are optimized and the experience is better,” Canilao explained.
More airports
Mactan won’t be the group’s last airport investment. It eyes concessions for the upgrade, operation and maintenance of regional airports.
“Bohol airport, Laguindigan airport and Bicol,” Canilao said.
“We’ve been issued an original proponent status. And we’re hoping that this administration will push for PPP [Public Private Partnership].”
The Aboitiz group submitted unsolicited proposals for those regional airports during past administrations.
Once those proposals take off, travelers can expect seamless flights between the Visayas and Mindanao gateways.
