With the recent celebration of Earth Day, Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC), the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, reaffirms its dedication to integrating sustainability practices in its various businesses.

"At Aboitiz InfraCapital, our mission is to amalgamate sustainable practices and initiatives with developing transformative infrastructure ecosystems that enable businesses and uplift communities. Environmental stewardship is not a separate initiative for us; it is ingrained in our planning and day-to-day operations,” said Cosette V. Canilao, AIC President and Chief Executive Officer.

Smart and sustainable cities

AIC, through its Economic Estates, is one of Asia’s leading developers of smart and sustainable industrial-anchored mixed-use developments.

LIMA Estate in Lipa-Malvar, Batangas, is the country’s first 5-Star BERDE-District certified industrial-anchored mixed-use development. It is a testament to AIC’s commitment to incorporating environmentally responsible practices in its normal course of business. Similar certifications for West Cebu and MEZ2 Estates are in the pipeline to secure the same accreditation.

LIMA Estate was also named the Best Green Development in Asia by the PropertyGuru Property Awards and received the inaugural Smart City Award from the ESG Business Awards.

AIC Economic Estates are developed to focus on technology-enabled systems for security management efficiency, water use, and waste management. Green spaces are also integrated into the overall master plan, making our estates both smart and sustainable. Since AIC’s developments create viable and sustainable communities, the well-being of locators, employees, and the environment are prioritized.  

Anchored on an established framework and strategy for smart city initiatives, among AIC Economic Estates’ projects being implemented in LIMA Estate in Batangas include CCTV analytics, dark fiber connectivity, energy generation through renewable energy resources, and smart water networks that enhance resource efficiency and operational performance.

Pioneering sustainability in aviation

Through Aboitiz InfraCapital AGMCAC’s management, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) also leads sustainable industry practices. Early this year, MCIA became the Philippines’ first airport to earn a Level 1 Airport Carbon Accreditation from the Airports Council International. This globally recognized program assesses and recognizes initiatives to manage and reduce carbon emissions.

Building on this milestone, MCIA has set ambitious goals toward achieving Net Zero carbon emissions, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change. The comprehensive strategy includes more bridge-mounted pre-conditioned air and ground power units (GPUs) to replace motorized GPUs and auxiliary PUs, the use of electric ground support equipment and other airside vehicles, and the expansion of MCIA’s existing solar power plant.

Sustainable water for all

Committed to ensuring sustainable water for all, AIC Water integrates environmental protection in its operations and community engagements, fortifying the long-term viability of water sources for the communities it serves.

Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc. (Apo Agua), the partner of the Davao City Water District (DCWD) in the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project, champions the conservation of the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed, a vital ecosystem that ensures a sustainable water source for Davaoeños.

Through DCWD’s Adopt-a-Site Project, Apo Agua supported rehabilitating a 50-hectare site in Mt. Tipolog, planted and maintained 32,557 endemic fruit trees, and supported 46 Obu-Manuvu farmers.

Apo Agua also furthered its efforts, collaborating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region-XI and FARDECO Agricultural Multi-Purpose Cooperative (FARDECO), to enrich the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed’s 200-hectare National Greening Program site with ongoing tree growing activities.

It has developed a nursery with FARDECO and started planting 3,700 endemic and fruit trees upstream of the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed. Apo Agua also targets planting 15,000 endemic fruit trees to support its partner farmers' livelihoods and protect the Panigan-Tamugan Rivers’ headwater source.

For AIC’s estate water operations, LIMA Water continues to provide efficient end-to-end water distribution and water management services, not just to the locators in our economic estates but also to nearby communities. Water is being used efficiently through the SMART Water network through active leak detection and control and pressure management. With the SMART Water network, non-revenue water was reduced to 4.22%, well below PEZA’s acceptable level of 20%.

AIC’s Estate Water unit also ensures that the wastewater it collects from our industrial locators across our Estates is treated and disinfected before being discharged back to the river.

Last year, it also successfully implemented its 99.9 kW solar panel installation project in one of its water treatment facilities, which has an estimated total power generation of 146 MWh annually. Aside from reducing the facility’s energy costs, the shift to renewable energy is expected to eliminate approximately 100 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year – equivalent to the environmental benefit of planting over 3500 trees. Since the project’s completion, LIMA Water has generated approximately 400 kWh of clean, green energy daily, sufficient to power its Sewage Treatment Plant.